THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 

Ex  Libris 

Katharine  F.  Richmond 

and 
Henry  C.  Fall 


~T    r  CL~C^f^>i^-~+ — i^-eL- 


HISTORY    OF    LITTLETON 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE 


HISTORY 


OF 


LITTLETON 


NEW  HAMPSHIRE 


IN   THREE   VOLUMES 

YOL.  II. 

JAMES    R.    JACKSON 

HISTORIOGRAPHER 


TOPICAL    HISTORY 


PUBLISHED   FOR   THE   TOWN 
BY   THE   UNIVERSITY   PRESS,  CAMBRIDGE,  MASS. 

1905 


Copyright,  1905, 
Bv  THE  TOWN  OF  LITTLETON. 


TABLE  OF  CONTEXTS 

PACK 

XXVII.     MANUFACTURING.     1870-1903 1 

XXVIII.    MERCHANTS 29 

XXIX.    BANKS  AND  BANKERS 75 

XXX.    THE  PROFESSION  OF  MEDICINE.      By  Albert   Still- 

maii  Batchellor 88 

XXXI.    CRAFTSMEN 138 

XXXII.    ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY 156 

Congregational  Church 156 

XXXIII.  ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  (Continued) 245 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church 245 

XXXIV.  ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  (Continued) 302 

The  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 302 

XXXV.    ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  (Continued) 313 

The  Free  Baptist  Society 313 

XXXVI.     ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  (Continued} 324 

The  Roman  Catholic  Church 324 

XXXVII.    ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  (Continued) 343 

The  Unitarian  Society 343 

XXXVIII.    ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  (Continued} 351 

Baptist,  Aclventist,  and  Christian  Science    .      .     .  351 

XXXIX.     YOUNU  MEN'S  CHRISTIAN  ASSOCIATION       ....  357 

XL.     NATIVE  MINISTERS 360 

XLI.     MEN  AND  WOMEN  OF  PROMINENCE  ABROAD  .     .      .  382 

XLII.    TEMPERANCE 402 

XLIII.     SCHOOLS.     By  Mrs.  Lydia  Drew  Jackson  .     .      .     .  418 

XLIV.     LIBRARIES 4:59 

XLV.     Music  AND  MUSICAL  ASSOCIATIONS  453 


vi  Table  of  Contents. 

PAGE 

XLVI.    TAXATION 462 

XLVII.    SURVEYS.     By  Adams  Moore,  A.M.,  M.D 479 

XLVIII.     HIGHWAYS  AND  BRIDGES 485 

XL1X.     CEMETERIES 496 

L.     THE  FIRE  DEPARTMENT 512 

LI.     SOLDIERS  OF  THE  REVOLUTION  AND  THE  WAR  OF  1812  520 

LII.    THE  MILITIA    IN   NORTHERN  NEW  HAMPSHIRE.      By 

Albert  Stillman  Batchellor 531 

LIII.    FREEMASONRY.     By  Albert  Stillmau  Batchellor       .      .  554 

LIV.    ODD  FELLOWS  AND  OTHER  FRATERNAL  ORDERS     .     .  588 

LV.     AGRICULTURE 593 

LVI.     COURTS 600 

STATISTICAL  HISTORY.     By  Chauncey  H.  Greene 607 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

TOWN  BUILDING Frontispiece 

HENRY  C.  REDINGTON Facing  page     2 

MILLS,  SARANAC  GLOVE  COMPANY        6 

HENRY  C.   LIBBEY "              8 

GEO.  M.  GLAZIER "            10 

IRA  PARKER "            12 

MANUFACTORY,  KILBURN  STEREOSCOPIC  VIEW  COMPANY  14 

BENJAMIN  W.  KILBURN "            1G 

LITTLETON  SHOE  FACTORY 18 

THE  PIKE  MANUFACTURING  Co.  PLANT 22 

EDWIN  B.  PIKE "            24 

E.  BERTRAM  PIKE 26 

GEORGE  F.   BATCHELDF.R "            30 

ISAAC  CALHOUN 46 

FRANK  P.  BOND 48 

CYRL-S  EASTMAN 50 

HENRY  L.  TILTON 54 

VIEW  IN  RIVERSIDE   PARK 58 

WM.  J.  BELLOWS GO 

CHARLES  C.   SMITH        68 

WILLIAM  II.   BELLOWS 70 

GEORGE  B.   REDINGTON 78 

OSCAR  C.   HATCH 80 

BANK  BUILDING,  EXTERIOR 84 

BANK  BUILDING,  INTERIOR 86 

WILLIAM  BURNS,  M.I) 102 

ADAMS  MOORE,  M.D 104 

GROUP  OF  RESIDENT  PHYSICIANS 106 

RALPH  BLGBEE,  JR.,  M.I).     .     .  110 


viii  List  of  Illustrations. 

T.  E.  SANGER,  M.D Facing  page  112 

GEORGE  W.  MCGREGOR,  M.D 116 

WILLIAM  J.  BEATTIE,  M.D 118 

EDWIN  K.  PARKER,  M.D 120 

GROUP  OF  PHYSICIANS 124 

CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH,  ERECTED  1832     ....  160 

REV.  DRURY  FAIRBANK 164 

CONGREGATIONAL  PASTORS 178 

REV.  FREDERICK  G.  CHUTTER "          208 

JOHN  MERRILL 216 

CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH,  REMODELLED  1874  .     .     .  242 

GROUP  OF  METHODIST  PASTORS 256 

METHODIST  CHURCH 260 

PASTORS  M.  E.  CHURCH 266 

ALL  SAINTS  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH      .......  306 

GROUP  OF  EPISCOPAL  CLERGYMEN 308 

CALVINIST  BAPTIST  CHURCH 316 

FREE  BAPTIST  CHURCH 316 

GROUP  OF  FREE  BAPTIST  PASTORS  ...  ...  320 

ROMAN  CATHOLIC  CHURCH  AND  PARSONAGE  ....  324 

PLACE  OF  FIRST  MASS  BY  ROMAN  CATHOLICS  IN  TOWN  326 

GROUP  OF  ROMAN  CATHOLIC  PRIESTS 336 

UNITARIAN  CHURCH 344 

GROUP  OF  UNITARIAN  MINISTERS 348 

ADVENT  CHAPEL 354 

REV.  X.  E.   COBLEIGH.  D.D.,  LL.I) 370 

REV.  JOSEPH  E.   ROBINS.  D.D 372 

REV.   ENOCH  M.  PINGREE 378 

MOSES  A.  Dow 382 

DANIEL  J.   STRAIN 384 

SAMUEL  B.  PAGE 3S6 

FRED  O.   XOURSE 

REV.   JEREMIAH  EAMES  RANKIN,    D.D..  LL.I).  ...  390 

WRITERS  AND  MISSIONARIES 398 

IDA  FARR  MILLER 400 

TEMPERANCE  WORKERS  -lit 


List  of  Illustrations.  ix 

LITTLETON  HIGH  SCHOOL Facing  page  418 

KILBURN  SCHOOL  BUILDING 426 

MITCHELL  SCHOOL "          428 

APTHORP  SCHOOL 430 

GROUP  OF  HIGH  SCHOOL  PRINCIPALS 434 

LITTLETON  CORNET  BAND 454 

ALBERT  'II.  BOWMAN "          456 

PLAN  OF  LITTLETON   (1877) 478 

MAP  OF  CONCORD,  NOW  LISBON 480 

RAY  T.   GILE "          484 

MAIN  STREET,  LOOKING  WEST,  BEFORE  1870  ....  494 

OLD  COVERED  BRIDGE 494 

GROUP  OF  MASONS "          576 


ERRATA. 

*    On  page  201,  first  line,  for  "Sangar"  read  "  Sanger." 
V     "      "     428,  second  line  from  bottom,  for  "  Matilda  Rankin  "  read 

"  Melinda  Rankin." 

*S     "      "     433,  first  paragraph,  third  line,  for   "  Franklin  J.  Tilton  " 
x  read  "  Franklin  Tilton." 

"       "     572,  seventh  line  from  bottom,  for  "1758"  read  1858." 


HISTORY   OF   LITTLETON. 


XXVII. 

MANUFACTURING. 

1870-1903. 

IN  1870  the  business  conditions  that  prevailed  during  the  war 
period  were  being-  rapidly  adjusted  to  their  normal  relations. 
Prices  were  nearing  their  natural  level.  The  town  debt  had 
been  funded  at  a  7.30  rate  of  interest,  and  the  bonds  were  the 
property  of  some  of  the  thrifty  citizens  of  the  town.  So  rapid  had 
been  the  growth  of  wealth  that  a  much  larger  amount  of  bonded 
indebtedness  could  have  been  disposed  of  in  the  home  market. 
This  year  also  marks  the  beginning  of  a  change  in  the  industrial 
life  of  the  town.  The  woollen  mill  and  the  scythe  factory  were 
for  many  years  the  only  industries  that  did  not  have  their  origin 
in  the  soil.  In  1867  E.  J.  M.  Hale  sold  the  woollen  mill  to  a 
corporation  that  had  been  organized  under  the  title  of  The 
Littleton  Woollen  Company  with  a  capital  of  $200,000.  In  this 
company  Mr.  Hale,  John  Townsend,  Jordan,  Marsh  &  Co.,  and 
the  firm  of  Leland,  Allen  &  Bates,  were  the  principal  stock- 
holders. All  but  the  first  named  were  of  Boston,  and  Joseph  L. 
Whittakcr  was  the  only  resident  of  the  town  who  held  any  of  the 
stock.  John  Townsend  was  treasurer,  and  Leland,  Allen  &  Bates 
selling  agents,  while  Henry  H.  Townsend,  a  son  of  the  treasurer, 
became  superintendent.  In  1809  Jordan,  Marsh  &  Co.  purchased  a 
controlling  interest,  and  Capt.  William  II.  Stevens  became  treas- 
urer and  agent.  In  1874  Joseph  L.  and  Robert  IF.  Whittakcr,  who 
had  been  the  dyers  and  finishers  for  the  mill  for  nearly  twenty 
years,  leased  the  property  and  operated  it  for  less  than  a  year, 
when  its  machinery  was  silenced  never  to  be  put  in  motion  again 
in  the  old  mill.  During  the  thirty-four  years  in  which  it  had  been 
operated  millions  of  yards  of  flannel,  white,  gray,  scarlet,  yellow, 

VOL  II.  —  1 


2  History  of  Littleton. 

and  blue,  had  issued  from  its  looms,  and  many  thousands  of 
blankets  had  been  sold  in  the  markets  of  Boston,  New  York,  and 
Philadelphia.  The  vicissitudes  of  its  history  were  many.  At  first, 
under  various  managements  there  had  been  a  struggle  for  exist- 
ence; then  came  years  of  wholesome  success,  to  be  followed  by  a 
period  of  unnatural  prosperity,  when  the  profits  of  the  business 
were  nearly  a  hundred  per  cent,  and  afterward  a  relapse  into  a 
condition  closely  resembling  that  of  1840-1845.  after  which  it 
was  transformed  and  devoted  to  other  uses. 

The  original  scythe  factory,  built  five  years  earlier  than  the 
woollen  mill,  held  its  place  among  the  industries  of  the  town  for 
nearly  thirty  years.  It  was  built  and  operated  by  George  W. 
Ely,  George  B.  Redington,  and  John  Farr.  They  were  men  of 
active  public  spirit,  who,  while  caring  for  their  own  interests,  fos- 
tered those  of  a  public  character.  Mr.  Farr  retired  from  the  firm 
after  two  years ;  Mr.  Ely  remained  until  1844,  when  he  removed 
to  St.  Jolmsbury,  Yt.,  where  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of 
forks  and  hoes.  He  was  a  man  of  excellent  business  capacity  and 
much  respected  for  solid  worth.  He  is  noted  for  having  served  a 
single  term  in  three  different  public  positions,  those  of  Selectman 
in  1838,  Representative  to  the  General  Court  in  1840,  and  fire- 
ward  in  1844,  and  having  refused  a  re-election  to  each.  Such  acts  of 
abnegation  have  been  rare  in  our  history.  The  business  in  which 
he  engaged  at  St.  Jolmsbury  prospered  and  finally  found  its  way 
into  the  maw  of  a  trust,  long  after  the  death  of  its  founder.  .Mr. 
Ely  died  at  Philadelphia  in  the  summer  of  1876. 

This  scythe  factorv  was  four  times  destroved  bv  fire.     The  first 

»/  •/  v  * 

occurred  in  February,  1842,  when  it  was  running  to  its  full 
capacity  to  fill  orders  for  the  season.  It  was  at  once  rebuilt  and 
five  hundred  dozen  scythes  made  in  time  to  fill  the  contracts  of 
the  firm.  At  this  time  Henry  C.  Redington  became  a  member  of 
the  company,  which  was  thereafter  known  by  the  title  H.  C.  Red- 
ington A:  Co.  In  1856  the  company  abandoned  the  manufacture 
of  scythes  to  devote  its  entire  resources  to  the  lumber  business. 
The  scythe  shop  was  then  leased  to  Wesley  Alexander,  and  was 
burned  a  second  time,  in  1858.  It  was  rebuilt  and  the  business 
successfully  conducted  until  the  works  were  levelled  to  the  ground 
by  another  conflagration  in  185l>.  Mr.  Alexander  then  abandoned 
the  business,  and  soon  after  moved  from  town.  Mr.  Alexander 
was  a  man  of  high  character  and  business  enterprise.  He  was  a 
deacon  in  the  Baptist  Church,  and  one  of  the  original  Free-Boilers 
of  the  town,  a  Selectman  in  1855,  and  Representative  in  185*.  In 
1801  Philip  II.  Paddleford  rebuilt  the  shop  from  its  foundation. 


HENKY    (_'.  Ri:ni\<, TON. 


Ma  niifacturing.  3 

put  in  machinery,  and  leased  it  for  a  term  of  five  years  to  Harts- 
horn &  Co.  This  company  was  composed  of  Charles  Hartshorn, 
Cyrus  Eastman,  and  Samuel  A.  Edson.  On  the  expiration  of  the 
lease  in  1867,  business  of  nearly  every  kind  was  disturbed  by  the 
great  shrinkage  in  values  which  took  place  in  the  years  extending 
from  1866  to  1870,  and  the  lease  was  not  renewed.  Within  a  few 
months  the  building  was  burned  to  the  water's  edge,  and  the  Red- 
ington  box  factory  was  soon  after  erected  upon  its  foundation. 

The  scythe  factory  built  on  the  site  of  the  present  shops  of  the 
Pike  Manufacturing  Company  was  the  outcome  of  a  movement 
inaugurated  by  some  of  our  public-spirited  citizens  in  1870  for 
the  purpose  of  maintaining  the  industrial  interests  of  the  town, 
then  threatened  by  the  loss  of  the  lumber  business  and  by  the 
extension  of  the  railroad  into  Coos  County.  In  1871  the  Red- 
ingtons,  Cyrus  Eastman,  Charles  Hartshorn,  Samuel  A.  Edson, 
John  and  Nelson  C.  Farr,  Philip  H.  Paddleford,  Luther  T.  Dow, 
and  others  organized  a  corporation  under  the  general  law  for  the 
purpose  of  making  scythes,  axes,  and  other  edged  tools.  The  first 
board  of  directors  consisted  of  Charles  Hartshorn,  John  Farr, 
Nelson  C.  Farr,  Philip  H.  Paddleford,  and  George  B.  Redington. 
Luther  T.  Dow  was  made  superintendent.  Suitable  buildings 
for  the  purpose  of  the  corporation  were  at  once  erected.  The 
main  shop  was  one  hundred  and  thirty  feet  in  length  by  thirty- 
six  in  width  ;  another  building,  to  be  used  as  an  office  and  a 
storeroom  for  the  finished  product,  was  seventy  feet  in  length 
and  twenty-six  in  width  ;  a  storehouse  for  material  and  coal  was 
also  erected,  together  with  a  boarding-house  and  other  dwellings. 
The  first  year  fourteen  hundred  dozen  scythes  were  made,  and 
the  annual  output  thereafter  was  about  seventeen  hundred  dozen. 
In  1874  Otis  G.  Hale  succeeded  Mr.  Dow  as  agent,  and  the  com- 
pany at  the  same  time  added  the  manufacture  of  axes  to  its 
product.  James  H.  Withercll,  who  held  a  copyright  on  a 
name  and  style  of  scythes  and  axes  that  had  met  with  large  sales, 
assumed  the  management  in  1880,  and  so  continued  until  its 
affairs  were  closed  up  in  1885. 

The  directors  of  the  company  were  men  who  had  been  impor- 
tant factors  in  the  development  of  the  industrial  interests  of  the 
town.  Most  of  them  had  reached  an  age  when  men  are  loath  to 
embark  in  new  ventures  in  which  the  pecuniary  results  are  in 
doubt  and  in  which  the  known  benefits  are  entirely  of  a  public 
character.  It  is  true  that  all  but  Nelson  C.  Farr  had  experi- 
ence in  the  business,  and  were  supposed  to  know  the  extent  of 
the  hazard  involved.  John  Farr  and  Geortrc  1>.  Redintrton  were 


4  History  of  Littleton. 

members  of  the  firm  that  built  the  first  scythe  factory  thirty -six 
years  before  ;  Cyrus  Eastman,  Charles  Hartshorn,  and  Samuel  A. 
Edson  constituted  the  firm  that  was  the  last  lessee  of  the  old 
factory  ;  Philip  II.  Paddleford  had  been  the  builder  of  the  mill 
and  maker  of  much  of  its  machinery,  and  Luther  T.  Dow  had 
learned  the  practical  business  of  manufacturing  scythes  under  the 
Redingtons.  But  conditions  had  changed,  and  the  experience  of 
Hartshorn  &  Co.  was  certainly  calculated  to  dissuade  people  from 
participating  in  the  new  project.  Then,  too,  the  socialistic  ten- 
dency of  these  days  to  involve  towns,  in  their  corporate  capacity, 
in  the  establishment  of  manufacturing  enterprises  other  than  the 
exemption  of  the  plant  from  taxation,  was  unknown.  Citizens 
who  desired  to  keep  alive  the  spirit  of  enterprise  and  prevent  the 
town  from  receding  from  its  advanced  position  were  required  to 
invest  their  capital  and  assume  all  the  risks  of  the  ventures  estab- 
lished for  these  purposes.  In  this  instance  the  undertaking  was 
fatal  to  one  estate,  and  others  suffered  to  a  greater  or  less  extent. 
Philip  PI.  Paddleford  died  in  1876,  and  Nelson  C.  Fan-  in  1884, 
and  Charles  Hartshorn  left  town  in  1880.  —  removals  that  were 
regarded  as  distinct  losses  to  the  community. 

Philip  II.  Paddleford  was  a  son  of  Peter  Paddleford,  a  noted 
millwright  and  bridge-builder,  who  erected  the  house  which  is 
the  present  residence  of  Mrs.  Tuttle.  His  shop,  west  of  the  resi- 
dence, was  some  years  after  his  death  removed  to  Meadow  Street 
and  made  a  tenement.  The  son  became  his  father's  partner  in 
1835,  and  about  1849,  when  the  senior  retired,  the  saw-mill 
property  at  South  Littleton  Avas  purchased,  wood- work  ing  and 
machine  shops  were  added  to  the  plant,  and  a  large  business  was 
carried  on  during  the  lifetime  of  Mr.  Paddleford. 

It  was  a  practice  with  Mr.  Paddleford  to  give  an  interest  in 
the  business  to  some  efficient  mechanic  who  had  been  in  his 
employ  ;  and  his  brother-in-law,  Harmon  Marcy,  widely  known 
in  those  days  as  a  bridge-builder,  Anderson  Miller,  and  Capt. 
Marshal  Sanders  were  successively  his  partners,  the  firm  having 
charge  of  building  and  repairing  nearlv  all  the  saw-mills,  trrist- 

O  •/ 

mills,  and  factories  of  various  kinds  in  the  Ammonoosnc  valley 
and  many  others  beyond  this  territory.  Mr.  Paddleford  was  a 
reliable  man,  intelligent  and  well  read  in  matters  beyond  the 
scope  of  his  business,  retiring,  but  eager  to  help  others  both  in 
private  and  public  matters.  Jfc  was  a  charter  member  and  the 
first  Worshipful  Master  of  .Burns  Lodge  A.  F.  A.  M..  and  was 
largely  instrumental  in  the  erection  of  L'nion  Block.  In  politics 
lie  was  a  member  of  the  various  parties  that  followed  each 


Manufacturing.  5 

other  as  the  principal  opponents  of  the  Democratic  party.  He  was 
elected  by  the  Know-nothings  to  the  Legislature  in  1855,  and  as  a 
candidate  for  re-election  the  following  year  suffered  defeat  with 
his  associates  on  the  ticket.  He  was  generally  held  in  such  high 
esteem  that  he  was  often  nominated  by  his  party  friends  for 
public  office  for  the  purpose  of  strengthening  it  when  defeat 
was  inevitable  but  a  full  vote  desired. 

Charles  Hartshorn  is  still  living  in  Cambridge,  Mass.  He  was, 
while  resident  here,  an  able,  active,  and  public-spirited  business 
man,  who  advocated  all  the  public  enterprises  and  improvements 
that  rendered  those  years  memorable.  From  the  time  he  became 
a  citizen  of  the  town,  in  1859,  until  his  removal,  in  1880,  he  was 
one  of  the  landlords  of  the  Crawford  House  at  the  "White  Mountain 
Notch,  in  partnership  with  Col.  Joseph  L.  Gibb,  Timothy  Woolcott, 
James  M.  Hadley,  and  others  who  at  different  times  were  con- 
nected in  this  capacity  with  that  celebrated  summer  resort.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  building  committee  that  superintended  the 
erection  of  Union  Block,  and  also  of  that  appointed  by  Union  School 
District  to  build  the  High  School  building.  With  Mrs.  Hartshorn 
he  gave  the  Episcopal  Church  the  lot  on  School  Street  on  which 
its  church  now  stands.  A  Republican  in  politics,  he  was  several 
times  the  candidate  of  that  party  for  public  office.  He  possessed 
a  sharp  tongue,  and  was  seemingly  unmindful  of  the  fact  that  its 
use  in  lashing  the  foibles  of  his  acquaintances  had  a  marked 
tendency  to  render  him  unpopular  with  the  victims  of  its  sting. 
He  was  given  to  applying  to  any  one  whom  he  disliked  a  charac- 
terizing epithet  so  descriptive  and  appropriate  that  it  stuck  to 
the  individual  for  years.  Mr.  Hartshorn  was  also  noted  for  being 
one  of  the  two  persons  in  town  who  habitually  wore  a  silk  tile. 

After  the  death  of  Nelson  C.  Farr,  who  had  acquired  a  control- 
ling interest  in  the  stock  of  the  scythe  factory  company,  the  cor- 
poration became  insolvent,  and  its  affairs  were  closed  up.  Sharp 
competition  and  the  distance  from  the  supply  of  raw  material 
made  it  impossible  for  the  company  to  keep  the  field  against 
manufacturers  more  favorably  located. 

The  property  was  purchased  in  1887  by  Charles  F.  Harris,  \vho 
utilized  it  for  the  manufacture  of  carriages  and  sleighs.  Mr. 
Harris  is  an  expert  mechanic,  and  has  given  much  attention  to 
improving  carriages,  with  the  result  that  he  makes  a  class  of  goods 
in  great  demand  on  account  of  their  durability  and  comfort,  partic- 
ularly springboards  and  a  sleigh  the  body  of  which  is  set  upon 
steel  springs.  In  18U2  Henry  Merrill  bought  an  interest  in  the 
establishment  of  Mr.  Harris,  and  the  plant  was  considerably 


6  History  of  Littleton. 

enlarged  and  improved.  In  1902  the  property  was  sold  to  the  Pike 
Manufacturing  Company,  and  Charles  F.  Harris  &  Co.  then  bought 
of  Noah  W.  Ranlett  the  shop  on  Mill  Street,  formerly  the  pot- 
ashery  of  Roby,  Curtis,  &  Co.,  built  in  1805  and  converted  into  a 
blacksmith's  shop  in  1856  by  Eben  Stevens,  and  then  into  a  car- 
riage shop  by  Daniel  and  Albert  H.  Quimby  in  1858. 

For  more  than  thirty  years  the  Saranac  Glove  Company  has 
been  the  principal  manufacturing  industry  of  the  town.  It  was 
started  in  a  small  way  by  Ira  Parker  in  1866.  Mr.  Parker  was 
then  in  company  with  his  father,  Silas  Parker,  in  tanning  at  the  old 
Bonney  yard.  He  was  alert,  industrious,  and  progressive  in  his 
business,  and  soon  mastered  the  fundamental  principles  of  a  suc- 
cessful manufacturing  career,  —  those  of  buying  his  raw  material 
in  the  lowest  market  and  selling  the  product  in  the  highest.  When 
at  school  in  Lisbon,  he  had  earned  his  pocket  money  by  making 
gloves  and  selling  them  while  his  fellow  students  enjoyed  the 
pleasures  and  frolics  common  to  after-school  hours.  On  his  twen- 
tieth birthday,  October  7, 1866,  his  father  gave  him  his  iwtime,"  and 
offered  him  a  share  in  the  business,  which  was  eagerly  accepted, 
and  the  young  man  of  twenty  embarked  on  his  career  owing 
63.600.  He  at  once  turned  his  attention  to  making  gloves.  His 
stock  consisted  of  such  deer  and  dog  skins  as  were  offered  for  sale 
in  the  local  market.  When  this  source  of  supply  was  found  in- 
adequate, he  started  on  a  tour  through  Cob's  in  search  of  deerskins 
and  to  place  his  manufacture*]  goods  where  they  would  eventually 
add  to  his  list  of  customers  ;  and  in  these  respects  he  was  abun- 
dantly successful.  In  the  early  days  of  his  enterprise  he  did  all 
the  work.  —  tanning,  cutting,  sewing,  finishing,  and  selling  the 
product.  With  his  customary  enterprise  Mr.  Parker  neglected 
nothing  that  was  calculated  to  increase  his  business  ;  yet  the  gloves 
were,  in  the  main,  self-advertising,  making  their  way  on  their 
merit,  and  their  production  soon  taxed  the  resources  of  the  young 
manufacturer. 

The  old-fashioned  method  of  tanning  occupied  months  in  pre- 
paring leather  for  use.  and  Mr.  Parker  was  constantly  experi- 
menting to  discover  a  quicker  method.  He  had  made  some  advance 
in  this  direction  when  he  found  he  had  been  anticipated  by  Moses 
Page,  of  Franklin,  who  had  patented  the  process  known  by  his 
name.  The  right  to  the  exclusive  use  of  the  new  invention  soon 
became  the  property  of  the  company,  and  largely  increased  its 
iacilities  for  making  gloves.  Thus,  without  capital  but  with  abun- 
dant courage,  enterprise,  and  hope,  he  was  successfully  launched 
on  his  career. 


o 


o 


Manufacturing.  7 

This  enterprise  had  attracted  the  attention  of  Charles  T.  Lin- 
coln, a  travelling  salesman  whose  line  was  the  sale  of  gentlemen's 
furnishing  goods.  To  his  practised  eye  the  superior  quality  of 
the  goods  was  apparent,  and  he  also  saw  the  commercial  possibili- 
ties likely  to  result  from  their  manufacture  on  a  large  scale.  He 
discussed  the  matter  with  Mr.  Parker,  and  the  result  was  the 
formation  of  the  firm  of  Ira  Parker  &  Co.,  with  both  these  gentle- 
men as  partners.  Several  months  afterward  George  M.  Glazier, 
of  Boston,  and  Silas  Oscar  Parker  became  members  of  the  firm. 
The  manufacturing  department  was  removed  to  the  building 
lately  occupied  by  the  Cohashauke  Club,  which  was  purchased  of 
Henry  Merrill.  S.  0.  Parker  was  a  member  of  the  company 
about  two  years,  when  his  interest  was  taken  by  his  brother  Ira. 
The  connection  of  Mr.  Lincoln  witli  the  firm  was  terminated  by  his 
death  in  1879.  He  was  passing  the  summer  at  Little  Compton, 
R.  I.,  and  while  fishing  from  a  rock  slipped  into  the  sea  and  was 
drowned.  He  was  a  man  of  genial  presence,  and  his  business 
ability  was  of  a  high  order.  The  surviving  partners  bought  of 
the  executor  of  his  estate  the  interest  he  held  in  the  business  of 
the  firm,  and  for  ten  years  were  the  sole  owners. 

Within  three  years  the  company  had  outgrown  its  quarters,  and 
in  1878  the  plant  of  the  Littleton  Woollen  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany became  the  property  of  the  firm.  This  large  plant  had  been 
idle  for  nearly  three  years,  and  was  secured  from  its  Boston 
owners  for  a  sum  less  than  that  received  by  its  purchasers  for  the 
woollen  machinery.  The  factory  was  soon  converted  into  a  tannery 
and  glove  shop,  and,  for  the  first  time  since  the  organization  of 
the  firm,  all  its  departments  but  that  of  the  office  were  under  the 
same  roof.  The  company  was  soon  compelled  by  its  increasing 
business  to  add  to  its  manufacturing  facilities,  and  the  large  shop 
east  of  the  main  building  was  built  for  the  accommodation  of  its 
glove-making  department,  while  the  old  factory  was  used  as  a 
tannery.  The  company  then  had  for  use  buildings  with  a  floor 
space  of  more  than  thirty  thousand  square  feet.  It  also  owned 
the  old  saw-mill,  more  than  thirty  tenements,  and  a  store-house 
ample  for  the  requirements  of  its  large  business.  The  saw-mill 
property  had  been  leased  for  various  purposes.  It  was  occupied 
in  part  by  Simpson  Brothers,  carpenters  and  builders,  and  by  Henry 
A.  Eaton  as  a  bobbin  factory.  Seven  years  after  it  was  thus 
equipped,  on  the  morning  of  November  10,  1887,  the  old  factory 
and  saw-mill  erected  in  1839  were  destroyed  by  lire.  This  con- 
flagration was  the  most  disastrous  in  respect  to  loss  of  property  in 
the  history  of  the  town.  The  fire  originated  in  the  bobbin  factorv, 


8  History  of  Littleton. 

and  spread  with  great  rapidity  until  the  factory  building,  and  the 
old  foundry  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street,  were  swept  away  by 
the  flames.  The  foundry  had,  more  than  a  score  of  years  before, 
been  converted  into  a  double  tenement  by  Robert  Whittaker.  At 
the  time  of  this  loss  the  Saranac  Company  was  pressed  to  fill 
orders,  and  was  advised  by  builders  that  the  tannery  could  not  be 
replaced  until  spring ;  but  Mr.  Parker  thought  otherwise,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  execute  plans  already  formed.  He  employed  mechanics, 
contracted  for  lumber  and  other  material,  and  as  soon  as  the  in- 
surance was  adjusted  a  large  force  was  at  work  on  the  new  building. 
Many  obstacles  were  encountered.  The  large  chimney  was  built 
in  open  air  when  the  thermometer  at  times  registered  24°  below 
zero,  and  a  method  had  to  be  improvised  to  keep  bricks. and 
mortar  from  freezing  when  they  came  in  contact.  But  in  spite  of 
this,  and  many  other  discouragements,  on  the  14th  of  December, 
just  thirty  days  from  the  time  when  the  first  blow  was  struck  on 
the  new  building,  it  was  completed  and  the  machinery  in  place 
and  in  operation.  This  shop  occupies  the  site  of  the  woollen  mill, 
is  one  hundred  and  seventy  feet  long,  forty-five  wide,  and  has  two 
stories  above  the  basement.  A  bobbin  factory  and  steam  plant  for 
heating  all  the  buildings  of  the  firm  used  for  manufacturing  pur- 
poses was  constructed  at  the  same  time. 

The  growth  of  the  glove  industry  was  not  confined  to  the 
Saranac  Company.  It  was  the  pioneer  that  led  the  way,  but 
others  followed  in  its  train.  The  first  of  these  was  a  firm  com- 
posed of  Henry  H.  and  Charles  Parker,  brothers  of  Ira,  who  in 
June,  1874,  started  in  business  in  rooms  over  the  store  of  Farr 
tt  Dow,  which  stood  on  the  present  site  of  the  Chutter  Block. 
This  enterprise  prospered  from  the  start.  For  a  time  its  tanning 
was  done  by  Ira  Parker  &  Co.,  but  within  a  year  the  brothers 
bought  of  Charles  H.  Applebee  the  old  Palmer  Mill  on  the 
Apthorp  road  and  converted  it  into  a  tannery.  In  1876  the 
firm  was  merged  in  the  Eureka  Glove  Manufacturing  Company, 
a  corporation  of  which  Sylvester  Marsh,  Henry  L.  Tilton.  Ira  G. 
Stevens,  Henry  II.  Parker,  and  Nelson  Parker  were  the  directors. 
Mr.  Marsh  was  president  of  the  company,  Mr.  Tilton  treasurer, 
Ira  G.  Stevens  secretary,  and  Charles  Parker  general  manager. 
Within  a  few  years  the  corporation  passed  through  several  muta- 
tions. In  1877  Charles  Parker  purchased  all  the  stock  held  by 
his  associates  and  became  sole  owner  of  the  plant.  In  1871.'  his 
brother  Nelson  bought  a  considerable  interest,  and  Porter  B. 
Watson  also  became  the  owner  of  a  block  of  its  stock  about 
the  same  time  and  assumed  charge  of  its  tanninir  branch.  In 


HI:NKY    C.  LIBISEY. 


Manufacturing.  9 

1881  Henry  Merrill,  who  had  retired  from  the  lumber  firm  of 
Van  Dyke  &  Merrill,  became  interested  in  the  concern  and  was 
for  some  time  its  selling  agent.  Charles  Parker  in  1887  again 
owned  all  the  stock,  and  retained  it  until  the  company  was  con- 
solidated with  the  Saranac  and  other  companies.  This,  like  the 
parent  concern,  was  prosperous,  and  gave  employment  to  about 
one  hundred  persons. 

The  third  firm  formed  for  the  purpose  of  making  gloves  was 
the  Granite  State  Glove  Company,  established  in  1880  by  Charles 
L.  and  Sherared  Clay,  Thomas  Carleton,  and  Henry  C.  Libbey. 
They  leased  of  Willard  Hall  Kneeland  the  old  scythe-factory 
property  at  Apthorp,  and  there  began  business.  After  four  years 
of  fairly  prosperous  business,  when  the  real  estate  had  passed  to 
Dr.  Thaddeus  E.  Sanger,  the  company  was  merged  in  a  corpora- 
tion under  the  same  style  and  title,  witli  a  capital  of  $25,000. 
The  board  of  directors  was  made  up  as  follows:  Charles  L.  Clay, 
Sherared  Clay,  Thomas  Carleton,  Henry  C.  Libbey,  and  Charles 
H.  Morrill.  Mr.  Libbey  was  its  president,  Charles  L.  Clay  treas- 
urer, his  brother  Sherared  superintendent,  and  Mr.  Carleton  trav- 
elling salesman.  In  1885  Dr.  Sanger  became  a  stockholder,  and 
was  made  a  director.  The  same  officers  and  directors  continued 
to  direct  the  affairs  of  the  company  until  it  was  consolidated  with 
the  Saranac  Company. 

The  White  Mountain  Glove  Company,  organized  in  1880,  was 
the  title  of  a  firm  that  was  established  by  Alonzo  Weeks,  George 
L.  Whittaker,  and  Robert  Meiner.  Its  place  of  business  was  in 
the  second  story  of  the  block  at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Mill 
Streets,  now  (1904)  occupied  by  Fred  H.  English.  Mr.  Wrecks 
had  charge  of  the  books  and  stock,  Mr.  Whittaker  of  the  sales, 
and  Mr.  Meiner,  who  was  a  practical  glove-maker  of  much  expe- 
rience, looked  after  the  manufacturing  department.  This  concern 
employed  between  thirty  and  forty  persons.  It  was  dependent 
upon  one  of  the  older  concerns  for  its  tanned  stock,  and  labored 
under  other  disadvantages  to  which  the  older  companies  were  not 
subjected.  The  trade  soon  felt  the  rivalry  between  the  manufac- 
turers, the  competition  was  sharp,  profits  decreased  and  sometimes 
disappeared  altogether.  Under  these  conditions  the  White  Moun- 
tain Company  wound  up  its  affairs  in  1886. 

The  Eureka  and  Granite  State  Companies  maintained  their  posi- 
tion for  some  years,  but  the  returns  were  not  always  satisfactory, 
and  in  December,  188D,  the  three  companies  then  engaged  in  the 
glove-making  industry  were  united,  taking  the  name  of  the  original 
and  most  important,  and  were  incorporated  as  the  Saranac  Buck 


10  History  of  Littleton. 

Glove  Company,  with  a  capital  of  $125,000.  Each  of  the  old 
companies  was  represented  in  the  new  corporation.  Its  board 
of  directors  consisted  of  Henry  C.  Libbey,  Henry  F.  Green, 
Dr.  Thaddeus  E.  Sanger,  Charles  Parker,  Charles  L.  Clay, 
George  M.  Glazier,  and  Ira  Parker.  Its  officers  were  George  M. 
Glazier,  president;  Henry  C.  Libbey,  vice-president;  Charles  L. 
Clay,  secretary ;  Henry  F.  Green,  treasurer,  and  Ira  Parker, 
general  manager.  In  thirteen  years  but  four  changes  have  occurred 
in  its  list  of  stockholders.  In  September,  1890,  George  M.  Glazier 
retired,  Ira  Parker  having  bought  his  stock,  and  Charles  L.  Clay 
disposed  of  his  holdings  in  1895  and  resumed  his  profession  as 
an  educator,  which  he  had  abandoned  to  engage  in  business. 
After  the  withdrawal  of  Mr.  Glazier  the  sales  department  was 
transferred  to  the  home  office,  with  Charles  E.  Carter,  E.  T.  Kim- 
ball,  and  E.  C.  Langford  as  travelling  salesmen.  Subsequently 
George  R.  Armstrong  succeeded  Mr.  Carter.  In  1898  Ira  Parker 
disposed  of  his  interest  to  George  M.  Glazier,  who  again  took  up 
the  work  with  renewed  ardor.  The  volume  of  business  has  been 
largely  increased  since  the  return  of  Mr.  Glazier  and  Mr.  Green 
to  the  management. 

The  consolidation  of  the  glove  interests  of  the  town  was  un- 
doubtedly for  the  benefit  of  the  owners  of  the  several  properties, 
but  it  is  doubtful  whether  the  change  was  in  the  public  interest. 
Certainly  one  strong  company  would  be  more  likely  to  advance  the 
welfare  of  the  community  than  several  comparatively  weak  ones. 
It  is  equally  evident  that  the  absence  of  competition  has  resulted  in 
the  employment  of  fewer  people  by  the  strong  company  than  were 
at  work  for  the  three  out  of  which  it  was  constructed.  The  com- 
petition in  this  particular  branch  of  business  has  followed  closely 
the  general  trend  of  affairs,  and  it  is  due  to  the  public  spirit  of  its 
stockholders  that  in  this  trust-creating  age  this  industry  has 
escaped  the  exploitation  of  the  promoter.  The  corporation  now 
employs  two  hundred  and  seventy-five  persons,  of  whom  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  are  men  and  boys  and  one  hundred  and  twenty -five 
women  and  girls.  It  uses  annually  in  its  business  three  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  skins,  produces  eighty-two  thousand  dozen 
pairs  of  gloves  and  its  monthly  pay-roll  averages  $9,500. 1  For- 
merly the  only  grade  of  goods  manufactured  were  heavy  gloves 
for  men's  wear.  The  present  product  includes  all  kinds  for  the 
use  of  both  sexes. 

The  original  combination  of  partners  was  to  a  certain  extent 
accidental,  but  it  possessed  the  elements,  natural  and  acquired, 
1  These  statistics  are  based  on  the  business  of  1900. 


GEO.    M.   GLAZIER. 


Manufacturing.  11 

essential  to  business  success.  Charles  T.  Lincoln  was  exceptionally 
well  qualified  for  the  position  assigned  to  him  in  the  company. 
He  had  for  several  years  been  a  travelling  salesman,  and  to  his 
not  inconsiderable  business  experience  and  judgment  he  brought 
the  manners  of  a  genial  and  cultivated  gentleman. 

George  M.  Glazier  was  at  that  time  a  Boston  merchant  dealing 
in  furnishing  goods  of  all  sorts.  He  was  born  in  Rutland,  Mass., 
about  1842,  and  as  a  lad  \Vas  full  of  push  and  go.  When  seven- 
teen years  of  age,  tiring  of  the  monotonous  life  of  a  hill  town, 
he  made  his  way  to  New  York  City,  where  he  found  employ- 
ment in  the  store  of  Utely  Brothers  in  Spring  Street,  as  office 
boy,  and  for  eighteen  months  was  general  factotum  with  the  privi- 
lege of  working  from  twelve  to  fifteen  hours  a  day  and  sleeping 
on  the  counter.  This  severe  apprenticeship  had  its  reward,  and 
at  the  end  of  two  years  he  was  superintendent  of  the  business 
of  the  house  and  at  the  close  of  another  was  offered  a  partnership- 
He,  however,  had  formed  other  plans,  and  came  to  Boston,  where 
he  was  employed  two  years  in  the  silk  department  of  the  house 
of  Palmer.  Waterman  &  Hatch  ;  then  for  two  years  was  with 
Mason  &  Tucker,  dealers  in  furnishings.  In  1805  he  engaged 
in  business  on  his  own  account  at  81  Summer  Street,  with  Mr. 
Marean  as  partner,  under  the  firm  name  of  Glazier  &  Marean. 
The  firm  was  enterprising  and  did  a  profitable  business,  employing 
thirty-three  salesmen,  sixteen  of  whom  travelled  for  the  house. 
After  a  partnership  of  three  years  he  purchased  the  business,  and 
not  only  held  the  trade,  but  increased  it  during  the  few  years 
intervening  between  his  assuming  its  responsibilities  and  the 
great  fire  of  1872  which  swept  his  establishment  from  existence. 
This  disaster  and  the  failure  of  some  of  the  insurance  companies 
left  him  largely  in  debt,  but  with  the  assistance  of  a  New  York 
friend  he  resumed  business  within  a  week,  and  in  a  few  months 
had  the  satisfaction  of  settling  the  last  of  the  indebtedness  caused 
by  the  fire  at  a  hundred  cents  on  the  dollar.  Those  were 
the  days  of  the  paper  collar,  when  an  investment  of  a  few  dol- 
lars made  a  brave  show  of  stock  in  country  stores.  One  of  the 
private  brands  of  these  goods  was  the  Elmwood  Collar,  manu- 
factured by  Mr.  Glazier,  which  was  a  source  of  large  profit  and 
the  principal  means  of  restoring  his  fortunes  after  the  great  lire 
of  1<S72. 

In  Mr.  Glazier  are  combined  the  Yankee's  fondness  for  and  skill 
in  trade  with  great  energy  and  persistence.  He  always  knows 
what  he  wants,  and  dallies  not  in  his  efforts  to  reach  his  objective 
point.  His  winter  home  is  in  Cambridge,  Mass.,  and  he  owns  a 


12  History  of  Littleton. 

fine  estate  in  Rutland,  in  the  same  State,  where  he  spends  the 
summer  months. 

Ira  Parker  was  born  in  Lisbon  at  Sugar  Hill,  October  7,  1846. 
His  education  was  acquired  in  the  common  schools  in  his  district 
and  at  the  hitrh  school  in  Lisbon  village.  His  father  removed 

o  o 

from  Lisbon  to  Littleton  in  the  autumn  of  1865,  and  Ira  followed 
at  the  conclusion  of  his  winter  term  at  the  high  school  in  the 
following  April.  With  the  passing  years  he  has  stored  his  mind 
with  practical  knowledge  that  is  acquired  only  in  the  school  of 
experience.  In  boyhood  he  had  learned  the  tanner's  trade  and 
knew  at  a  glance  the  quality  and  value  of  leather.  When  he 
had  been  for  some  months  making  gloves  in  a  small  way, 
he  entered  a  glove  shop  at  Ashland,  and  for  several  weeks  de- 
voted his  time  to  acquiring  a  knowledge  oft  the  details  of  the 
business  in  each  of  its  departments.  Such  wras  his  application 
and  discernment  that  he  returned  to  his  home  a  master  of  the 
art,  and  the  results  have  been  written  large  in  the  enterprise  he 
founded  and  in  the  advancement  and  welfare  of  the  town  of  his 
adoption.  He  devoted  his  energies  for  more  than  thirty  years  to 
building  up  the  glove-making  business  at  Littleton.  He  saw 
the  u  infant  industry  "  under  his  management  advance  through 
all  its  various  stages,  from  the  time  when  he  was  its  only  employee 
until  it  gave  regular  occupation  to  two  hundred  and  fifty  persons, 
and  its  product,  sold  in  every  State  in  the  Union  and  in  many 
foreign  countries.  His  connection  with  the  glove  industry  has  been 
recounted  in  the  preceding  pages,  but  his  activities  in  the  business 
world  have  by  110  means  been  confined  to  that  particular  enter- 
prise. He  has  been  a  purchaser  of  real  estate,  and  until  very 
recently  was  the  largest  owner  of  that  class  of  property  in  town. 
He  built  the  extensive  greenhouses  above  High  Street,  where  are 

C  o 

grown  out-of-scason  vegetables  for  the  Boston  market ;  aided 
materially  in  the  establishment  of  the  shoe  company  of  which 
he  was  one  of  the  original  directors ;  has  been  a  director  in  the 
National  Bank,  and  a  trustee  in  the  Savings  Bank  ;  and  in  many 
other  ways  has  been  an  active  working  and  financial  assistant  in 
the  promotion  of  the  material  interests  of  the  community.  After 
his  retirement  from  the  exacting  cares  of  the  establishment  lie 
was  mainly  instrumental  in  founding,  he  took  a  well-earned  rest 
for  nearly  four  years,  —  not  a  rest  of  idleness,  for  he  had  many 
interests  to  supervise,  but  a  surcease  of  responsibility  from  the 
management  of  large  affairs.  In  company  with  Maurice  C.  Taylor 
in  1002,  he  purchased  the  old  Arlington  Mills  at  Arlington,  Mass. 
These  mills  were  established  nearlv  two  hundred  and  fiftv  vcars 


IK  A   I'AKKKK 


M a  mi  fa  during.  1 3 

ago,  and  at  the  time  the  new  proprietors  assumed  charge  of  the 
property  had  apparently  outlived  their  days  of  usefulness.  Now, 
however,  they  have  assumed  an  air  of  prosperity  akin  to  their 
renown  of  old. 

The  town  has,  fortunately,  had  her  captains  of  industry  at  every 
critical  period  in  her  industrial  history,  —  men  of  keen  vision, 
abounding  enthusiasm,  unflinching  courage,  and  great  power  of 
concentration.  Their  very  limitations  served  to  add  force  to  these 
essential  qualities  and  enable  their  possessors  to  keep  the  wheels 
of  progress  in  motion  under  all  conditions,  even  when  promise  of 
eventual  success  was  very  obscure.  Of  these  masters  of  indus- 
trialism none  has  made  a  larger  contribution  to  the  material 
prosperity  of  the  town  than  Ira  Parker. 

Our  manufacturing  industries,  with  a  single  exception,  that  of 
the  shoe  company,  have  been  established  solely  by  citizens  of  the 
town,  and  have  developed  from  small,  even  in  some  instances 
insignificant,  beginnings.  The  starting  of  the  stereoscopic-view 
business  of  Benjamin  W.  Kilburn,  now  the  leading  house  in  its 
line  in  the  world,  was  of  this  character.  It  had  its  origin  in  the 
photographic  business  of  Edward  Kilburn,  located  in  the  upper 
rooms  of  the  McCoy  block  in  1855.  Through  this  medium  Ben- 
jamin W.  Kilburn  became  interested  in  sun-pictures,  and  es- 
pecially in  landscape  photography.  Enthusiasm  led  him  on  until 
he  became  exceptionally  skilled  in  the  use  of  the  camera. 
Nearly  twenty  years  before,  the  stereoscope  had  been  invented 
by  Professor  Wheatstone,  improved  by  Professor  Brewstcr,  but 
awaited  the  vitalizing  touch  of  Dr.  Oliver  Wendell  Holmes,  who 
invented  the  hand  stereoscope,  and  published  in  the  pages  of 
the  "Atlantic  Monthly"  two  or  three  papers  which  called  general 
attention  to  the  beauty  and  usefulness  of  this  class  of  pictures. 
This  was  just  before  the  outbreak  of  the  great  Rebellion,  and  the 
efforts  of  Mr.  Kilburn  did  not  pass  the  experimental  stage  until 
about  the  time  of  the  close  of  the  war. 

The  business  had  been  so  far  developed  that  a  partnership  had 
been  formed  by  the  brothers,  and  in  1867  they  erected  a  building 
on  the  site  of  the  Chutter  Block,  which  afterwards  became  the 
"  White  Store,"  recently  removed  to  Pleasant  Street  and  con- 
verted into  tenements.  Here  Edward  continued  the  general  pho- 
tographic business  and  the  firm  manufactured  stereoscopic  views. 
It  was  not  long  before  the  rapid  increase  in  the  demand  for  their 
views  crowded  out  the  other  branch  of  the  business.  The  camera 
work  was  entirely  under  the  charge  of  Benjamin  W.,  while  Edward 
gave  his  attention  to  the  manufacturing  branch  of  the  business. 


14  History  of  Littleton. 

In  those  early  days  they  confined  their  work  to  White  Mountain 
scenes  with  a  few  local  views  and  composition  or  group  pieces. 
Mr.  Kilburn  with  his  camera  and  outfit  strapped  on  his  back  soon 
became  one  of  the  most  familiar  figures  in  the  mountain  region. 
He  went  everywhere ;  the  show  places,  hotels,  coaches,  all  the 
scenes  known  to  the  traveller  received  his  attention,  while  many 
charming  bits  of  scenery  by  craggy  cliff,  purling  brook,  or  lake 
nestling  beneath  the  shadows  of  frowning  heights  and  wide- 
extended  landscape,  seen  from  well-nigh  inaccessible  places,  that 
never  before  disclosed  their  beauties  to  men,  were  caught  on 
the  sensitive  plates  of  his  camera  and  preserved  to  awaken  the 
admiration  of  countless  people  at  home  and  in  far-distant  lands. 
This  work  disclosed  his  adaptability  for  his  chosen  profession. 
While  the  skill  of  the  photographer  is  largely  mechanical,  it  re- 
quires an  artistic  eye  as  well  as  a  sense  of  the  beautiful  to  discern 
the  point  of  vantage  from  whence  the  charms  of  nature  are  dis- 
closed in  regal  fulness,  and  these  qualities  Mr.  Kilburn  possesses 
to  a  degree  that  would  have  made  him  an  artist  in  colors  had 
he  devoted  himself  to  that  art  instead  of  to  the  lights  and  shades 
which  the  sun  pictures  on  the  photographer's  plate.  After  years 
devoted  to  the  work  of  securino;  and  publishing  the  manv  scenes 

O  1  O  *- 

of  natural  beauty  at  home,  there  came  a  period  of  expansion  when 
he  journeyed  the  world  over  in  search  of  what  was  attractive  in 
nature  or  art,  or  peculiar  in  the  manners  or  customs  of  the  people  ; 
and  these  with  countless  scenes  of  historic  interest  have  been  trans- 
ferred to  paper  to  amuse  and  instruct  the  people  of  every  clime. 

The  growth  of  the  business  kept  pace  with  Mr.  Kilburn's  ener- 
getic pursuit  of  subjects  for  his  camera.  In  ISTo  a  large  building 
was  erected  on  Cottage  Street,  and  this  was  soon  found  inade- 
quate for  the  business  and  was  enlarged  in  1880.  It  is  now  one 
hundred  and  twenty  feet  in  length,  thirty-five  in  width,  and  four 
stories  in  height,  giving  ample  space  for  the  large  business  of  the 
company.  In  1875  Benjamin  W.  Kilburn  purchased  the  interest 
of  his  brother  Edward,  and  was  sole  owner  and  manager  until  181H), 
when  the  firm  of  Benjamin  W.  Kilburn  A:  Co.  was  established,  the 
members  of  the  company  beside  Mr.  Kilburn  being  his  daughter 
and  son-in-law,  Daniel  C.  llcmich.  The  company  now  owns 
about  one  hundred  thousand  negatives,  nearly  all  of  them  exposed, 
and  many  developed,  by  Mr.  Kilburn.  The  present  annual  capacity 
of  the  establishment  is  five  million  photographs,  and  this  maximum 
is  often  reached.  The  company  gives  employment  to  about  one 
hundred  people.  Nearly  all  the  civilixcd  countries  of  the  globe 
are  traversed  bv  its  agents.  The  business  has  brought  its  owner 


•^  ..?:  ••:.**!:   ."•-  - 


Manufacturing.  15 

an  ample  fortune,  the  result  of  business  foresight  and  untiring 
energy  which  would  have  brought  their  rewards  had  their  pos- 
sessor devoted  them  to  any  other  pursuit.  But  the  busiijess  to 
which  he  has  given  all  his  powers  of  heart  arid  mind  had  for  him 
an  intellectual  and  artistic  charm  that  robed  its  drudgery  and  labor 
in  poetic  beauty  and  rendered  it  a  work  of  love. 

Mr.  Kilburn  was  educated  in  the  schools  in  Districts  Numbers 
7  and  8,  and  when  sixteen  years  of  age  went  to  Fall  River,  Mass., 
to  learn  a  trade.     Travel  and  association,  however,  with  bright 
men  have  combined  to  expand  the  rudiments  thus  acquired,  until 
knowledge  gained  in  every  clime  has  in  many  ways  cultivated  his 
mind  beyond  the  system  pursued  in  the  schools  and  made  him  one 
of  the  most  instructive  and  delightful  companions.     He  has  been 
interested  in  the  advancement  of  every  work  that  commands  the 
attention  of  good  citizens,  and  has  been  a  contributor  to  the  scien- 
tific  work  pursued  in  our  schools,  as  well  as  the  principal  financial 
support  of  the  village  reading  room  before  its  incorporation  with 
the  town  library.     His  political  convictions  have  been  intense,  but 
have    never   been    manifested  in   the  pursuit  of    personal    ends. 
Originally  a  Whig,  he  became  a  Republican  when  that  party  was 
organized,  and  while  doing  much  in  a  quiet  way  to  promote  the 
triumph  of  the  principles  for  which  his  party  has  stood,  has  de- 
clined rather  than  sought  political  honors,  and  the  only  public 
positions  he  has  held  are  those  of  Representative  to  the  General 
Court  in  1897  and  a  member  of  the  Committee  on  Town  History. 
Ed\vard  Kilburn,  who  was  associated  with  his  brother  Benjamin 
W.  in  the  stereoscopic-view-manufacturing  business,  was  born  in 
l83o  in  the  house  that  until  recently  stood  at  the  northwesterly 
corner  of  Maine  and  Church  Streets.     After  leaving  the  trade  in 
which  lie  had  been  educated,  that  of  a  machinist,  he  began  the 
photographic  business,  as  before  stated.     After  disposing  of  his 
interest  in  the  business  to  his  brother,  he  purchased  a  considerable 
tract  of  land  lying  along  the  Franconia  Road  and  on  Mount  Eustis 
that  may  well  be  described  as  wild  land,  and  engaged  in  fanning 
on  an  extensive  scale  in  accordance  witli  modern   methods,  and 
soon  his  land  was  in  a  high  state  of  cultivation,     lie  died  suddenly 
in  February,  1884,  while  on  a  business  visit  to  Boston.     The  Ivil- 
burn  brothers  were  physically  unlike, —  Benjamin  the  elder  hav- 
ing the  dark  complexion  and  general  characteristics  of  the  Ivilburn 
family,  while  Edward  had  the  light  sandy  complexion  and  nervous 
temperament  of  the  Bonneys.     He  married  Miss  Adaline  S.  Owen, 
who  was  for  several  years  previous  to  1857  a  school-teacher  in  the 
town.     Their  only  child,  a  daughter,  is  the  widow  of  Benjamin  F. 


16  History  of  Littleton. 

Robinson,  formerly  principal  of  our  high  school  and  afterward 
editor  of  the  "  Courier."  She  inherited  much  of  her  father's 
artistic  ability  and  was  for  some  time  a  photographic  artist  of 
note  in  Boston. 

The  consolidation  of  the  glove  companies  in  1889  left  the  con- 
siderable plant  of  the  Granite  State  Company  idle.  For  several 
years  efforts  were  made  by  our  citizens  to  utilize  these  shops  for 
manufacturing  purposes  without  success.  The  Board  of  Trade 
took  up  the  project  in  1891  with  a  view  of  securing  a  manufacturer 
of  shoes  to  engage  in  the  business  here.  A  committee  was  chosen 
to  visit  important  manufacturing  centres  in  this  line  for  this 
purpose.1  They  went  to  Lynn,  Newburyport,  Brockton,  and 
Marlborough  in  Massachusetts  in  quest  of  manufacturers  who 
might  be  induced  by  the  proffer  of  capital,  release  from  taxation 
and  rent,  to  accept  their  proposition.  The  industry  in  that  State 
was  at  the  time  unusually  prosperous,  and  all  approached  declined 
to  embark  in  the  proposed  venture.  Before  their  return  a 
member  of  the  committee  called  upon  a  relative  who  was  connected 
with  the  largest  shoe-jobbing  house  in  Boston  and  who  had  a  wide 
acquaintance  with  the  New  England  manufacturers  in  this  branch 
of  business,  and  to  him  made  a  full  statement  of  the  advantages 
the  citizens  of  the  town  were  prepared  to  offer  an  experienced 
manufacturer  who  would  engage  in  the  business  in  the  town. 
This  visit  bore  fruit  within  a  few  months.  At  the  jobbers'  sug- 
gestion William  H.  Nute  visited  the  town  in  July,  1895,  to  confer 
with  citizens  interested  in  the  project.  The  result  was  that  it 
was  soon  arranged  that  the  Xute  brothers,  Alfred  D.,  Albert,  and 
William  H..  should  assume  charge  of  the  manufacturing  depart- 
ment of  a  corporation  to  be  organized  as  soon  as  the  necessary 
details  could  be  perfected. 

In  compliance  with  the  request  embodied  in  a  numerously 
signed  petition  a  special  town  meeting  was  called  and  held  on  the 
twenty-seventh  duy  of  July,  189o,  at  which  it  was  voted  to  pur- 
chase the  property  known  as  the  Granite  State  Glove  Company 
property  at  Apthorp.-  and  to  lease  the  same  "  to  any  responsible 

1  This  committee  consisted  of  D.  C.  Kemich  and  Charles  C.  Smith.  Mr.  Rcmicli, 
on  account  of  business  engagements,  declined,  and  James  K.  Jackson  was  substituted. 

-  The  action  of  the  town  in  this  transaction  is  memorable  as  being  the  first 
attempt  made  on  the  part  of  a  town  in  this  State  to  invest  funds,  to  be  raised  by 
taxation  or  loan  on  the  credit  of  the  town,  in  a  manufacturing  company,  and  the 
votes  of  the  town  in  regard  thereto  are  herewith  appended. 

"On  motion  of  1).  C.  Kemich  it  was  voted  that  the  selectmen  be  and  hereby  are 
authorized  and  instructed  to  purchase  at  once,  for  the  town,  the  Granite  Stare  Glove 
Company  Property,  with  the  additions  thereto  made  by  the  Saranac  Glove  Co.  since 
the  property  came  into  their  hands,  situated  at  Apthorp,  in  Littleton,  provided  the 


Manufacturing.  17 

person,  firm,  or  corporation  "  that  would  use  it  for  manufacturing 
purposes  for  a  term  of  ten  years  and  after  the  first  year  give 
employment  to  not  less  than  one  hundred  hands,  free  of  rent  and 
taxes. 

In  August  following  articles  of  incorporation  were  filed  in  the 
office  of  the  Secretary  of  State  at  Concord.  The  capital  stock  of 
the  corporation  was  fixed  at  $32,000.  The  stockholders  were 

property  can  be  purchased  at  a  price  not  exceeding  §5000.00,  and  provided  further 
that  the  Saranac  Glove  Co.  agrees  to  invest  the  purchase  money  received  by  them 
for  said  property  in  stock  of  a  shoe,  or  other  company  to  be  organized  in  said 
town  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  on  a  manufacturing  business  in  or  upon  said  prem- 
ises; they  are  further  authorized  and  instructed  to  put  said  property  in  thorough 
repair  and  condition  for  the  manufacture  of  boots  and  shoes,  or  for  carrying  on  any 
other  manufacturing  business  which  may  be  installed  therein ;  for  the  purpose  of 
paying  for  said  property  and  the  improvements  thereon,  the  selectmen  are  authorized 
and  instructed  to  hire  such  sums  of  money  upon  the  credit  of  the  town  as  may  be 
necessary,  upon  such  terms  and  time  as  they  think  for  the  best  interest  of  the 
town. 

"The  selectmen  are  further  authorized  to  give  the  use  of  the  whole,  or  any  part 
of  said  property,  when  put  in  proper  shape  and  fit  condition  for  manufacturing  pur- 
poses, free  of  rent  to  any  responsible  person,  firm,  or  corporation  who  will  establish 
and  carry  on  a  manufacturing  business  in  or  upon  said  premises  so  long,  not  exceed- 
ing ten  years,  as  said  person,  fitm,  or  corporation  shall  carry  on  the  business  and 
employ  therein,  after  the  first  year,  not  less  than  one  hundred  hands;  temporary 
stoppages,  shut-downs  of  business,  or  reduction  of  the  number  of  hands  employed 
below  one  hundred,  caused  by  financial  or  other  business  conditions  which  similarly 
affect  like  manufacturers  throughout  the  country  shall  not  forfeit  or  terminate  the 
rights  of  parties  contracting  with  the  town  under  this  vote. 

"All  ordinary  repairs  necessary  to  be  made  upon  the  property  during  the  con- 
tinuance of  the  contracts  shall  be  made  by  the  leasees,  but  all  extraordinary 
repairs,  such  as  those  made  necessary  by  fire,  flood,  or  other  like  casualty  shall 
be  made  by  the  town,  if  they  are  the  owners  of  the  property  when  such  accident 
occur. 

"  The  selectmen  are  further  authorized  to  convey  a  reasonable  portion  of  the 
land  purchased  by  the  Saranac  Glove  Co.  of  Mrs.  H.  C.  Kedington,  since  the  con- 
solidation of  the  Granite  State  and  Saranac  companies,  which  land  adjoins  the  origi- 
nal Granite  State  Property,  to  Frederick  G.  Chutter,  or  any  other  person,  firm,  or 
corporation  who  will  purchase  the  Charles  L.  Clay  property  adjoining  the  premises 
herein  described,  put  it  in  proper  and  workmanlike  condition  for  manufacturing 
purposes,  install  therein  a  reasonable  amount  of  machinery,  and  commence  the 
manufacture  of  some  article  or  thing. 

"The  selectmen  are  further  authorized  to  give  any  responsible  person,  firm,  or 
corporation  who  will  contract  to  carry  on  a  reasonable  manufacturing  business  in  or 
upon  the  premises  aforesaid  the  option  of  purchasing  at  any  time  within  tun  years 
the  whole  or  any  portion  of  said  property  at  what  it  has  cost  the  town,  not  including 
interest  upon  the  investment,  and  they  are  hereby  authorized  to  convey  said  prop- 
erty, in  the  name  of  the  town,  by  deed. 

"On  motion  of  1).  C.  Kemich  it  was  further  voted 

"To  exempt  from  taxation  for  ten  years  the  Granite  State  Glove  Co.  property 
and  the  Charles  L.  Clay  property  situated  at  Apthorp,  in  Littleton,  and  any  and 
all  capital  used  in  operating  and  manufacturing  business  put  in  operation  or  carried 
on  in  or  upon  said  properties;  the  exemption  of  said  properties  and  capital  to  cease 
whenever  the  properties  cease  to  be  used  for  manufacturing  purposes." 

VOL.  II.         2 


18  History  of  Littleton. 

thirty-two  in  number.1  The  first  meeting  of  the  stockholders 
was  held  September  3,  1895,  when  Daniel  C.  Remich,  Ira  Parker, 
John  G.  Bent,  Oscar  C.  Hatch,  and  Alfred  D.  Nute  were  elected 
directors.  Subsequently  the  board  organized  by  the  choice  of 
Daniel  C.  Remich  as  president,  Ira  Parker  vice-president,  John 
G.  Bent  secretary  and  treasurer,  and  George  H.  Tilton  clerk  of 
the  corporation.  At  a  meeting  held  October  1,  the  president  and 
treasurer  of  the  corporation  were  authorized  to  execute  a  lease  on 
its  part  of  the  Granite  State  property  at  Apthorp  in  accordance 
with  the  conditions  prescribed  by  the  vote  of  the  town.1 

1  The  following  persons  became  subscribers  to  the  stock:  D.  C.  Remich,  Ira  Parker, 
George  H.  Tilton,  George  W.  McGregor,  Solon  L.  Simonds,  Edward  B.  Lynch,  Wil- 
liam H.  Bellows,  Henry  F.  Green,  George  W.  Cleasby,  James  W.  Remick,  Harry  D. 
Green,  C.  C.  Morris,  H.  A.  Jackman,  C.  J.  \Villey,  Charles  C.  Clough,  F.  1*.  Bond, 
Irvin  C.  Renfrew,  John  G.  Bent,  George  S.  Whittaker,  J.  H.  Bailey,  A.  \V.  Bingliam, 
C.  F.  Nutting,  Oscar  C.  Hatch,  Charles  C.  Smith,  Myron  H.  Richardson,  E.  S.  Pres- 
eott,  I.  C.  Richardson,  Charles  F.  Bingham,  Isaac  Calhoun,  William  J.  Beattie,  and 
B.  H.  Corning. 

1  A  copy  of  the  lease  follows  :  — 

"MEMORANDA  OF  AGKEEMENT  made  this  28  day  of  December,  1895,  between  the 
Littleton  Shoe  Company,  a  corporation  organized  under  the  laws  of  the  State  of 
New  Hampshire  for  the  purpose  of  doing  business  in  Littleton  in  said  state,  and  the 
town  of  Littleton. 

"  \Vitneaseth :  Pursuant  to  a  vote  of  the  town  passed  at  a  special  meeting  held  July 
27,  1895,  and  in  consideration  of  the  agreements  hereinafter  stated  to  be  performed 
by  said  shoe  company,  the  said  town  hereby  leases  said  shoe  company  all  of  the 
property  situated  at  Apthorp  in  said  Littleton,  recently  purchased  by  the  town  of 
the  Sarauac  Glove  Company,  except  that  portion  of  land  purchased  from  said  com- 
pany which  was  deeded  to  Frederick  G.  Chutter;  for  the  term  of  ten  years  from 
the  date  hereof,  free  from  taxes,  provided  said  Shoe  Co.  shall  carry  on  a  manu- 
facturing business  upon  said  property  during  said  term,  and  employ  therein  after 
the  first  year  not  less  than  one  hundred  hands. 

•'Temporary  stoppages,  shut-downs  of  business,  or  reduction  of  number  of  hands 
employed  below  one  hundred,  caused  by  financial  or  other  business  conditions 
which  similarly  affect  like  manufactories  through  the  country,  shall  not  forfeit  or 
terminate  the  rights  of  said  shoe  company  under  this  lease. 

"Said  town  agrees  to  put  the  buildings,  dam  and  flume  upon  said  property  in 
good  repair  and  condition  for  the  business  to  be  conducted  therein  ;  they  also  agree 
to  put  in  a  good  boiler  and  engine,  for  the  purpose  of  heating  and  furnishing  power 
when  the  water  power  proves  insufficient,  also  a  good  elevator  and  water  closets, 
and  to  properly  pipe  the  building  for  steam  heating. 

"  All  ordinary  repairs  necessary  to  be  made  upon  the  property  after  the  shoe  com- 
pany takes  possession  thereof  during  the  continuance  of  the  lease,  shall  be  made  by 
the  leasees,  but  all  extraordinary  repairs  such  as  those  made  by  fire,  flood,  or  other 
casualty  shall  be  made  by  the  town. 

"  The  said  town  further  agrees  in  consideration  of  the  said  shoe  company  leasing 
the  property  and  agreeing  to  carry  on  a  reasonable  business  thereon,  that  tlie  said 
shoe  company  shall  have  the  option  of  purchasing  the  leased  property  at  any  time 
while  this  lease  is  in  operation  at  what  it  has  cost  the  town,  not  including  interest 
upon  the  town's  investment. 

"  The  said  shoe  company  in  consideration  of  the  agreements  herein  contained 
upon  the  part  of  the  town,  agrees  to  lease  upon  the  terms  aforesaid,  to  start  a  nianu- 


Manufacturing.  19 

The  lease,  executed  on  the  28th  day  of  December,  1895,  was 
most  liberal  to  the  Shoe  Company.  It  provided  that  the  property 
should  be  put  in  shape  to  meet  all  the  requirements  of  the  lessees. 
The  town  paid  the  Saranac  Glove  Company  $5,000  for  the  real  es- 
tate, and  sold  a  small  strip  for  8200  to  Rev.  F.  G.  Chutter,  who 
then  expected  to  engage  in  the  business  of  manufacturing  women's 
wrappers,  leaving  the  first  cost  of  the  real  estate  $4,800.  The 
cost  to  the  town  of  the  repairs  for  the  property  up  to  the  time  of 
occupancy  was  85,570.03.  Of  this  sum  the  principal  items  of  cost 
were  $1,758.13  paid  for  labor,  $826.36  for  lumber,  $757.41  for 
piping,  $506  for  a  boiler,  $455  for  engine,  and  $77.63  for  a  fire- 
escape.  The  total  cost  of  the  property  is  reported  as  having  been 
$10,310.03  up  to  February  15,  1896.  That  year  the  plant  was 
found  to  be  too  small  in  floor  space  for  the  requirements  of  the 
corporation,  and  this  defect  was  remedied  by  adding  two  stories  to 
the  main  building,  making  it  five  stories  in  height.  This  addition 
was  made  at  a  cost  of  $3,091.36,  and  the  total  cost  of  the  plant,  as 
it  now  stands  upon  the  books  of  the  town  treasuiy,  is  $13,401.39. 

The  original  board  of  officers  and  directors  were  re-elected  in 
1896.  The  next  year  Ira  Parker  declined  to  serve  further  as  a 
director,  and  James  Henry  Bailey  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy. 
The  stockholders  at  the  same  meeting  voted  to  increase  the  num- 
ber of  directors  on  the  board  from  five  to  seven,  and  Fred  H. 
English  and  William  H.  Bellows  were  chosen  to  fill  the  positions 
thus  created.  Chauncey  H.  Greene  was  appointed  auditor.  The 
only  change  that  has  since  taken  place  in  either  board  was  the 
election  of  William  H.  Xute  as  treasurer  in  place  of  John  G.  Bent, 
and  as  clerk  of  the  corporation  to  succeed  George  H.  Tilton,  the 
previous  incumbents  having  resigned. 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  December,  1901,  it  was  voted  to 
increase  the  capital  stock  to  $72,000,  by  issuing  four  hundred 
shares  of  preferred  stock  of  the  par  value  of  $200  each.  The 
full  amount  of  the  new 'capital  was  subscribed  and  paid  into  the 
treasury  before  April  2,  1902. 

facturing  business  thereon  as  aforesaid,  and  while  in  possession  of  the  property, 
under  the  lease  to  commit  no  waste,  and  to  leave  said  property  at  the  expiration  of 
the  lease  in  as  good  condition  as  it  now  is,  ordinary  wear  and  tear  excepted. 

"The  town  of  Littleton  by 

HKNUV  F.  GUEIOX,  I 
F.  P.  B..XD. 

''  The  Littleton  Shoe  Company 

By  DANIEL  C.  HKMICH,  Pr< •*!</< -/it. 
JUIIN   G.   BI;NT,  Ti-iaturci:" 


20  History  of  Littleton. 

This  enterprise  has  doubtless  met  the  reasonable  expectations 
of  its  projectors  and  stockholders.  Before  the  close  of  the 
first  year  of  operation,  it  employed  one  hundred  and  seventeen 
hands,  and  in  1902  the  number  had  increased  to  two  hundred  and 
forty.  The  first  year  6,243  cases  of  shoes  were  manufactured, 
valued  at  §68,094.23.  The  number  of  cases  for  the  year  ending 
December  30,  1902,  was  26,781,  which  were  sold  for  8285,734.44. 
The  business  for  the  first  half  of  the  current  year  (1903)  has  more 
than  equalled  the  same  period  of  any  previous  season. 

Another  enterprise  established  here  through  instrumentalities 
of  a  somewhat  similar  character  is  the  Oilstone  branch  of  the  Pike 
Manufacturing  Company.  These  works  were  previously  located 
at  Manlius,  Xew  York.  The  company,  desiring  to  bring  them 
more  directly  under  the  personal  supervision  of  its  officers,  was 
seeking  a  suitable  site  in  this  county.  To  the  end  that  some 
provision  might  be  made  to  secure  their  location  in  this  town,  an 
article  was  inserted  in  the  warrant  calling  the  annual  March 
meeting  in  1901,  as  follows: — • 

'•'Article  VIII.  To  see  what  inducements  the  town  will  offer  the 
Pike  Manufacturing  Co.,  by  way  of  exemptions  or  other  inducements, 
to  locate  their  oilstone  works  in  this  town.'' 

Under  this  article  Daniel  C.  Remich  offered  a  resolution  ap- 
pointing a  committee  of  nine  with  full  power  to  do  any  and  all 
things  in  behalf  of  the  town  to  carry  out  the  purposes  suggested 
in  the  above  article,  which  after  debate  was  adopted.  The  same 
gentleman  also  offered  a  proposition  to  exempt  from  taxation  for 
a  term  of  ten  years  the  real  estate  and  capital  invested  in  the 
proposed  enterprise.1 

1  The  following  is  the  vote  appointing  a  committee  and  prescribing  their  power: 
"V'jtf,!,  That  Oscar  C.  Hatch,  James  II.  Bailey,  Fred  II.  English,  William  II.  Bel- 
lows, D.  C.  Remich,  Charles  F.  Eastman,  Frank  P.  Bond,  William  H.  Mitchell,  and 
Myron  II.  llichardson  be  a  town  committee,  and  that  they  be  and  hereby  are  vested 
by  the  town  with  full  power  and  authority  to  do  whatever  in  their  judgment,  or  in  a 
majority  of  thorn,  is  reasonable  and  necessary, and  for  the  best  interests  of  the  town, 
to  induce  the  Pike  Manuf.  Co.  to  locate  their  Oilstone  Works  in  Littleton. 

•'  And  the  Selectmen  are  authorized  and  instructed  to  furnish  said  Committee  with 
whatever  money  is  necessary  to  carry  out  any  agreement  that  they  may  make  in 
behalf  of  the  town  with  said  company  out  of  any  money  belonging  to  the  town 
which  may  be  available  for  such  a  purpose  at  the  time  when  it  is  needed  by  the 
Committee,  and  if  there  is  not  sufficient  available  money  on  hand  belonging  to 
the  town  at  said  time,  then  they  are  authorized  and  directed  to  borrow,  upon  the 
credit  of  the  town,  such  sums  of  money  as  may  be  necessary  upon  such  terms  and 
time  as  they  deem  for  the  best  interests  of  the  town.  Provided  that  in  no  case  shall 
the  exj>ense  incurred  by  the  committee  exceed  S10,OOU."  (Town  Records,  vol.  xix. 
pp.  oO-J-oUG.) 


Manufacturing.  21 

The  action  of  the  meeting  in  regard  to  exemption  was : 

"  Voted,  That  the  town  exempt  from  taxation  for  a  term  of  ten  years 
any  manufacturing  establishment  in  the  town  of  Littleton  which  the 
Pike  Manufacturing  Co.,  whose  principal  place  of  business  is  now  at 
Pike  Station,  in  the  town  of  Haverhill,  may  acquire  and  use  for  manu- 
facturing purposes.  Also  an\T  additions  or  improvements,  or  new 
building  hereafter  erected  thereon  for  manufacturing  purposes  and  the 
land  upon  which  the}'  are  established,  used  for  manufacturing  purposes. 
Also  the  capital  to  be  used  in  establishing  and  operating  the  same."  1 

The  proviso  by  which  the  committee  was  prohibited  from  ex- 
pending, or  pledging  the  town  for  an  expenditure  in  excess  of 
$10,000  was  not  a  part  of  the  original  vote,  but  was  added  in  the 
meeting  as  an  amendment. 

Vested  with  these  extraordinary  powers,  the  committee  at  once 
entered  upon  negotiations  for  carrying  into  effect  the  plans  con-: 
templated  by  the  vote  of  the  town.  On  the  first  day  of  August, 
1901,  the  Pike  Manufacturing  Company  and  the  committee,  in 
behalf  of  the  town,  entered  into  an  agreement  which  resulted  in 
the  establishment  of  the  oilstone  plant  of  the  company  on  the 
property  formerly  owned  and  occupied  for  manufacturing  pur- 
poses successively  by  the  Littleton  Starch  Company,  the  Scythe 
Company,  and  the  Charles  F.  Harris  Carriage  Company.2  The 

1  Town  Records,  vol.  xix.  p.  305. 

2  The  agreement  between  the  contracting  parties  is  given  in  full :  — 

"  This  AGREEMENT  made  and  entered  into  this  first  day  of  August,  1901,  by  and 
between  the  Pike  Manufacturing  Company  of  Pike  Station,  New  Hampshire,  party 
of  the  first  part,  and  the  Town  of  Littleton,  County  of  Grafton  and  State  of  New 
Hampshire,  party  of  the  second  part. 

WITNESSETH  :  That  the  party  of  the  first  part  hereby  agrees  to  move  its  Oilstone 
business  to  and  install  the  same  upon  the  Charles  F.  Harris  property,  so  called,  situ- 
ated in  said  Littleton,  New  Hampshire,  within  three  (3)  years  from  date,  and  to  expend 
in  moving  and  installing  said  business,  in  making  improvements  to  the  buildings 
upon  said  Harris  property  and  in  the  construction  and  improvement  of  other  build- 
ings on  said  Harris  property  for  manufacturing  and  storage  purposes,  at  least  Four- 
teen Thousand  Dollars  (814,000.00)  in  addition  to  the  money  paid  it  by  the  Town  of 
Littleton,  within  said  three  (3)  years. 

"  Said  first  party  further  agrees  to  have  regularly  employed  in  said  manufactory 
at  the  end  of  three  years  from  date  not  less  than  thirty  (30)  men,  and  to  carry  on 
said  business  thereafter  in  said  Littleton  for  the  term  of  ten  years  from  date  of  this 
contract,  employing  not  less  than  thirty  (30)  men  unless  prevented  by  serious  business 
depression  or  other  unavoidable  casualty.  If  said  party  of  the  first  part  fails  to 
move,  and  install  said  Oilstone  business  in  Littleton,  New  Hampshire,  as  aforesaid, 
within  said  three  (3)  years,  or  fails  to  expend  Seven  Thousand  Dollars  (§7,000.00)  or 
more,  in  addition  to  the  money  paid  it  by  the  Town  of  Littleton  within  one  (1 )  year 
from  January  1,  1902,  it  agrees  to  pay  said  Town  of  Littleton  as  liquidated  damages 
Seven  Thousand  Dollars  ($7,000.00)  and  to  forfeit  any  exemptions  from  taxation  which 
may  have  been  granted  it  by  said  Town.  If,  on  the  other  hand,  said  first  party  shall 
install  its  said  Oilstone  business  in  Littleton  within  three  (3)  years  and  expend  said 


22  History  of  Littleton. 

property  was  entirely  remodelled  and  put  in  shape  by  the  com- 
pany as  soon  as  could  be  after  it  acquired  a  title  to  it,  and 
the  machinery  and  other  movable  effects  were  transferred  from 
the  old  factory  at  Manlius,  N.  Y.,  to  the  new,  and  it  was  soon 
in  operation. 

This  oilstone  factory  is  the  largest  concern  in  the  world  devoted 
exclusively  to  the  production  of  that  class  of  goods.  The  chief 
supply  of  raw  material  is  obtained  from  the  quarries  of  the  com- 
pany in  Garland  County,  Ark.,  near  the  city  of  Hot  Springs. 
Two  grades  of  rock  from  these  quarries  are  used,  —  a  medium 
soft,  coarse-grained  novaculite  known  commercially  as  "  Washita" 
oilstone,  and  a  very  hard,  compact,  fine-grained  novaculite  known 

Seven  Thousand  Dollars  ($7,000.00)  within  one  year  from  January  1, 1002,  but  fails  to 
expend  said  1'ourteen  Thousand  Dollars  ($14,000.00)  within  three  (3)  years,  and  fail  to 
have  regularly  employed  at  least  thirty  (30)  men  in  its  said  manufactory  at  the  end 
of  three  (3)  years  or  fails  to  carry  on  their  said  business  for  the  term  of  ten  (10) 
3'ears,  and  keep  in  their  employ  after  the  expiration  of  said  three  (3)  years  during 
the  remaining  seven  years  thirty  (30)  men  as  above  stated,  then  said  first  party  agrees 
to  pay  said  Town  as  liquidated  damages  the  sum  of  Five  Thousand  Dollars  (85,000.00) 
and  to  forfeit  any  further  exemption  from  taxation  by  said  Town. 

"  The  party  of  the  first  part  further  agrees,  that  if  the  whole  or  any  part  of  its 
manufacturing  plant  established  in  said  Littleton  is  destroyed  during  the  term  of 
ten  (10)  years  mentioned  herein,  it  will  rebuild  or  replace  the  same  within  a  reason- 
able time  so  as  to  be  able  to  perform  its  agreements  herein  contained,  and  if  it  fails 
to  rebuild  or  replace  as  aforesaid,  it  will  forfeit  and  pay  to  said  party  of  the  second 
part  Five  Thousand  Dollars  ($5,000.00)  as  liquidated  damages. 

''In  consideration  of  the  engagements  herein  made  by  the  party  of  the  first  part, 
the  Town  of  Littleton  agrees  to  exempt  from  taxation  all  property  acquired,  con- 
structed and  used  by  said  party  of  the  first  part  in  said  Littleton  for  manufacturing 
purposes  and  all  capital  invested  by  it  in  carrying  on  its  manufacturing  establish- 
ments for  ten  (10)  years  from  the  first  day  of  January,  1902. 

'•  Said  Town  further  agrees  to  pay  said  party  of  the  first  part,  upon  the  execution 
and  delivery  of  this  Agreement  in  duplicate,  Seven  Thousand  Dollars  (87,000.00)  and 
if  at  the  end  of  three  (3)  years  said  party  of  the  first  part  shall  have  kept  all  of  its 
agreements  herein  contained  and  shall  have  fifty  (50)  men,  or  more,  regularly  em- 
ployed in  its  manufacturing  establishment  in  Littleton,  New  Hampshire,  to  pay  said 
party  of  the  first  part  One  Thousand  Dollars  (§1,000.00)  with  interest  from  date  at 
four  and  one-half  per  cent  (4£/£). 

'•  IN*  WITNESS  WHKUEOF  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hands  and  seals  at  Littleton, 
New  Hampshire,  this  first  day  of  August,  1901. 

The  Pike  Manufacturing  Co. 

E.   B.   PIKE,  President. 
E.   BERTRAM  PIKE,  Secy.  iV  Trcas. 
Town  of  Littleton 

Bv  O.  C.  HATCH 


F.   H.  ENGLISH 
"\V.  H.  MITCHELL 


A  committee  chozen  [»/ 
t/ie    Town  tit  n    Tuwn 


J.   II.  BAILEY  ,'  incetiuq     /<</</    March 

D.  C.  liEMicii  |   I2t/,,  1901. 

W.M.  II.  BELLOWS 

M.    II.    KlCIIARDSOX 


n 


Manufacturing.  23 

as  "  Arkansas "  oilstone.  This  last  is  the  finest-gritted  and 
highest-priced  oilstone  known,  and  is  the  standard  the  world  over 
for  high-grade  tools.  The  rock  is  difficult  to  obtain,  and  very 
expensive  owing  to  the  fact  that  ninety-five  per  cent  is  lost  in  the 
process  of  quarrying  and  manufacturing  the  goods.  Other  mate- 
rial for  the  factory  comes  from  quarries  of  the  company  in  Orange 
County,  Ind.,  in  Ohio,  New  York,  and  Grafton  County.  Small 
quantities  of  rock  are  also  imported  from  various  quarries  in 
Europe  for  special  purposes. 

This  company  has  practical  control  of  the  market  in  this 
country  for  the  class  of  goods  it  manufactures,  and  for  certain 
of  its  grades  throughout  the  world.  It  has  factories  at  Evans- 
ville,  Vt. ,  in  Indiana,  and  a  large  scythestone  factory  at  Pike 
Station  in  Haverhill,  which  is  the  headquarters  of  the  company. 
Some  idea  of  the  scope  of  its  commercial  operations  may  be 
gathered  from  the  fact  that  it  maintains  agencies  in  London, 
Hamburg,  Paris,  Cologne,  Yokohama,  Buenos  Ayres,  Havana, 
and  Porto  Rico. 

The  New  York  agency,  at  151  Chambers  Street,  carries  a  large 
stock  of  all  the  goods  manufactured  by  the  company,  with  a  large 
line  of  imported  razor  hones,  grindstones,  sharpening  stones  and 
machines  of  all  kinds. 

The  officers  of  the  corporation  are  Edwin  B.  Pike,  president; 
George  H.  Worthington,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  vice-president;  E. 
Bertram  Pike,  secretary-treasurer.  The  superintendents  and 
managers  at  the  factories  or  quarries  are  Walter  Burbeck, 
manager  at  Pike  Station  ;  Arthur  B.  Knight,  superintendent  at 
Littleton ;  Henry  I.  Smith,  superintendent  at  Evansville,  Vt. ; 
Maurice  Gandry,  manager  of  the  New  York  Branch ;  Homer 
Fisher,  agent  at  Orleans,  Ind. ;  and  James  A.  Smith,  agent  at 
Hot  Springs,  Ark. 

The  business  was  founded  at  Haverhill  by  Isaac  Pike.  The  stone 
for  that  plant  was  quarried  in  Piermont,  near  the  line  which  sepa- 
rates that  town  from  Haverhill.  This  rock  was  used  for  scythe- 
stones  only,  and  was  of  a  superior  quality.  Alonzo  F.  Pike,  a  son 
of  Isaac,  succeeded  to  the  business,  and  under  his  direction  it  ex- 
panded and  grew  to  large  proportions.  He  secured  possession  of 
all  the  valuable  quarries  in  the  country,  and  soon  virtually  eon- 
trolled  this  line  of  business.  He  was  among  the  first  to  combine 
under  one  management  the  various  small  concerns  engaged  in  the 
same  class  of  business.  His  work  was  not  a  gigantic  undertaking, 
like  that  of  some  of  the  modern  trusts,  for  the  largest  possible 
production  was  limited  in  extent,  as  was  also  the  consumption  ;  but 


24  History  of  Littleton. 

the  principle  involved  in  each  was  the  same.  He  brought  to  his 
work  none  of  the  practices  of  the  highwayman  that  have  marked 
the  development  of  the  Standard  Oil  Trust.  His  methods  were 
clean,  open,  and  aboveboard.  There  was  no  pressure  brought 
to  bear  on  the  part  of  great  public  utilities,  or  by  depression  of 
prices  to  force  his  competitors  out  of  business  or  to  surrender 
their  property  at  a  price  far  less  than  its  value. 

In  1884  the  business  was  incorporated  under  the  style  of  the 
A.  F.  Pike  Manufacturing  Company,  with  Alonzo  F.  Pike  as 
president  and  Edwin  B.  Pike  vice-president.  In  1889  the  name 
of  the  corporation  was  changed  to  the  present  title,  and  in  1891 
E.  B.  Pike  became  president  of  the  corporation. 

Edwin  B.  Pike  was  born  in  Haverhill  April  7,  1845.  He 
attended  the  district  schools  in  his  town  until  his  fourteenth 
year,  at  which  time  his  father  died  suddenly  of  apoplexy,  render- 
ing it  necessary  for  him  to  earn  his  own  living  thenceforth.  In 
his  sixteenth  year,  being  desirous  of  a  better  education,  he  entered 
the  Newbury  Seminary  at  Newbury,  Vt.,  then  one  of  the  best- 
known  fitting  schools  in  this  section  of  Xew  England.  By  work- 
ing vacations  he  paid  his  way  through  several  terms  at  this 
seminary,  leaving  shortly  after  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  to 
go  South  with  the  Union  Army. 

He  was  married  shortly  after  the  close  of  the  war  to  Miss 
Addie  A.  Miner,  of  Lowell,  Mass.,  and  soon  afterward  started 
on  a  commercial  career  as  travelling  salesman  for  a  line  of 
patented  hardware  specialties.  In  the  early  seventies  he  en- 
gaged as  travelling  salesman  with  the  Enterprise  Manufacturing 
Company  of  Philadelphia,  and  was  for  many  years  head  salesman 
of  this  company.  In  1879,  after  a  long  and  serious  illness,  he 
was  obliged  to  give  up  travelling.  While  with  the  Enterprise 
Manufacturing  Company,  he  had  handled  also  the  larger  part  of 
the  output  of  the  scythestone  factory  owned  and  managed  by  his 
brother,  Alonzo  F.  Pike,  and,  being  of  the  opinion  that  there 
was  a  possibility  of  developing  a  large  business  in  this  line,  he 
associated  himself  with  his  brother  after  his  recovery,  and  has 
been  an  important  factor  in  the  upbuilding  of  this  enterprising 
corporation. 

The  business  instinct  has  been  largely  developed  in  this  family. 
Its  members  have  possessed  great  energy,  courage,  and  that 
far-sighted  quality  which  enables  men  to  push  onward  under 
adverse  conditions  and  reach  the  goal.  The  rugged  and  some- 
what undisciplined  energies  that  characterized  Isaac  Pike  and  his 
son  Alonzo  F.  have  been  toned  and  softened  in  Edwin  B.  Pike 


H.  B.  t'iKi . 


Manufacturing.  25 

and  his  son  E.  Bertram,  whose  early  business  education  was  ac- 
quired in  a  far  different  school  from  that  in  which  their  elders 
acquired  theirs,  with  experience  alone  as  their  instructor. 

The  conditions  under  which  the  shoe  company  was  founded  and 
the  Pike  Company's  branch  was  induced  to  locate  here  are  pecu- 
liar to  the  town,  and  in  but  one  instance,  so  far  as  we  know,  have 
they  been  imitated  in  this  State.1  Formerly  it  was  the  practice 
for  towns  to  exempt  proposed  industrial  plants  from  taxation  for 
a  term  not  exceeding  ten  years,  and  if  other  inducements  were 
required  it  was  not  uncommon  for  opulent  citizens  to  make  up  a 
purse  sufficient  in  amount  to  insure  the  location  of  the  establish- 
ment in  their  town.  This  experiment  with  us  is  socialistic  in 
form,  but  not  in  its  results.  The  tax-payer  may  be  considered  a 
partner  in  the  enterprise  in  so  far  as  he  contributes  to  its  cap- 
ital, but  is  not  a  sharer  in  its  profits  beyond  the  shadowy  advan- 
tage which  every  one  is  supposed  to  derive  from  contact  with  a 
progressive  business  enterprise.  The  advantages  of  this  system 
of  municipal  promotion  of  manufacturing  enterprises  remains 
to  be  tested  by  the  trial  to  which  time  subjects  all  ventures. 
Already  it  has  engaged  the  attention  of  teachers  of  economics 
and  political  science  who  have  begun  an  investigation  which 
will  make  clear  to  the  untutored  mind  the  advantages  and  de- 
fects of  this  peculiar  method  of  building  up  industrialism  in  the 
community. 

The  legal  aspects  of  the  case  are  of  special  interest.  The 
courts  of  New  Hampshire  have  not  manifested  a  tendency  to 
interfere  with  the  action  of  towns  in  the  local  municipal  treat- 
ment of  the  subject  of  exemptions  under  the  statute  of  1860.  It 
has  contented  itself  with  a  policy  which  has  confined  the  town 
in  its  votes  of  exemption  in  matters  of  form  to  a  literal  com- 
pliance with  the  statute.  It  has  studiously  avoided  the  decision 
of  any  test  case  which  has  raised  the  fundamental  question  of  the 
constitutionality  of  the  act  of  the  Legislature  authorizing  the 
exemption  of  any  class  of  property  at  the  expense  of  other 
classes.  The  Legislature  has,  from  a  very  early  date,  assumed 
and  exercised  the  right  to  offer  direct  bounties  for  the  encourage- 
ment and  promotion  of  various  industries.  This  species  of 
legislation  has  covered  almost  everything  at  one  time  or  another, 
from  breweries  to  the  reclamation  of  swamp-lands.  Judge  Doe 
more  than  once  betrayed  an  inclination  to  treat  the  modern  system 
of  tax  exemptions  as  something  in  its  nature  identical  with  the 
ancient  practice  of  the  bestowal  of  bounties  by  act  of  the  Legis- 

1  In  Pittsfiekl,  on  a  small  scale,  in  1901. 


26  History  of  Littleton. 

lature,  of  which  a  multitude  of  instances  are  to  be  found  in  the 
early  laws. 

The  constitutional  amendment  of  1889,  which  prohibited  the 
voting  of  the  money  of  towns  in  aid  of  private  corporations,  either 
directly  or  indirectly,  marked  a  reaction  in  public  sentiment 
against  the  policy  upon  which  state  bounties  and  tax  exemption 
are  predicated.  But  in  the  last  constitutional  convention  (1902), 
a  proposition  to  amend  the  constitution  so  as  to  forbid  exemptions 
from  taxation  of  any  one  class  of  property  was  rejected  by  a  very 
large  vote.  The  same  convention  also  indicated  its  partiality  to 
the  principle  of  inequality  in  taxation  by  its  adoption  and  sub- 
mission of  an  amendment  authorizing  the  taxation  of  the  estates 
of  deceased  persons  contrary  to  that  principle  of  equality  which 
characterized  the  old  constitution. 

Parties  seeking  exemptions  and  municipalities  granting  such 
exemptions  constantly  take  advantage  of  the  doctrine  of  laches 
to  avoid  the  ordinary  effect  of  any  claims  that  might  be  urged 
against  the  constitutionality  of  the  proceedings. 

Logically  considered,  the  case  comes  to  this:  that  if  tax  ex- 
emptions are  inherently  unconstitutional  and  yet  become  practi- 
cally constitutional  by  neglect  on  the  part  of  interested  tax-payers 
to  make  effective  protest  until  the  beneficiaries  of  the  exemption 
have  made  some  part  or  the  whole  of  their  investment,  by  parity 
of  reasoning  direct  bounties  voted  to  corporations  or  persons 
would  be  sustained  under  like  conditions  by  the  application  of  the 
doctrine  of  laches. 

It  is  not  often,  if  ever,  that  a  law  either  organic  or  statutory 
can  be  promulgated  that  is  self-enforcing.  If,  therefore,  the 
people  are  not  disposed  even  to  call  the  attention  of  the  court  to 
the  infraction  of  the  constitutional  safeguards  provided  for  them, 
all  that  can  be  said  is  that  certain  provisions  of  the  constitution 
are  becoming  obsolete,  and  to  this  extent  it  would  seem  that  a 
process  of  constitutional  amendment  is  going  on  through  the 
agency  of  non-user  or  abandonment. — a  noteworthy  tendency  in  a 
laud  where  the  supreme  law  is  founded  in  a  written  constitution. 

These  conditions  and  tendencies  are  of  interest  and  importance 
to  the  student  of  constitutional  law  and  political  science.  They 
pertain  to  questions  which  are  pressing  for  solution  at  the  present 
time  in  state  and  nation. 

The  years  in  which  these  enterprises  had  their  inception  wit- 
nessed the  passing  of  the  great  lumbering  industry  that  for  a  cen- 
tury had  been  the  chief  business  resource  of  our  people,  that  had 
filled  the  purse  of  the  landowner,  if  not  that  of  the  manufacturer, 


E.  BERTRAM  PIKI 


Manufacturing.  27 

•with  the  coin  of  the  realm,  and  given  employment  through  the  long 
winter  to  the  industrious  husbandman,  who  after  the  year's  supply 
of  wood  was  in  the  front  yard,  with  a  team  of  oxen  went  into  the 
woods  to  cut  and  haul  logs  to  tlie  saw-mill. 

The  old  mill  at  Apthorp,  so  long  operated  on  an  extensive  scale 
by  Carleton  &  Moore,  and  then  by  the  Cates  and  Gate  & 
Redington,  was  used  as  a  custom  mill  as  late  as  1881  or  1882  by 
Charles  Eaton,  when  it  passed  into  the  possession  of  the  Light 
and  Water  Company,  and  was  used  as  a  pumping  station  and 
power  house  for  that  company.  In '1870  Charles  D.  Tarbell,  Isaac 
Calhoun,  and  Charles  Eaton  formed  a  partnership  and  built  an 
extensive  mill  on  the  east  side  of  the  river  at  South  Littleton, 
where  a  large  business  was  conducted  for  a  quarter  of  a  century. 
Mr.  Calhoun  was  the  first  partner  to  withdraw  from  the  firm,  to 
be  followed  by  Mr.  Tarbell,  when  the  business  was  continued  by 
Mr.  Eaton.  At  one  time  his  son  Harry,  and  his  nephew,  Henry 
Ashley  Jackman,  were  his  partners.  The  timber  supply  in  these 
years  came  from  Bethlehem,  Carroll,  and  finally  from  Kilkenny. 
The  mill  was  destroyed  by  fire  on  the  25th  of  May,  1898,  and  this 
excellent  water-power  has  since  run  to  waste.  In  1887  George 
W.  Richardson  purchased  the  privilege  known  as  the  Bowman 
Meadow  site,  and  built  the  dam  and  mill,  which  was  burned  De- 
cember 24,  1893.  This  mill  did  quite  a  large  custom  business, 
but  its  principal  timber  supply  came  from  other  towns  in  the 
Ammonoosuc  and  Connecticut  valleys.  This  power,  once  esteemed 
the  best  in  town,  has  passed  into  the  control  of  the  Light  and 
Water  Company.  The  only  saw-mills  at  this  time  in  operation 
(1903)  are  the  Patten  Mill  on  the  site  of  the  General  Rankin  Mill 
at  West  Littleton,  and  the  mill  of  Peter  Cardinal  &  Son  at 
Apthorp,  which  is  operated  by  steam-power. 

During  the  history  of  the  town  many  manufacturing  industries 
have  been  established,  flourished  for  a  time,  and  then  decayed. 
Of  these  the  lumber  business  has  been  the  most  widely  diffused, 
continued  through  the  longest  period  of  time,  given  employment 
to  more  individuals,  and  engaged  the  attention  of  the  best  business 
talent  of  our  town.  The  elder  Rankin,  his  son  Gen.  David, 
Samuel  Learned,  Deacon  Lewis,  Michael  Fitzgerald,  Isaac  Abbott, 
William  Brackett,  Deacon  Xoah  Farr,  John  Gilo,  John  Bowman 
and  his  son  Curtis  C.,  the  Kenncys  (Gen.  E.  0.  and  Loren/o  C.), 
the  Richardsons,  Isaac  Calhoun,  Charles  Eaton,  and  others  of  a 
later  day,  who  followed  the  pine,  spruce,  and  hemlock  along  the 
valleys  and  up  the  mountains  until  their  waving  plumes  of  green 
have  nearly  disappeared,  were  among  the  chief  contributors  to  our 


28  History  of  Littleton. 

prosperity.  They  shared,  however,  with  the  farmer  and  mechanic, 
in  doing  obeisance,  if  such  a  thing  were  possible  in  their  day,  to 
the  superior  social  and  political  power,  first,  of  the  clergyman  and 
then  of  the  lawyer  and  the  doctor,  who  has  maintained  his  relative 
position  for  more  than  a  century.  Within  a  very  recent  period  a 
great  change  has  been  wrought  in  the  position  of  the  business  man 
in  every  large  community  through  the  agency  of  the  wealth-com- 
bining power  of  corporations.  Vast  business  interests  require  the 
directing  hand  and  guarding  care  of  the  highest  intellectual  ability, 
and  gradually  they  have  won  to  their  service  the  best  minds  of  the 
land,  and  with  them  the  sceptre  of  power  has  passed  from  the  pro- 
fessions to  the  masters  of  the  art  of  concentration,  administration, 
and  accumulation.  The  towns  have  caught  the  spirit  of  the  cities, 
and  the  manufacturer  has  become  the  dominant  power  in  every 
community  where  he  establishes  a  factory  and  achieves  success  ; 
his  shadow  is  reflected  and  his  importance  shared  in  a  lesser  de- 
gree by  business  men  generally. 


Merchants.  29 


XXVIII. 
MERCHANTS. 

THE  mercantile  history  of  the  town  has  been  marked  by  three 
distinct  periods,  in  which  the  methods  of  transacting  business 
differed  materially.  The  first  was  that  common  in  all  sparsely 
settled  and  remote  regions,  one  of  barter  and  long  credits ;  here 
it  began  with  Learned  &  Jackson,  and  ended,  as  a  general  system, 
with  the  retirement  of  George  Little  from  mercantile  business. 
The  second,  inaugurated  by  Eastman  &  Mattocks,  was  one  of 
"  quick  sales  and  small  profits,"  with  frequent  settlements  ;  both 
methods  were  in  vogue  at  times  when  the  "  general  store  "  was 
the  only  one  known  to  country  trade.  The  third,  or  present 
method,  came  with  the  passing  of  the  "  general  store  "  and  the 
introduction  of  the  system  of  limiting  the  stock  to  a  specific  class 
of  goods. 

George  F.  Batchclder  was  the  first  to  introduce  the  modern 
method  when  he  engaged  in  trade  with  a  stock  limited  exclusively 
to  hardware.  He  rented  the  brick  store  in  1855,  and  filled  its 
shelves  and  cases  with  all  sorts  of  goods  then  known  to  the  trade 
in  that  line.  But,  as  the  sequel  proved,  he  was  in  advance  of  the 
time,  and  the  entire  volume  of  business  in  hardware,  could  he 
have  obtained  it,  would  hardly  have  made  his  venture  a  success, 
and  in  two  or  three  years  he  disposed  of  his  stock  to  his  father, 
Otis  Batcheldcr,  who  added  groceries  and  farm  produce,  and  kept 
the  store  the  headquarters  of  the  club  that  had  for  years  made  it 
a  home.  George  F.  Batchelder  went  west,  settling  at  Faribault, 
Minn.,  where  he  was  in  trade  nearly  a  score  of  years  and  was  an 
influential  citizen.  The  quality  of  his  citizenship  is  best  shown 
perhaps  by  the  public  positions  he  was  called  to  fill.  In  educa- 
tional matters  he  has  been  a  trustee  of  the  common  schools, 
regent  of  the  State  University,  and  trustee  of  the  State  Deaf, 
Dumb,  and  Blind  Institute  ;  in  the  Congregational  Church  a  deacon 
and  superintendent  of  its  Sunday-school;  in  political  life  a  county 
commissioner,  and  member  of  the  Senate.  Since  18JS8  he  has  re- 
sided at  Denver,  Col.,  where  he  is  a  member  of  the  Mining-  Ex- 


30  History  of  Littleton. 

change.  He  is  a  man  of  high  character,  and  honored  in  all  the 
walks  of  life.  In  recent  years  he  has  written  much  for  the  press, 
and  some  of  his  poetry  has  attained  a  wide  circulation  and  received 
such  approval  from  discriminating  critics  as  to  indicate  that  he 
might  have  achieved  celebrity  had  he  given  his  time  to  the  muse 
rather  than  to  business. 

A  second  and  successful  effort  in  the  direction  of  specialization 
was  made  in  1875  by  William  H.  Whiting,  who  engaged  in  the 
dry-goods  business,  having  a  store  in  the  block  now  (1903)  occu- 
pied by  Harry  F.  Howe  and  J.  D.  Campbell.  Mr.  Whiting  did  a 
large  business,  and  demonstrated  the  practicability  in  this  town  of 
dealing  in  a  single  line  of  merchandise.  After  his  death,  in  1882, 
his  business  was  sold  to  Orriii  Martin  Fisher,  who  continued  in 
the  same  line  for  a  few  years,  when  he  removed  to  Rockland, 
Mass.,  where  he  now  resides.  Mr.  Fisher's  departure  ended  for 
several  years  this  mercantile  method,  and  the  general  store  such 
as  had  flourished  in  town  for  nearly  a  hundred  years,  modified 
only  by  the  innovation  introduced  by  Eastman,  Mattocks,  A:  Co., 
was  once  more  in  full  possession  of  the  local  field. 

One  interesting  relic  of  old-time  business  ways  has  come  clown 
to  us  in  the  ledger  used  by  Major  George  Little  when  he  began 
business  in  the  store,  then  "  spick  and  span,"  which  for  many 
years  has  been  spoken  of  as  the  Old  Yellow  Store.  The  book 
does  not  differ  much  from  those  now  in  use  for  the  same  purpose, 
though  the  methods  of  bookkeeping  then  and  now  were  dissimi- 
lar, as  this  ledger  bears  a  close  resemblance  in  its  contents  to 
a  modern  journal.  It  is  dated  in  1825,  and  its  items  tell  us 
little  as  to  what  the  Major's  customers  ate,  but  much  as  to  what 
they  drank,  something  in  regard  to  what  they  wore  when  arrayed 
in  their  best  clothes,  what  tools  they  used,  and,  in  a  general  way, 
indicates  what  constituted  the  luxuries  of  life  three-fourths  of  a 
century  ago. 

From  this  old  but  well-preserved  book  we  learn  that  Major 
Little  began  business  as  a  merchant  on  •'  Wednesday,  Feb.  10th, 
1825,"  with  a  capital  consisting  of  -8243.03  in  cash  and  stock  in 
trade  that  cost  in  Boston  or  Newburyport,  Mass.,  •S'2.150.42. 
These  goods  were  shipped  in  coastwise  vessels  to  Portland,  where 
doubtless  other  goods  were  purchased,  though  we  have  not  the 
data  at  hand  that  locate  these  merchants,  Brown  A-  Train.  James 
Reed  <fc  Co.,  Whiting,  Crockett,  A:  Seaver,  John  Chickering, 
and  Joseph  W.  Kitteridge.  From  the  wharf  in  Portland  the 
goods  were  transported  in  '•  Red  sleighs  "  through  the  White 
Mountain  Notch  to  Littleton  bv  Simeon  Hurt,  Silas  W.  Batchellor, 


V 


Merchants.  31 

Parker  Cushman,  and  Ebenezer  Farr.  For  this  freighting  they 
received  one  dollar  a  hundred  paid  in  goods  charged  in  the  old 
book.  Among  others  are  these  transactions  on  their  account, 
date  not  given  but  soon  after  the  arrival  of  the  goods. 

SIMEON  BUKT  Dr. 
To  6  Galls  N.  E.  Rum  @  3/9 3.75 

PARKER  CUSHMAN  Dr. 

To  1  inch  chisel  @  .22 22 

"  2     kt      '««       "  .33 33 

EBEXEZER  FARR  Dr. 

To  1  Ib.  Tobacco 22 

"   1  axe  helve 20 

«    1    "       " 20 

"   8  bu.  Rye  tor  his  hire  to  Portland 4.00 


SILAS  W.  BATCIIELLOR  Dr. 

To  order  to  Truman  Stevens  on  account  payable  in 

goods 3.G5 

These  ancient  accounts  in  the  old  ledger  tell  the  story  of  the 
changes  time  has  wrought  since  they  were  jnade,  and  possess  a 
singular  fascination  for  those  who  can  read  history  between  their 
fading  lines.  Here  is  a  charge  to  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  this  town,  whose  name  is  with- 
held to  save  it  from  the  criticism  of  the  brethren  of  the  present 
day,  who  will  doubtless  rejoice  to  know  that  this  man  left  a 
memory  fragrant  with  the  aroma  of  practical  piety,  and  gave  to 
the  cause  and  to  charity  far  more  of  his  slender  income  than  the 
Scriptures  enjoined  upon  him. 

Dr. 

To  i-  Ib.  Souch'g  tea 

"    .V  "  Tobacco 


"    I'l  qts.  N.  Rum 28 

"    1  pt.  II.  Gin 27 

1.04 

We  find    this    account  charged  to  a  young  woman    then    but 
recently  married  :  — 


32  History  of  Littleton. 


Dr. 


To  1  Comb 13 

"  i  doz.  Hooks  &  Eyes 2 

"  |     "    Needles 5 

"  1  Snuffers  tray 25 

"  1  Pr.  Snuffers 42 

"  1    "  Worsted  Hose 56 

"  1-J  Yds  Calico      @  .40 45 

"  2      "        "          "  2—  .  .67 


These  items  appear  in  an  account  charged  to  a  woman  who 
resided  in  Bradford,  Vt.,  and  it  may  be  stated  that  the  ledger 
discloses  the  fact  that  Major  Little  had  customers  in  all  the 
surrounding  towns  :  — 

To  \\  Yds.  Bombazette 51 

"    l|    "    Silk 1.63 

"    1  skein  silk 5 

"   3  Yds.  Shirting®  .15 45 

"  5  Ibs.  Cotton  Yarn  No.  10  @  .46 2.30 

"   2  skeins  of  thread  .  8 


This  item,  charged  to  a  man  whose  progeny  still  fill  a  large 
space  on  our  check  list,  stands  alone  :  — 


Dr. 


To  Rum  and  tobacco 10 

Another  is  given  in  full,  as  no  descendant  survives.     Mr.  Osgood 
lived  at  North  Littleton  and  was  something  of  a  Ximrod  in  his  day. 

ISAAC  OSGOOD  Dr. 

To  1  Gal.  X.  Rum 

"   £    "    IT.  Gin 

"   4-  Ib.  Powder 

"    },    '•'   Shot 

"    I  Glass  Toddv 


These  arc  sufficient  to  indicate  many  of  the  articles  sold  in 
stores  at  that  time.  On  every  page  and  in  nearly  every  account, 
are  items  indicating  how  general  was  the  use  of  spirituous  liquors. 
New  England  rum,  in  particular,  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  chief 


Merchants.  33 

necessaries  of  life,  while  loaf  sugar,  which  came  in  the  form  of  a 
cone  wrapped  in  stout  blue  paper,  was  a  luxury.  Some  names 
of  the  goods  have  an  unfamiliar  sound  at  present :  flax,  wheel- 
head,  millenette,  woundwire,  Caroline  plad,  satinette,  buckram, 
quills,  hragg,  brandy,  toddy,  and  brandy  sling  were  articles  that 
appear  frequently.  Shirtings  were  eighteen  cents  a  yard,  sheet- 
ings twenty-four  cents,  jean  was  thirty-eight  cents,  calico  from 
thirty  to  fifty  cents,  loaf  sugar  twenty-five  cents  per  pound, 
Havana  sugar  fourteen  cents,  nails  ten  cents  a  pound,  and  mo- 
lasses sold  for  the  present  price. 

Four  years  in  this  business  satisfied  the  mercantile  ambition  of 
Major  Little.  He  then  sold  his  stock  to  George  B.  Redington, 
who  remained  at  the  old  store  until  he  had  built  the  brick  store 
at  the  corner  of  the  roads  now  Main  and  Saranac  Streets.  After 
his  removal  to  that  stand  Colby  &  Eastman  succeeded  him  at  the 
Little  Store,  and  there  Mr.  Eastman  devised  and  carried  out  the 
system,  before  referred  to,  of  small  profits  and  short  credits, 
which  nearly  all  his  contemporary  merchants  adopted,  except  the 
Redingtons,  who  afterward  removed  their  stock  to  a  store  they 
had  built  at  the  scythe  factory  village,  and  there  continued 
through  their  lives  to  conduct  a  mercantile  business  in  which 
barter  and  long  credits  formed  a  considerable  element. 

As  has  been  stated,  Mr.  Whiting  was  the  first  merchant  to 
establish  a  permanent  business  devoted  to  a  single  line  of  goods. 
It  should  perhaps  be  added  that  as  early  as  1858  there  had  been 
a  step  taken  in  this  direction  by  Eastman,  Til  ton,  <fc  Co.,  at  the 
depot  store,  where  their  stock  was  made  up  largely  of  heavy 
goods,  such  as  hardware,  iron,  salt,  grain,  feed,  groceries,  and  the 
class  of  dry-goods  required  by  lumbermen  in  their  mills  and  in 
the  woods.1 

Hiram  A.  Tattle,  since  governor  of  the  State,  brought  here  the 
first  stock  of  ready-made  clothing  offered  for  sale  in  the  town,  lie 
was  then  on  an  itinerant  expedition  through  this  part  of  the 
State  with  a  large  stock  which  he  disposed  of  at  a  considerable 
profit.  While  here  he  occupied  the  store  that  stood  on  the 
present  site  of  Rounsevel's  Block.  The  prevailing  conditions 
were  not  calculated  to  promote  specialization  in  trade,  and  it 
was  not  until  near  the  close  of  the  seventies  that  the  system 
attained  what  appeared  to  be  a  permanent  position  in  meivan- 

1  The  groceries  of  those  days,  such  as  were  conducted  t>y  Kri  Goin.  James  S. 
Nelson,  Kames  Brothers,  and  John  Burt,  carried  many  other  classes  of  good.*,  in-arly 
all  in  fact  of  the  general  store  stock  except  dry -goods,  and  many  of  them  sold  large 
quantities  of  liquors. 

VOL.  II.  —  3 


34  History  of  Littleton. 

tile  methods.  The  present  tendency  is  rather  toward  a  return 
to  the  old  way  of  keeping  in  stock  anything  a  possible  customer 
may  wish  to  purchase.  In  a  measurable  degree  this  condition  is 
influenced  by  a  sensitiveness  on  the  part  of  the  dealer  to  what  he 
regards  as  a  trespass  on  his  assumed  right  to  the  market  for 
goods  in  his  line,  and  one  breach  leads  to  another,  and  the  general 
or  department  store  seems  to  be  near. 

That  the  passing  of  a  generation  brings  many  changes  is  shown 
by  the  fact  that,  of  all  the  merchants  of  the  town  in  this  year  of 
grace  1903,  not  one  was  in  business  here  in  1870.  Some  have 
retired  to  the  repose  and  enjoyments  that  are  numbered  among 
the  rewards  of  an  industrious  life ;  others,  and  by  far  the  larger 
number,  have  closed  their  accounts  and  passed  to  a  realm  where 
gold  and  silver  are  not  counted  as  valuable  assets.  Among  those 
who  played  an  important  part  in  the  business  affairs  of  the  town 
who  passed  away  during  the  first  decade  of  the  period  were 
E.  S.  Woolson,  William  Bailey,  and  Hiram  B.  Smith.  They  rep- 
resented three  different  lines  of  business :  the  first  was  the 
pioneer  tailor  of  the  class  that  kept  a  shop,  sold  the  material,  and 
made  it  into  a  suit  for  a  customer  ;  the  second  belonged  to  the 
pedlers'  craft,  and  the  last  was  another  business  pioneer,  the  first 
in  his  line,  —  that  of  a  manufacturer  and  dealer  in  tinware. 

Elijah  Sabin  Woolson  and  William  Bailey  retired  from  business 
in  1870.  Mr.  Woolson  was  born  in  Bethlehem,  lived  for  a  time  in 
Lisbon,  where  he  married  Hannah,  daughter  of  Rev.  Osias  Savage. 
He  came  to  Littleton  in  18o2,  and  in  1838  went  to  Sandwich,  where 
lie  resided  two  years.  Returning  to  this  town  in  1840,  he  made  his 
home  here  until  his  death  in  1874.  He  was  in  active  business  for 
nearly  fifty  years.  When  he  returned  from  his  sojourn  in  Sand- 
wich, he  built  the  Thayer  Store,  and  in  1840  purchased  the  dwelling 
of  Major  George  Little  and  the  Old  Yellow  Store,  and  occupied 
them  until  186U,  when  he  sold  the  house  to  John  G.  Sinclair,  and 
the  store  passed  to  the  possession  of  his  oldest  son,  Sabin  Clark 
Woolson.  Mr.  Woolson  Avas  a  good  citizen,  exceptionally  well 
informed,  and  possessed  convictions  and  resolute  courage  that 
enabled  him  to  stand  by  them  without  reference  to  the  results 
his  action  in  this  respect  might  be  supposed  to  have  upon  his 
social  relations  or  his  business  interests  with  his  neighbors.  His 
prejudices  were  so  intense  that  he  had  no  respect  for  persons 
who  were  without  religious  and  political  convictions,  or  having 
them,  were  too  timid  to  express  them  on  all  proper  occasions. 
There  were  in  his  day  a  few  men  who  dearly  loved  to  train  with 
the  majority,  and  whose  sense  of  political  duty  was  so  shallow 


Merchants.  35 

that  no  semblance  of  principle  ever  found  a  lodgment  in  their 
minds.  To  one  such  in  particular  he  was  so  free  with  his  tongue 
that  he  soon  ceased  to  have  an  opportunity  to  meet  him  face  to 
face  and  enjoy  his  favorite  mental  diversion.  Within  the  circle  of 
his  relatives  he  found  ample  scope  for  the  discussion  of  religious 
questions.  His  amiable  wife  was  a  member  of  the  Congregational 
Church,  her  father  an  elder  of  the  Methodist  persuasion,  and  we 
believe  the  only  one  among  them  who  agreed  with  him  that  the 
Universalist  pathway  alone  led  to  the  life  eternal  was  Mrs. 
Woolson's  nephew,  Rev.  E.  M.  Pingree.  After  all,  this  contro- 
versial tendency  was  of  the  head  rather  than  of  the  heart,  and 
the  kindly  qualities  of  his  character  so  far  outnumbered  the 
somewhat  drastic  effects  of  this  habit  that  it  seldom  caused  him 
the  loss  of  a  friend.  Mr.  Woolson  was  the  last  survivor  of  a 
large  class  of  citizens  whose  political  views  were  colored  and 
intensified  in  their  younger  days  by  the  controversy  in  regard 
to  the  Toleration  Act.  The  Democrats  elected  Mr.  Woolson 
town  clerk  in  1842,  and  annually  until  1845.  His  records, 
written  in  a  bold  and  flowing  hand,  have  been  equalled  in 
clearness  and  beauty  only  by  the  penmanship  of  his  son  George 
S.  Woolson,  and  Robert  Charlton,  among  the  holders  of  this 
office. 

Mr.  Woolson  was  an  excellent  workman,  and  his  sons,  Sabin 
Clark,  George  Storrs,  and  Harry  Hibbard,  followed  his  business 
and  were  at  different  times  his  partners.  Harry  H.,  the  youngest 
of  his  sons,  is  in  business  in  Boston,  where  he  is  at  the  head  of 
one  of  the  leading  establishments  in  his  line  in  that  city.  He 
had  two  daughters:  the  eldest,  Fannie  Savage,  became  the  wife  of 
Adna  Brown,  a  manufacturer  and  banker  of  Springfield,  Vt. ;  the 
younger,  Luella,  married  Francis  Fletcher  Hodgman. 

William  Bailey  was  a  grandson  of  Major  James  Williams,  and 
inherited  the  conservative  characteristics  of  that  sturdy  pioneer. 
From  an  uncle,  Isaac  Fry  Williams,  he  received  the  notion  that 
the  best  mercantile  method  of  employing  his  slender  capital  was 
by  going  upon  the  road  and  offering  bis  goods  for  sale  from  a, 
pedler's  cart.  He  followed  this  vocation  for  many  years,  prosper- 
ing as  the  seasons  rolled  by,  and  in  Ks51,  tiring  perhaps  of  the 
monotony  of  the  highways  through  the  counties  of  the  upper 
Connecticut  River  valley  and  influenced  by  a  desire  for  domes- 
tic life,  he  purchased  of  Deacon  John  Merrill  bis  dwelling,  now 
the  residence  of  Henry  F.  Green,  and  the  shop  on  the  south 
side  of  Main  Street,  opposite  School  Street,  which  he  litte'l  up  as 
a  general  store,  and  here  for  twenty  years  conducted  business. 


36  History  of  Littleton. 

He  had  a  faculty  of  finding  the  man  he  desired  for  his  clerk  and 
of  keeping  him  in  his  employ  for  years.  Two  of  these  were 
John  C.  Chase,  of  Whitefield,  and  Hartwell  H.  Southworth.  The 
former  is  one  of  the  prosperous  business  men  of  Syracuse,  N.  Y., 
and  the  latter,  after  a  long  and  honorable  mercantile  career, 
has  recently  passed  away.  Mr.  Bailey  was  conservative  in  all  his 
ways,  keeping  well  within  the  limits  of  safety  in  his  transactions, 
and  was  satisfied  with  reasonable  profits  and  modest  annual 
additions  to  his  fortune.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of 
the  Congregational  Church  and  were  respected  for  their  worth. 
They  had  several  children.  Edgar  A.  resides  in  Rapid  City, 
S.  Dak.,  where  he  is  in  the  clothing  business.  Henry  E.  is 
a  dealer  in  real  estate  in  Chicago,  111.,  and  the  youngest,  Ben- 
jamin Franklin,  is  one  of  the  noted  physicians  residing  at 
Lincoln.  Neb. 

Hiram  Brigham  Smith  was  born  in  Middletown,  Conn.,  in  1800, 
and  married,  in  1828,  Catherine  C.,  sister  of  Dr.  John  C.  Colby,  of 
Franconia.  During  many  years  he  was  an  invalid,  but  he  pos- 
sessed great  perseverance,  and  as  a  result  had  as  much  to  show 
in  the  way  of  achievement  as  most  men  in  firm  health.  Soon 
after  coming  to  this  town  he  built  a  residence  which  is  now 
incorporated  in  the  Bugbee  Block,  and  a  shop  next  east,  now  the 
property  of  D.  C.  Remich.  During  the  financial  panic  of  1887 
his  possessions  were  swept  away.  He,  however,  soon  regained 
his  standing  in  the  business  community  and  built  the  residence  on 
Union  Street  now  owned  by  his  son  Henry  W.  Smith,  and  the 
original  building  on  the  site  of  Smith's  Block,  now  Lynch  A*  Rich- 
ardson's, which  he  occupied  as  a  shop.  He  was  slight  of  build, 
and  moved  slowly  and  with  great  caution.  Seemingly  not  recog- 
nizing his  friends,  he  had  a  way  of  knowing  all  that  was  passing 
in  his  presence,  and  a  kind  word  and  pleasant  smile  for  all.  Few 
men  under  such  grievous  afflictions  have  derived  from  life  so  much 
happiness  as  he. 

The  sons  of  Francis  Hodgman,  who  had  divided  his  business 
when  it  became  their  inheritance,  did  not  continue  it  long. 
Charles,  who  hod  the  jewelry  branch,  retired  early  in  the  seven- 
ties and  worked  thereafter  for  others  as  his  broken  health  would 
permit.  Francis  Fletcher  Hodgman  acquired  the  drugs  and 
medicines,  and  did  a  successful  business  for  some  years.  He  was 
endowed  with  an  ardent  nature,  and  gave  to  every  enterprise  lie 
espoused  an  enthusiastic  support.  From  the  organization  of  the 
Musical  Association  until  1874  he  was  its  treasurer,  and  no  little 
of  its  success  was  due  to  his  iiiitirinu:  work  in  its  behalf.  He  was 


Merchants,  37 

much  interested  in  entomology,  and  made  a  collection  of  butter- 
flies that  was  much  esteemed  by  men  learned  in  this  science 
and  was  sold  after  his  death  for  a  considerable  sum.  He  died 
at  Philadelphia,  whither  he  had  removed  on  account  of  his  health, 
in  1875. 

When  George  K.  Paddleford  went  out  of  business  in  1856,  the 
store  he  had  occupied  was  taken  by  Eben  L.  Hall,  who  was  a 
jeweller,  and  for  a  time  he  united  with  this  business  that  of  a 
druggist.  Later  on  he  was  appointed  by  the  Selectmen  one  of  the 
liquor  agents  of  the  town.  With  this  combination  of  interests 
he  did  not  prosper.  He  was  a  skilful  workman,  a  pleasant  and 
obliging  man  who  made  many  friends,  but  the  long-established 
trade  of  Mr.  Hodgman  and  the  blight  cast  by  the  liquor  agency 
combined  to  render  the  business  unprofitable.  When  he  retired 
he  was  succeeded  by  Stephen  Webster  Atwood,  who  for  a  few 
years  confined  himself  to  the  trade  of  a  jeweller  until  he  built 
up  a  profitable  business.  In  1865  he  erected  a  small  shop  on 
a  corner  of  the  lot  connected  with  the  W.  C.  Brackett  residence, 
now  the  "Courier"  office,  where  he  remained  until  1868, when  he 
traded  with  Colonel  Eastman  for  the  building  now  occupied  by 
J.  D.  Campbell  and  Harry  F.  Howe,  to  which  he  moved  and  where 
he  remained  until  he  sold  to  F.  G.  Wcller  in  1874.  His  next  store 
was  at  the  Thayer  stand,  then  just  vacated  by  Farr  &  Tilton. 
Altogether  Mr.  Atwood  was  in  business  about  twenty  years,  most 
of  the  time  under  the  firm  name  of  Atwood  &  Brackett.  He  had 
a  Yankee's  fondness  for  barter  and  did  a  large  trade.  He 
gradually  extended  his  sphere  and  dealt  in  many  articles  foreign 
to  his  original  line,  and  his  shop  resembled  an  auctioneer's  ware- 
house, filled  as  it  was  with  a  large  miscellaneous  stock,  lie  was 
not  systematic  in  his  business  methods,  and  when  pressed  by  a 
few  creditors  undertook  to  raise  funds  by  selling  at  auction.  In 
this  he  was  so  successful  that  he  added  dry-goods  to  his  stock  and 
sold  by  auction  at  Lancaster  and  in  other  towns,  and  instead  of 
curtailing  his  operations  and  lessening  his  indebtedness  increased 
them,  and  renewed  pressure  for  payment  of  bills  led  him  to  aban- 
don his  large  assets  to  the  slaughter  of  a  sheriff's  sale.  In  the 
end  his  creditors  were  paid  in  full  and  a  small  fortune  had 
been  dissipated  in  expense,  waste,  and  loss  through  this  method 
of  adjustment.  Mr.  Atwood  left  town  before  his  affairs  were 
settled,  and  the  remainder  of  his  life  was  passed  as  a  commercial 
traveller. 

Another  to  engage  in  the  jewelry  trade  was  True  M.  Stevens. 
He  did  not  carry  a  large  stock,  but  confined  himself  principally 


38  History  of  Littleton. 

to  repairing  watches  and  jewelry.  He  is  a  natural  mechanic  and 
skilful  workman.  His  taste  for  floriculture  subsequently  led  him 
to  go  into  that  business. 

Down  to  1863  there  had  been  no  bookstore  nor  periodical  depot 
in  town.  School  books  only  were  exposed  for  sale  by  a  few  of  the 
shopkeepers.  The  sole  opportunity  the  people  had  for  the  pur- 
chase of  works  of  general  literature  without  sending  abroad  was 
after  1846,  when  each  year  James  Smillie,  the  father  of  John 
Smillie,  drove  his  cart  hither  laden  with  the  publications  issued 
by  Phillips,  Sampson,  &  Co.  and  some  other  publishers.  He  was 
the  herald  of  the  advancing  army  of  books  that  a  half-century  after 
were  to  distract  or  amuse  the  many  and  enlighten  the  few.  Mrs. 
D.  Y.  Clark  1  was  the  pioneer  who  at  that  time  opened  her  book- 
store in  the  Nelson  C.  Farr  building.  The  business  has  continued 
and  increased,  and  at  present  is  conducted  by  Edward  M.  Fisher. 

An  old-time  merchant  of  a  generation  ago  who  occupied  a  some- 
what unique  position  in  the  trade  was  Lorenzo  Smith,  who  for  a 
score  or  more  years  occupied  the  westerly  store  in  what  is  now 
known  as  Odd-Fellows'  Block.  He  was  not  bred  to  the  business,  but 
was  a  mill-overseer, — -a  trade  he  followed  many  years.  Afflicted 
with  asthma,  he  abandoned  his  calling  and  opened  this  store  with 
a  general  stock.  Mrs.  Smith  was  a  woman  of  refinement  and 
possessed  fine  taste  in  regard  to  the  adornments  of  her  sex,  and 
was  for  a  time  exceedingly  useful  in  the  management  of  the  store. 
In  time  she  was  compelled  to  devote  herself  to  the  duty  of  caring 
for  her  husband's  health,  and  the  sons,  William  and  Henry  L., 
assumed  charge  of  the  store,  and  the  stock  was  gradually  changed 
until  the  business  became  that  of  conducting  a  restaurant.  Henry 
L.  married  Emma  Knapp,  a  sister  of  Charles  C.  Knapp,  some- 
time landlord  of  the  Union  House.  Their  son  Walter  was  a 
youth  of  ability  and  spirit.  He  was  for  two  years  a  student 
in  the  Chandler  Scientific  Department  of  Dartmouth  College,  but 
illness  prevented  his  continuing  the  course,  and  he  died  in  the 
autumn  of  1801.  Mrs.  Henry  L.  Smith  married,  secondly,  Napo- 
leon B.  Dal  ton,  who  was  in  business  with  A.  F.  Dow  in  operating 
the  creamery. 

Among  the  enterprising  merchants  who  were  in  active  business 
or  who  survived  those  we  have  named  into  another  decade,  were 
Nelson  C.  Farr,  Farr  it  South  worth,  Ephraim  W.  Fan1,  Farr  it 
Tilton.  Farr  it  Dow,  and  Hale,  Edson,  it  Abbott,  who  were  general 
dealers  ;  C.  &  C.  F.  Eastman  and  II.  L.  Tilton  it  Co.,  who  dealt 

1  Some  time  before  this  V.  X.  Bass,  publisher  of  the  "Banner,"  for  a  short  time 
carried  a  small  stock  of  books  and  stationery. 


Merchants.  39 

in  hardware,  flour,  groceries,  and  grain  ;  Weeks,  Eaton,  &  Calhoun 
and  Sinclair  &  Merrill,  flour,  groceries,  and  grain  ;  Bellows  <fe 
Brackett,  hardware  and  groceries.  Those  dealing  in  drugs  and 
medicines  were  Curtis  Gates  &  Co.,  successors  to  F.  F.  Hodgman, 
and  L.  P.  Parker  <fe  Son,  successors  to  Henry  S.  Watson,  M.D. 
The  tailors  were  Henry  Merrill  and  Brooks  &  Co.  In  the  boot 
and  shoe  business  were  Alonzo  Weeks,  J.  Smith  Davis,  and  Tilton 
Brothers  ;  in  furniture,  John  Merrill,  Sanborn  &  Weller,  and  Leach 
&  Smith ;  millinery,  Miss  Ruth  Foster,  Miss  M.  E.  Green,  Mrs. 
M.  L.  Poor,  and  Mrs.  Tirrell ;  meats  and  provisions,  George  N. 
Hall,  George  F.  Lewis  &  Co.,  and  J.  S.  Frye  &  Co.  There  were 
others,  but  the  business  of  these  has,  with  rare  exceptions,  been 
continued  through  their  successors.  Two  of  these  firms  that  had 
an  abundant  capital  and  prosperous  trade  have  ceased  to  exist. 
Hale,  Edson,  &  Abbott  was  merged  in  G.  &  G.  F.  Abbott ;  then  the 
stock  of  their  general  store  was  disposed  of  to  other  dealers,  and 
the  firm  succeeded  to  the  drug  business  of  L.  P.  Parker  &  Co. 
Bellows  &  Brackett  dissolved,  Mr.  Bellows  joining  with  his  son 
William  H.  in  establishing  the  firm  of  Bellows  <fe  Son,  dealers  in 
clothing,  crockery,  and  carpets.  Charles  W.  Brackett  continued 
in  the  hardware  business  at  the  old  stand  in  Tilton's  Block  until 
his  death  in  1891.  He  was  the  youngest  son  of  William  Brackett, 
the  eminent  merchant  during  the  first  half  of  the  century.  He 
had  been  connected  with  the  trade  of  the  town  when  a  young  man 
at  the  old  Brackett  store,  but  in  the  early  fifties,  with  the  inten- 
tion of  growing  up  with  the  country,  went  West  and  settled  in 
Minnesota ;  but  the  turmoil  and  rough  character  of  affairs  in  that 
new  settlement  were  not  to  his  liking,  and  after  a  trial  of  five  years 
he  returned  to  his  native  town  to  re-engage  in  trade.  He  was  a 
careful,  methodical  business  man,  who  looked  closely  after  the 
details  of  his  affairs,  and  was  slow  to  venture  beyond  the  beaten 
path.  He  was  town  clerk  for  two  years  previous  to  his  departure 
for  the  West,  but  held  no  other  public  office. 

The  men  constituting  the  firm  of  Hale,  Edson,  &  Abbott  were 
noted  in  the  political  and  business  affairs  of  the  town  a  generation 
ago.  Samuel  Alden  Edson  was  the  second  of  the  name  to  be 
actively  identified  with  the  history  of  the  town.  His  father.  Col. 
Timothy  Alden  Edson,  filled  a  considerable  space  in  affairs  a  lialf- 
century  before  and  until  age  compelled  his  retirement  about  1848. 
His  mother,  Betsey  Wetherbee,  came  of  a  family  long  prominent 
in  the  colonies.  Her  father,  Samuel  Wetherbee,  was  a  captain  in 
Colonel  \Vy man's  regiment  during  the  invasion  of  Canada  in  177"), 
and  subsequently  one  of  the  pioneers  and  proprietors  of  Concord, 


40  History  of  Littleton. 

Vt.,  a  man  of  ability  and  integrity,  who  was  honored  by  his 
fellow  citizens  with  an  election  to  office  as  frequently  as  he  could 
be  induced  to  accept  it.  His  wife  was  Miss  Johnson,  the  author 
of  "  The  Captivity  by  the  French  and  Indians  of  a  daughter  of  Mr. 
James  Johnson  and  Family,"  a  woman  of  many  accomplishments. 
This  couple  had  fifteen  children,  of  whom  eight  were  daughters,  and 
six  of  these  were,  by  marriage  or  through  their  children,  connected 
with  this  town,  and  all  married  well.  The  children  were  Susanna, 
who  married  Col.  Jonathan  Baker,  of  Charlestown  ;  Betsey,  who 
became  the  wife  of  Col.  T.  A.  Edson  ;  Lucy,  the  wife  of  Cornelius 
Judevine,  the  Squire  of  Concord,  Vt. ;  Caroline,  the  wife  of  Squire 
Guy  Ely  of  this  town  ;  Lucretia,  who  married  Joseph  Morse  and 
was  the  mother  of  Mrs.  John  Farr :  and  Catharine,  who  married 
Sylvanus  Balch. 

Alden  Edson,  as  he  was  known  to  his  generation,  was  in  early 
life  a  salesman  for  H.  C.  Redington  <fc  Co.  and  was  also  a  director 
in  the  New  Hampshire  Scythe  Company.  His  only  venture  as  a 
merchant  was  as  a  member  of  the  firm  with  Messrs.  Hale  &:  Abbott, 
though  he  was  a  trader  all  his  active  life,  a  Yankee  of  Yankees  in 
this  respect.  The  firm  was  located  at  No.  1  Union  Block.  Con- 
finement to  an  office  and  deprivation  of  the  pleasure  of  visiting 
the  friends  of  many  years  were  not  to  his  liking,  and  he  withdrew 
from  a  business  that  required  a  fixed  habitation.  Mr.  Edson,  being 
the  son  of  his  father,  could  not  fail  to  be  interested  in  political 
affairs.  It  was,  however,  as  an  adviser  rather  than  as  a  public 
functionary,  that  he  derived  his  chief  pleasure  from  this  source  as 
well  as  conferred  the  greatest  benefit  upon  his  party.  Often 
importuned  to  accept  town  offices,  he  as  often  refused,  and  the 
only  public  position  he  held  was  that  of  Representative  in  1869 
and  1870.  He  was  a  man  of  pleasing  personality,  of  medium 
height,  broad-shouldered,  rotund,  and  fair,  with  dark  eyes  that 
may  have  shown  the  glint  of  steel,  but  the  world  only  saw  the 
kindly  expression  that  lurked  in  their  corners.  Genial  and  kindly, 
he  met  the  joys  and  sorrows  of  life  with  a  smile  that  will  be 
remembered  by  all  who  knew  him  as  the  distinguishing  feature 
of  his  personal  appearance.  He  married,  in  184-1,  Hannah  M. 
Varney,  of  Danville,  Yt.  They  had  two  children,  George  Alden 
and  Sue  Caroline,  wife  of  Charles  G.  Morrison.  Mr.  Edson  died 
July  10,  1878. 

Otis  G.  Hale  was  a  public  character,  much  of  his  time  having 
been  devoted  to  the  administration  of  town  affairs  during  bis 
residence  here.  Like  Mr.  Edson,  his  direct  interest  in  mercantile 
matters  was  in  connection  with  the  same  firm,  thoudi  before  com- 


Merchants.  41 

ing  here  he  had  been  in  trade  at  Lower  Waterford  several  years 
and  was  well  grounded  in  the  intricacies  of  the  business.  He 
was  a  clear-sighted  and  honorable  business  man  who  possessed 
the  entire  confidence  of  the  community.1 

George  Abbott  was  reared  a  farmer,  and  followed  the  business 
with  success,  succeeding  to  his  father's  farm  on  the  Mann's  hill 
road  near  the  Dalton  line.  About  the  time  he  moved  to  the  vil- 
lage, he  bought  of  Samuel  Phillips  the  house  on  Cottage  Street  in 
which  he  lived  until  his  death,  in  1899.  In  1870  he  purchased  an 
interest  in  the  firm  of  Hale  &  Edson  (Otis  G.  Hale  and  Samuel  A. 
Edson).  His  son,  George  F.  Abbott,  became  his  partner  in  1872. 
The  following  year  the  firm  purchased  the  drug  business  of 
L.  P.  Parker  &  Son,  sold  their  dry-goods  to  Farr  &  Dow,  and 
moved  to  their  new  business  in  the  same  block,  where  they  re- 
mained until  they  sold  it  to  Wilbur  Fisk  Robins,  in  1878.  At 
this  time  the  senior  partner  retired,  and  the  junior  went  to  Tilton, 
where  he  was  in  business  some  years  before  his  return  to  this 
town.  George  Abbott  was  identified  with  the  Methodist  Church 
for  half  a  century.  He  was  among  the  small  number  of  men 
who  united  to  erect  the  church  of  that  denomination  in  1850,  and 
was  never  lax  in  duty.  He  served  the  town  as  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Selectmen,  and  was  twice  Representative  in  the  General 
Court.  He  was  a  quiet  man  who  pursued  the  even  tenor  of  his 
way  without  imposing  himself  upon  the  attention  of  people,  and 
filled  successfully  all  the  requirements  of  good  citizenship. 

The  store  on  Main  Street,  east  of  Saranac,  built  by  Eastman, 
Mattocks,  &  Co.  in  1840-1841,  has  had  an  eventful  history  both  in 
regard  to  proprietors  and  the  amount  of  business  transacted  over 
its  counters.  In  1870  it  was  owned  by  George  Farr,  and  occupied 
by  Farr  &  South  worth.  In  1873  Captain  Farr  retired  and  was 
succeeded  by  George  E.  Lovejoy,  and  the  firm  became  Southworth 
<fc  Lovejoy.  In  1876  Charles  Taylor  joined  the  firm,  which  was 
known  as  Southworth,  Lovejoy,  &  Taylor  for  three  years,  when 
Mr.  Taylor  sold  to  Fred  H.  English,  whose  name  was  substituted 
in  the  company  name  for  that  of  the  retiring  member.  In  1883 
the  firm  of  Southworth,  Lovejoy,  <fc  English  was  dissolved  by  the 
retirement  of  the  junior  partner  to  go  into  business  with  Charles 
Eaton,  and  the  style  of  the  house  was  once  more  Southworth  <fc 
Lovejoy. 

In  1890  Mr.  Lovejoy  died.     He  was  a  young  man  of  integrity, 
and  possessed  many  qualities  that  rendered  him  popular  among 

1  Mr.  Hale  was  so  intimately  connected  with  municipal  administration  that  a 
sketch  of  him  has  been  inserted  in  Vol.  I.  Chap.  XXVI.  of  this  work. 


42  History  of  Littleton. 

his  townsmen.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  held  the  position  of 
town  clerk,  and  was  an  officer  of  the  Musical  Association.  He 
was  one  of  the  young  business  men  of  whom  great  expectations 
were  entertained  by  the  public,  which  would  doubtless  have  been 
realized  had  he  been  spared  to  fill  out  the  measure  of  man's 
allotted  years.  Upon  his  death  Henry  F.  and  Harry  D.  Green 
purchased  the  interest  he  had  held  in  the  firm,  and  the  title 
became  H.  H.  Southworth  &  Co.  In  1892  Frank  Dunlap  was  a 
partner  in  the  house  for  some  eighteen  months,  and  in  1894 
James  Harrington  bought  Mr.  Southworth's  interest,  and  in  1896 
that  of  Harry  D.  Green  also.  Henry  F.  Green  had  sold  his  share 
to  his  son  at  the  time  Mr.  Harrington  joined  the  company; 
William  J.  Harrington,  a  brother  of  James,  entered  the  firm  at  this 
time,  and  its  name  was  changed  to  Harrington  <fc  Co.  Shortly 
after  this  event  the  business  was  removed  to  the  McCoy  building, 
and  a  miscellaneous  stock  changed  to  that  of  groceries  alone. 
Since  their  abandonment  of  the  old  Eastman  store  it  has  been 
occupied  successively  as  a  tin-shop  by  Royal  P.  White,  George 
L.  Flanders  &  Co.,  and  is  now  used  as  a  carriage  mart  by  Rich- 
ardson <t  Kimball. 

Hartwell  H.  Southworth,  who  was  so  long  identified  with  the 
trade  of  the  town,  was  born  in  Fairlee.  Vt.,  in  February,  1829,  and 
died  in  Littleton  June  3, 1902.  He  was  descended,  on  his  father's 
side,  from  Edward  Southworth,  of  Lyddon,  England,  whose  wife 
was  Alice  Carpenter.  Previous  to  her  marriage  she  had  been 
affianced  to  William  Bradford,  afterward  Governor  of  Plymouth 
Colony.  Her  husband  having  died  in  1620,  she  with  her  two 
sons  came  to  Plymouth,  where  she  soon  after  became  the  wife  of 
Governor  Bradford,  under  whose  care  the  sons  of  Edward  South- 
worth  were  reared.  Constance,  the  eldest  of  the  sons,  was  the 
progenitor  of  Hartwell  H.  Southworth.  On  his  mother's  side  he 
was  connected  with  Robert  Morris,  the  financier  of  the  Revolution. 

In  his  younger  days  Mr.  Southworth  was  a  teacher  of  note,  his 
last  engagement  in  this  capacity  having  been  at  Whitefield,  where 
he  had  charge  of  the  Academy.  When  he  came  here  it  was  to 
enter  the  store  of  William  Bailey  as  a  clerk. 

Prior  to  his  retirement  from  business  he  had  held  the  office  of 
Selectman  three  terms.  His  later  years  were  mainly  passed  in 
the  public  service  as  collector  of  taxes.  He  also  served  as  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Education  for  Union  School  District,  and 
was  for  some  years  a  trustee  of  the  Savings  Bank. 

As  a  business  man  Mr.  Southworth  did  not  belong  to  the 
modern  school  of  hustlers.  He  was  retiring  but  efficient,  and 


Merchants.  43 

his  integrity  was  of  the  quality  that  shines  in  the  countenance 
and  is  felt  in  deeds.  He  was  of  refined  and  scholarly  habits,  as 
free  from  prejudice  as  the  nature  of  man  will  permit.  His  mind 
was  open  to  the  truth,  and  its  white  light  was  his  guide  in  all  the 
duties  of  citizenship. 

Noah  Farr  had  seven  children,  of  whom  Nelson  C.  was  the 
youngest.  The  father  was  brought  up  on  a  farm,  and  regarded  the 
pursuit  of  agriculture  as  one  of  the  cardinal  duties  of  man  and 
the  chief  source  of  wealth,  —  a  reason  that  was  weighty  with  him 
in  determining  the  settlement  of  his  children.  When  he  found 
Nelson,  the  weakling  of  the  flock,  too  puny  to  make  a  success 
among  the  stumps  and  stones  on  Farr  Hill,  he  most  reluctantly 
consented  to  his  entering  a  store  with  a  view  to  eventually  going 
into  trade.  Too  puny  for  a  farmer,  he  was  good  enough  for  a 
storekeeper.  The  lad's  first  experience  as  a  salesman  was  made 
before  he  was  sixteen,  and  ere  he  had  reached  the  age  of  twenty, 
with  a  small  capital  saved  from  the  meagre  sum  he  received  for 
four  years'  service,  he  embarked  in  business  on  his  own  account, 
occupying  a  lean-to  built  against  the  easterly  side  of  the  Old 
Yellow  Store.  He  remained  here  less  than  a  year,  but  in  these 
few  months  he  had  not  been  idle.  He  had  not  only  increased  his 
capital  by  what  would  be  regarded  as  a  handsome  sum  over  the 
original  investment,  but  he  came  to  know  that  his  methods  of* 
honesty,  economy,  and  industry  would  lead  to  eventual  success. 
In  1844  he  went  to  Bethlehem,  where  he  opened  a  store,  and  for 
the  next  seventeen  years  prospered  and  earned  a  reputation  as  an 
enterprising  and  honorable  merchant.  There  he  was  soon  brought 
into  competition  with  John  G.  Sinclair,  and  by  prudence  and 
strict  attention  to  the  details  of  his  business  continued  to  reach  a 
satisfactory  result  on  the  annual  balance  sheet.  But  Bethlehem 
was  not  the  home  of  the  Farrs,  and  he  longed  for  a  closer  con- 
nection with  his  kin,  so  in  1863  we  find  him  in  trade  in  this  town, 
where  he  had  purchased  the  stock  of  Royal  D.  Rounsevel,  and 
subsequently  became  the  owner  of  the  store  where  he  was  in  busi- 
ness until  his  death.  This  property  is  now  an  annex  to  the 
Northern  Hotel.  Mr.  Farr  was  a  close  buyer,  and,  until  within 
a  year  or  two  of  his  death,  always  discounted  his  bills  for  cash. 
When  he  found  the  profits  increasing  beyond  the  demands  of  his 
business,  he  invested  in  real  estate  and  in  the  stock  of  the  New 
Hampshire  Scythe  and  Axe  Company.  He  held  at  one  time  a 
large  block  of  stock  in  the  Union  Hall  Company.  AVhen  his 
fellow  stockholders  had  lost  faith  in  their  ability  to  put  the  Scythe 
and  Axe  Company  on  a  paying  basis,  he  took  over  some  of  their 


44  History  of  Littleton. 

stock  and  assumed  its  obligations.  He  did  not  live  to  witness  the 
final  catastrophe,  but  there  is  little  doubt  that  anxiety  growing  out 
of  this  business  was  largely  instrumental  in  causing  his  death. 

The  Farr  family  has  been  connected  with  the  Congregational 
Church  of  the  town  for  nearly,  if  not  quite,  a  century.  Thirty- 
five  bearing  the  name  are  on  the  church  rolls,  it  has  given  three 
deacons  to  the  organization,  and  a  daughter  of  Deacon  Noah 
Farr  became  the  wife  of  Deacon  Marshall  Cobleigh.  Nelson  C. 
joined  the  church  in  this  town  by  profession  of  faith  in  May, 
1843.  In  1847  he  was  admitted  to  membersbip  in  the  church  at 
Bethlehem  by  letter  from  the  church  in  this  town,  in  1859  was 
chosen  deacon,  and  in  1863  again  became  a  member  of  this  church, 
and  was  elected  one  of  its  deacons  the  same  year,  and  held  this 
office  until  his  death. 

The  Farrs,  as  a  family,  have  not  been  unmindful  of  their  quali- 
fications to  serve  the  people  in  public  stations,  and  they  have  often 
had  office  thrust  upon  them.  This  deacon  seems  to  have  been  an 
exception  to  the  rule  and  never  held  public  positions.  He  was  a 
member  of  Burns  Lodge,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  and  of  St.  Gerard 
Commandery.  He  was  an  unassuming  m?in  of  gentlemanly  bear- 
ing, who  took  a  serious  view  of  life  and  its  responsibilities,  and 
confined  his  activities  to  his  business,  his  church,  and  the  Masonic 
bodies  with  which  he  was  connected.  In  each  he  accomplished 
much  for  society  and  the  town.  He  was  twice  married,  but  left 
no  children. 

If  Noah  Farr  could  have  known  the  number  of  his  descendants 
who  were  to  engage  in  trade,  with  his  views  of  life  and  business, 
he  would  have  been  filled  with  anxiety  for  the  future  of  his 
progeny.  John,  Nelson  C.,  George,  John  Jr.,  Charles  A.,  and 
others  were  merchants.  Charles  A.,  the  youngest  child  of  John. 
Avas  a  clerk  in  his  uncle's  store.  In  1870,  in  company  with 
John  F.  Tilton,  he  formed  the  firm  of  Farr  &  Tilton.  They 
began  business  by  purchasing  the  stock  of  boots  and  shoes 
and  renting  the  Thayer  store  of  Marquis  L.  Goold.  The  young 
men  remained  at  this  stand  until  1873,  when  they  bought  the 
dry-goods  stock  of  G.  &  G.  F.  Abbott  and  removed  to  the  store  in 
Union  Block,  now  occupied  by  Edwin  H.  Gould.  Mr.  Farr  subse- 
quently disposed  of  his  share  in  this  concern  to  William  H.  Tilton. 
then  of  Worcester,  Mass..  who  sold  to  his  younger  brother,  Fred 
A.,  when  lie  had  attained  his  majority.  William  II.  went  to  San 
Francisco,  Cal.,  where  he  has  been  connected  with  James  Carroll 
for  many  years  in  the  clothing  business.  When  Mr.  Farr  with- 
drew, the  firm  name  became  Tilton  Brothers,  and  so  continued 


Merchants.  45 

to  1886,  when  it  was  dissolved,  the  senior  partner  retiring  from 
business  and  the  junior  removing  to  Spokane,  Wash.,  where  he 
died  in  1893. 

At  the  time  Charles  A.  Farr  withdrew  from  Farr  &  Tilton  in 
1874  he  joined  Arthur  F.  Dow  in  establishing  a  mercantile  firm 
under  the  title  of  Farr  &  Dow.  The  firm  began  business  in  the 
building  then  just  vacated  by  Kilburn  Brothers  and  refitted  it  for 
their  business.  The  company  had  a  large  trade.  It  chanced 
that  Robert  M.  Dow  desired  an  interest  in  the  firm,  and  Mr.  Farr 
sold  to  him.  Mr.  Farr  rented  the  store  in  Eastman  Block,  where 
he  was  in  business  until  1893.  He  then  retired  and  has  since  been 
in  the  insurance  business.  He  is  now  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Tillotson  &  Farr. 

Upon  the  admission  of  Robert  M.  Dow  to  the  firm,  it  took  the 
name  of  Dow  Brothers.  These  young  men  had  the  blood  of 
several  generations  of  Littleton  people  in  their  veins. 

Their  grandfathers  were  Capt.  James  Dow  and  Solomon  Fitch, 
their  grandmothers  Lydia  Thompson  Dow  and  Mary  Fuller  Fitch, 
all  of  whom  passed  their  mature  lives  in  the  town  ;  and  their 
parents  were  born  and  bred  on  its  soil.  Both  were  enterprising 
merchants  and  soon  commanded  a  large  business.  Their  trade 
was  in  general  merchandise,  but  they  carried  an  exceptionally 
large  stock  of  dry-goods  which  in  variety  of  style  and  quality  was 
superior  to  any  in  this  section  of  the  State  and  drew  a  consid- 
erable patronage  from  abroad.  Close  attention  to  business 
impaired  the  health  of  both,  and  Robert  sold  his  interest  to  his 
partner  and  retired  in  the  hope  that  freedom  from  care  might 
enable  him  to  regain  his  lost  health.  This  expectation  was  not 
realized,  and  he  passed  away  in  1890.  Arthur,  at  the  time  he 
assumed  this  additional  burden,  was  also  laden  with  the  perplexing 
cares  of  the  creamery  which  he  had  established  in  company  with 
N.  B.  Dalton.  With  this  business  neither  partner  was  familiar, 
and  they  consequently  encountered  many  unnecessary  obstacles 
in  their  efforts  to  make  it  a  success,  and  Mr.  Dow  was  soon 
compelled  to  take  and  manage  the  property.  The  multiplied 
responsibilities  were  too  heavy  for  his  enfeebled  constitution  and 
in  1893  he  followed  his  brother  to  the  spirit  land.  Few  of  the 
men  who  have  added  to  the  mercantile  fame  of  the  town  possessed 
in  a  larger  degree  the  essential  qualities  of  success  in  this  branch 
of  business  than  did  these  young  men.  They  were  tireless 
workers,  with  a  clear  comprehension  of  the  wants  of  the  public 
and  the  tendencies  of  trade,  and  had  an  ambition  to  keep  in  the 
advance  line.  In  these  respects,  us  well  as  in  judgment,  enter- 


46  History  of  Littleton. 

prise,  and  honor,  they  achieved  a  notable  success  and  left  behind 
them  fe\v  enemies  and  many  friends. 

The  old  Brackett  store,  now  known  as  Calhoun  Block,  has  had 
many  tenants  since  William  C.,  Aaron,  and  Charles  W.  Brackett 
gave  it  over  to  such  occupancy,  and  of  these  tenants  the  firm  of 
which  Charles  Eaton  was  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  the  head 
has,  with  the  possible  exception  of  Alonzo  Weeks,  had  the  longest 
lease.  This  firm  was  established  in  1868  as  Weeks,  Eaton,  & 
Calhoun,  and  dealt  in  boots,  shoes,  groceries,  and  meats.  Alonzo 
Weeks  put  in  his  stock  of  boots  and  shoes,  and  the  other  partners 
the  goods  in  which  they  had  dealt  at  North  Lisbon  before  coming 
here.  Mr.  Weeks  was  an  extremely  conservative  man.  A  cus- 
toms shoemaker  by  trade,  he  had  conducted  a  good  business  in 
that  line  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  and  had  an  original  method  of 
keeping  his  books  and,  in  general,  of  doing  business.  The  push- 
ing methods  of  his  young  partners  he  regarded  as  altogether  too 
hazardous  for  safety,  and  at  the  end  of  a  year  he  withdrew,  taking 
the  class  of  goods  he  had  contributed  to  the  company,  and  the 
other  partners  continued  the  grocery  and  provision  branch  until 
1873,  when  Charles  D.  Tarbell,  who  had  fitted  up  a  new  saw-mill 
at  South  Littleton,  traded  an  interest  in  that  establishment  for 
one  in  the  grocery  store.  Mr.  Calhoun  withdrew,  and  the  firm 
name  became  Eaton,  Tarbell,  <t  Co.  until  18TT,  when  Henry 
F.  Green  was  admitted  as  a  partner  and  the  title  was  changed  to 
that  of  Eaton,  Tarbell,  <fc  Green.  Deacon  Tarbell  withdrew  in 
1870.  Eaton  &  Green  continued  three  years,  when  Fred  II. 
English  bought  out  Mr.  Green  and  the  firm  of  Eaton  <fc  English 
was  formed.  In  1886  Mr.  Eaton  sold  his  share  in  the  firm  to 
Frank  P.  Bond.  The  firm  name  became  English  &  Bond  and  so 
remained  until  1901,  when  Mr.  English  purchased  his  partner's 
interest  and  is  now  the  sole  owner  of  this  long-established  and 
prosperous  business  house. 

From  its  foundation  the  men  who  at  different  times  have  been 
connected  with  this  firm,  have  been  of  a  class  who  naturally 
inspire  confidence  in  their  integrity  and  ability  and  whose  ser- 
vices arc  sought  by  their  fellow  citizens  to  discharge  public  trusts. 
Alonzo  Weeks  was  a  man  whose  life  followed  a  narrow  rut.  lie 
shrank  from  touching  anything  but  leather  and  money  ;  these 
articles  he  knew  and  valued  at  their  real  worth.  An  exemplary 
and  most  useful  citizen,  he  was  frequently  called  and  sometimes 
forced  to  fill  positions  of  trust  at  times  when  his  known  integrity 
was  of  real  service  to  the  town  as  well  as  to  his  party.  He  was 
one  of  the  .Selectmen  in  1864  and  in  1878 ;  town  treasurer  from 


ISAAC    CAI.IKH'N. 


Merchants.  47 

1871  to  1884  inclusive,  and  town  clerk  in  1856.  He  was  a  rigid 
Democrat  in  politics,  and  in  religious  opinions  a  Universalist. 
For  seventeen  years  he  regularly  attended  service  at  the  Congre- 
gational Church  and  then  at  the  Methodist,  whose  house  of  worship 
he  assisted  in  building.  Here  he  occasionally  listened  to  a  sermon 
denouncing  in  vigorous  tones  the  tenets  of  his  faith.  But  he 
had  his  reward  when  the  annual  subscription  list  was  presented 
for  his  signature,  which  he  affixed  without  a  word  of  protest,  with 
a  liberal  sum  appended.  He  was  a  member  of  Burns  Lodge 
A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  and  loved  the  order  and  faithfully  served  it  as  treas- 
urer for  more  than  thirty  years.  During  this  long  period  he  was 
seldom  absent  from  his  post  of  duty  at  lodge  meetings.  Half  a 
century  ago  boots  and  shoes  were  all  made  at  the  village  shops, 
and  though  the  ready-made  article  soon  after  began  to  invade  this 
region,  it  was  a  long  time  before  it  dispossessed  the  old  custom 
boot  and  shoe.  Mr.  Weeks  came  here  from  Danville,  Vt.,  in  1833, 
and  succeeded  Levi  P.  and  Webster  B.  Merrill,  who  had  been  in 
the  business  for  ten  or  twelve  years.  Mr.  Weeks  was  methodical, 
obliging,  and  unremittingly  attentive  to  business  and  soon  had  a 
considerable  trade.  For  a  long  period  he  employed  from  five  to 
eight  journeymen,  and  the  pleasant  relations  between  employer 
and  employee  are  shown  by  the  fact  that  his  journeymen  usually 
remained  in  his  employ  for  years.  Joshua  B.  Shaw  was  the  first 
man  he  set  to  work  when  he  opened  his  shop  in  1833,  and  was  the 
last  to  quit  when  it  was  finally  closed  in  1882.  Another  was 
Thomas  S.  Nurse,  who  learned  his  trade  with  Mr.  Weeks  and 
never  had  another  employer,  remaining  with  him  until  he  retired 
from  the  business  when  custom  work  was  driven  from  the  market 
by  ready-made.  Mr.  Nurse  then  continued  to  make  custom  work 
at  his  residence  for  the  few  old-fashioned  people  who  preferred  that 
class  of  footwear.  Mr.  Weeks  was  for  a  brief  period  engaged  in 
the  glove  business,  and  tried  several  other  branches  of  trade  with 
indifferent  success  after  he  ceased  to  be  a  knight  of  the  last.  He 
died  in  1892.  He  was  universally  respected  in  this  community, 
where  he  had  made  his  home  for  fifty-nine  years. 

Isaac  Calhoun  was  the  son  of  James  and  Philena  Robins  Calhoun, 
and  grandson  of  the  James  who  was  the  first  of  the  family  in  this 
country,  coming  hither  from  the  north  of  Ireland  with  Andrew 
Woods,  who  settled  in  Bath,  while  Mr.  Calhoun  located  in  the 
adjoining  town  of  Lyman.  It  was  a  virile  stock,  with  a  tendency 
to  ideas  and  a  gathering  of  knowledge.  Isaac  was  born  in  Lyman 
in  1831)  ;  when  he  was  seven  years  old,  the  family  moved  to  a 
farm  in  the  Robins  neighborhood,  where  they  resided  until  18G1. 


48  History  of  Littleton. 

In  the  mean  time  Isaac,  following  the  bent  of  the  leading  trait  of 
his  character,  was  with  a  persistent  energy  in  business  at  one 
time  in  Lisbon,  then  in  Littleton,  and  in  other  places  before 
he  had  attained  his  majority.  His  subsequent  business  life  was 
principally  passed  in  this  town.  He  was  often  in  partnership  with 
his  cousin  James  E.  Henry  or  with  Charles  Eaton,  both  of  whom 
had  entered  into  this  relation  with  him  before  they  had  reached 
the  age  of  twenty-one  years.  During  his  busy  life  he  was  engaged 
in  the  lumber  business,  butchering,  in  trade,  dealing  in  cattle, 
disrobing  abandoned  farms  of"  their  timber,  then  cultivating  or 
selling  the  naked  land,  and  in  many  other  ways  putting  the  im- 
mense energies  with  which  he  was  endowed  to  the  use  of  others 
as  well  as  to  accumulating  property  for  his  own  use.  The  taint 
of  a  dishonest  transaction  never  stained  his  character.  He  mar- 
ried a  daughter  of  Leonard  JB.  Hildreth  in  1867,  and  about  that 
time  entered  into  partnership  with  Mr.  Hildreth,  by  which  all  their 
business  transactions,  either  as  individuals  or  in  partnership  with 
others,  became  a  company  affair.  This  connection  was  dissolved 
by  the  death  of  Mr.  Hildreth  in  1894.  Mrs.  Calhoun  died  in  1884, 
and  he  married  second,  1886,  Flora  Young,  of  Lisbon. 

Another  partner  of  Mr.  Eaton  whose  activities  were  mainly 
devoted  to  the  lumber  business  was  Charles  Duane  Tarbell,  who, 
coming  from  Kludge  in  1870,  resided  here  for  twenty  years.  He 

o  o  «/     ** 

was  manager  of  the  lumber-mill  at  South  Littleton  and  interested 
for  a  time  in  the  store.  He  was  a  deacon  of  the  Congregational 
Church  and  active  in  the  temperance  cause.  He  gave  much  of  his 
time  to  the  work  directed  by  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Associa- 
tion and  other  auxiliary  societies  connected  with  his  church.  In 
1890  he  went  to  Southern  Fines,  N.  C.,  where  he  was  interested, 
with  others  from  this  section,  in  lumbering,  and  where  lie  still 
resides. 

Henry  Francis  Green  is  a  brother-in-law  of  Mr.  Eaton.  For 
several  years  prior  to  his  joining  the  lirni  he  had  been  a  resident 
of  Indianapolis,  Ind.  He  came  to  Littleton  in  1877,  and  has  since 
been  prominent  in  mercantile,  manufacturing,  and  political  affairs. 
He  is  now  connected  with  the  Saranac  Glove  Company  as  a  director 
and  as  treasurer.1 

Charles  Eaton  was  born  in  Landaff  June  9,  1834,  and  has  been 
a  resident  of  this  town  since  1868.  He  was  doing  business  here 
before  that  time  in  connection  with  Isaac  Calhoun,  but  maintained 
his  residence  in  Lisbon.  Like  most  other  members  of  his  firm, 
lie  was  largely  interested  in  the  manufacture  of  lumber  during 

*->        •/  o 

1  See  Vol.  I.  Chap.  XXVI. 


P.    BOM>. 


Merchants.  49 

nearly  the  entire  period  of  his  residence  in  the  town.  Through 
various  instrumentaliti  s  this  business  increased  from  year  to  year 
until  he  found  it  necessary  to  renounce  mercantile  affairs  to  give 
attention  to  this  class  of  manufacturing.  Mr.  Eaton  was  a  suc- 
cessful merchant,  a  good  buyer,  and  an  excellent  salesman ;  he 
carried  a  large  and  well-selected  stock  of  goods  and  held  the 
patronage  of  the  public.  In  1895  he  retired  from  business,  and 
in  1899  was  appointed  postmaster  by  President  McKinley,  —  a 
position  he  still  holds. 

Frank  P.  Bond  was  born  in  Dalton,  the  son  of  Lucius  Bond,  a 
prosperous  farmer  and  business  man  of  that  town,  who  died  in 
Littleton  in  February,  1891.  Frank  P.  Bond  retired  from  the 
firm  of  English  &  Bond  in  1901,  and  is  now  largely  interested  in 
real  estate.  He  has  been  active  in  the  political  life  of  both  towns 
in  which  he  has  made  his  home.  He  was  town  clerk  of  Dalton 
from  1877  to  1883  inclusive,  and  a  Representative  in  the  Legis- 
lature of  1885-1886.1 

The  leading  mercantile  house  for  forty-six  years  was  the  firm 
founded  by  Cyrus  Eastman  and  Ethan  Colby  in  1836,  and  ter- 
minated when  C.  &  C.  F.  Eastman  sold  to  Edson,  Bailey,  tfc  Eaton 
in  September,  1882.  From  first  to  last  Cyrus  Eastman  was  the 
chief  factor,  as  he  was  the  only  member  of  the  company  who 
passed  with  it  through  all  its  long  and  prosperous  career.  When 
first  organized,  it  took  the  name  of  Colby  &  Eastman  and  entered 
upon  a  successful  existence.  The  financial  stringency  that  pre- 
vailed in  this  country  in  1837-1838  failed  to  shake  the  credit  of  the 
firm,  but  made  plain  the  fact  that  to  successfully  meet  the  business 
demands  of  the  future  required  a  larger  capital  than  was  at  the 
command  of  the  young  men  who  constituted  the  company.  To 
meet  this  requirement  Mr.  Colby  sold  his  interest  in  1838  to 
Ebenezer  Eastman  and  Henry  Mattocks,  both  of  Danville,  Vt.,;uid 
went  to  Colebrook,  where  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Mr.  Kit- 
tcridge  and  continued  in  business  for  nearly  as  many  years  as  did 
the  partner  of  his  youth.  This  readjustment  necessarily  brought 
with  it  a  change  in  the  name  of  the  company,  which  became 
Eastman,  Mattocks,  &  Co.,  and  so  continued  until  1843,  when  Mr. 
Mattocks  retired  and  was  succeeded  by  Franklin  Tilton,  another 
son  of  Danville,  who  was  a  brother  of  Mrs.  Cyrus  Eastman.  Then 
the  name  became  Eastman,  Tilton,  &  Co.  The  firm  thus  con- 
stituted was  unchanged  in  its  membership  for  nearly  ten  years, 
but  about  1850  its  title  became  F.  Tilton  A;  Co.  In  1852  Franklin 
J.  Eastman,  a  younger  brother  of  the  senior  members,  who  had 

1  See  Vol.  I.  Chap.  XXVI. 

VOL.  II.  —  4 


50  History  of  Littleton. 

formerly  been  in  the  employ  of  the  company  as  a  clerk  and  had 
subsequently  formed  a  partnership  in  trade  with  Robert  Harvey 
at  Barnet,  Vt.,  returned  and  became  a  partner  in  the  firm,  which 
assumed  the  name  of  C.  &  F.  J.  Eastman  &  Co.  This  firm,  then 
the  most  considerable  in  the  northern  part  of  the  State,  was  a 
family  affair.  With  Colonel  Eastman,  who  had  then  acquired  the 
title  in  the  Thirty-second  Regiment  State  Militia,  were  associated 
two  brothers  and  a  brother-in-law.  It  was  at  this  time  that  a 
great  change  in  the  business  of  the  town  was  impending  by  reason 
of  the  construction  of  the  railroad  to  this  point.  The  company 
realized,  as  no  other  seemed  to,  the  full  significance  of  the  event, 
and  prepared  to  meet  it  with  accustomed  prescience  and  prompt- 
ness. Land  had  previously  been  purchased  by  Colonel  Eastman 
of  Dr.  Burns  for  a  residence,  and  before  the  depot  foundations 
had  been  laid,  a  new  store  was  in  process  of  construction  on  this 
site,  which  was  accessible  to  cars  over  a  track  extended  from  the 
proposed  railroad  station,  and  the  Colonel's  new  residence  was 
built  on  South  Street.  For  several  years  the  firm  operated  two 
stores.  In  185-4  Henry  L.  Tilton  returned  from  California,  pur- 
chased an  interest  in  the  firm,  and  was  associated  with  Franklin 
Tilton  in  charge  of  the  old  store.  The  stock  in  trade  had  been 
divided  when  the  depot  store  was  opened;  the  hardware,  iron, 
salt,  grains,  flour,  lime,  and  groceries  of  a  heavy  kind  being  carried 
at  that  place,  while  at  the  old  establishment  were  kept  all  kinds 
of  goods  such  as  are  usually  sold  in  a  country  store.  In  1858 
Henry  L.  Tilton  withdrew  from  the  firm  in  order  to  employ  his 
energies  in  a  wider  and  freer  field,  and  another  change  in  style 
resulted  in  its  resuming  the  old  name  of  Eastman,  Tilton,  &  Co. 
In  186(3  Charles  F.  Eastman,  a  son  of  the  Colonel,  was  admitted 
as  a  partner,  F.  J.  Eastman  having  previously,  in  1858,  purchased 
the  real  estate  and  stock  at  the  Main  Street  store  to  do  business 
on  his  own  account.  Upon  the  death  of  Franklin  Tilton  in  the 
spring  of  1807,  the  surviving  partners  assumed  the  firm  name  of 
C.  A:  C.  F.  Eastman,  and  transacted  business  under  that  title  until 
they  sold  out  in  1882  and  retired  from  mercantile  life. 

From  the  beginning  in  18oG  to  the  close  the  concern  prospered 
to  a  great  degree.  Its  transactions,  always  relatively  large,  in- 
creased more  rapidly  than  the  population  of  the  town.  As  the 
lumber  business  up  the  valley  and  in  Coo's  County  and  the  moun- 
tain industries  grew  from  year  to  year,  they  brought  their  tribute 
to  the  counters  of  the  company.  Its  average  annual  sales  reached 
6150.000.  In  these  years  it  sold  annually  thirty  thousand 
bushels  of  corn,  five  hundred  tons  of  plaster,  —  a  commodity  then 


/n 


Merchants.  51 

extensively  used  for  agricultural  purposes, —  their  market  for  the 
plaster  extending  from  Wentworth  to  the  headwaters  of  the  Con- 
necticut, while  its  sales  of  iron  and  groceries  were  correspondingly 
large,  exceeding  those  of  any  other  dealers  in  the  State  north  of 
Concord. 

The  company  did  not  confine  its  energies  to  trade,  but,  as  has 
been  before  stated,  was  interested  in  manufacturing  not  only  in 
this,  but  in  neighboring  towns  as  well  as  in  Maine,  and  in  various 
other  important  enterprises.  After  the  death  of  Ebenezer  East- 
man, which  occurred  in  1853,  the  supervision  of  these  outside 
operations  fell  to  Colonel  Eastman.  His  resoluteness  of  purpose 
and  mastery  of  expedients  overcame  every  obstacle,  and  when  at 
his  best  he  carried  to  a  successful  conclusion  more  than  one 
enterprise  that  his  associates  pronounced  impossible.  An  illustra- 
tion of  these  qualities  is  found  in  the  rebuilding  of  the  Crawford 
House  in  1859.  This  incident  has  been  related  by  the  Colonel : 

"In  1852  Eastman,  Tilton,  &  Co.,  in  connection  with  E.  J.  M.  Hale 
and  James  H.  Carleton,  of  Haverhill,  Mass.,  purchased  the  interest  of 
Thomas  J.  Crawford  in  the  Crawford  House  property,  and  completed 
the  hotel  then  in  process  of  construction.  This  was  burned  Saturday, 
May  1,  1859.  On  Monday  Colonel  Eastman  drew  the  rough  plan  of 
a  new  hotel,  to  be  two  hundred  feet  front,  with  two  wings  of  two  hun- 
dred feet  each,  two  and  three  stories  in  height.  On  conferring  with  his 
partners,  they  seemed  to  consider  it  a  foregone  conclusion  that  no  hotel 
could  be  put  up  to  take  the  place  of  the  burned  Crawford  House  until 
that  summer  season  had  passed.  To  this  supposition  he  said  :  •  1  will 
guarantee  to  have  a  new  house  ready  to  receive  guests  in  sixty  days, 
with  three  days'  grace.'  Receiving  their  sanction,  he  entered  upon  the 
work.  He  sent  his  plans  to  the  architect  for  arrangement,  made  a  Hy- 
ing trip  to  all  the  mills  within  quite  a  radius,  purchased  the  lumber  on 
hand,  and  night  and  day  devoted  himself  to  the  work  before  him.  .  .  . 
Everything  had  to  be  hauled  from  Littleton,  and  in  ten  chvys'  time  he 
had  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  and  seventy-five  oxen  and  horses  at 
work,  .  .  .  superintended  even'thing,  and  had  the  pleasure  of  opening 
the  new  Crawford  House  to  travellers  on  July  13,  .  .  .  when  one  hun- 
dred guests  were  entertained  for  the  night." 

This  was  no  ordinary  feat.  It  is  difficult  in  these  days  of  large 
operations,  of  telegraph  and  telephone  and  with  modern  con- 
veniences of  transportation,  to  realize  the  countless  difficulties 
he  had  to  encounter  in  this  enterprise.  Littleton,  the  base  of  his 
operations,  was  twenty-five  miles  away  and  the  high  way  from 
Pierce's  bridge  to  the  White  Mountain  Notch  passed  through  a 
dense  forest  of  spruce  broken  by  few  settlements  and  at  that  early 


52  History  of  Littleton. 

season  rough  and  difficult  of  passage.  It  was  a  task  with  many 
hindrances  and  one  which  few  men  could  have  successfully 
achieved. 

During  his  long  and  active  life  Colonel  Eastman  witnessed  the 
growth  of  the  village  from  a  straggling  hamlet  surpassed  in 
influence,  wealth,  and  power  by  many  of  its  neighbors,  especially  by 
Haverhill,  Bath,  and  Lancaster,  and  lived  to  see  it  win  in  the  race 
of  progress  and  outstrip  all  rivals.  He  came  here  a  young  man 
before  the  martial  spirit  born  of  two  wars  had  entirely  passed 
away,  when  a  military  title  was  a  symbol  of  influence  and  the 
epaulet  a  badge  of  honor.  As  an  able-bodied  man  subject  to 
militia  duty  he  served  in  the  ranks  and  was  rapidly  promoted, 
until  in  1842  he  raised  and  commanded  the  Littleton  Greys,  an 
independent  company  of  light  infantry  made  up  of  young  men 
residing  in  this  corner  of  the  town,  and  finally  attained  the  rank 
of  colonel  and  the  command  of  the  Thirty-second  Regiment  in 
1844,  a  position  he  held  for  four  years.  At  a  time  when  the 
Governor's  staff  had  not  been  sufficiently  increased  by  act  of 
the  Legislature  to  enable  it  to  do  escort  duty  at  the  Governor's 
inauguration,  the ';  Governor's  Horse  Guard"  was  organized  for 
that  service,  and  Colonel  Eastman  held  a  captain's  commission 
in  that  organization.  This  was  the  last  militia  duty  that  fell  to 
his  lot. 

His  political  opinions  were  those  advocated  by  Jefferson,  and  no 
party  ever  had  a  more  devoted,  constant,  and  consistent  follower. 
He  was  no  carpet  knight  in  the  political  arena,  but  from  the  first 
was  one  of  the  most  active  workers  and  trusted  leaders  of  his 
party.  A  Whig,  a  Know-nothing,  or  a  Republican  might  be 
his  personal  friend  or  valued  business  associate  and  counsellor, 
but  he  was  his  political  enemy,  and  as  such  received  no  considera- 
tion in  politics  at  the  hands  of  the  Colonel.  Generally  he  was 
averse  to  leaving  his  business  affairs  to  accept  political  office. 
He  once  declined  a  nomination  for  Senator  for  this  district  when 
it  was  at  his  disposal,  and  after  serving  as  a  member  of  Governor 
Goodwin's  council  one  term  declined  a  renomination  that  was  due 
him  by  right  of  custom.  Then  there  came  a  time  when  he  had  an 
ambition  to  represent  the  town  and  was  twice  elected  to  the 
General  Court,  first  in  1^71  and  again  the  following  year  :  was 
a  delegate  to  the  constitutional  convention  of  1876:  postmaster 
from  1S53  to  1857.  and  was  many  times  auditor  of  public  accounts 
and  served  on  various  committees  appointed  for  the  transaction 
of  special  town  business.  He  was  lire-ward  in  18:>8-1>40  and 
continuously  from  1842  to  1849.  and  was  supervisor  in  l^^O 


Merchants.  53 

and  1881.  Upon  the  organization  of  Union  School  District  he 
became  a  member  of  its  first  Board  of  Education  and  served  for 
a  term  of  three  years. 

He  was  a  stockholder  in  various  corporations,  and  a  director  in 
the  White  Mountains  Railroad,  the  Littleton  Woollen  Company, 
the  New  Hampshire  Scythe  Company,  the  Littleton  National 
Bank  —  from  its  organization  in  1871  to  the  time  of  his  death 
in  1896  —  its  vice-president  from  1890,  and  one  of  the  trustees 
and  vice-president  of  the  Savings  Bank  from  1871.  In  both 
banks  he  was  a  member  of  the  investment  and  loan  committees. 
In  foreign  financial  institutions  he  was  a  director  of  the  Burton, 
Vt.,  National  Bank  and  also  of  the  Eastern  Banking  Company 
of  Hastings,  Neb. 

Upon  his  retirement  from  active  business  he  gave  his  time  and 
found  his  pleasure  in  the  management  of  his  estate.  He  was  the 
builder  of  the  Chiswick  Inn,  and  was  constantly  adding  to  and 
otherwise  improving  this  property  in  which  he  had  made  a  con- 
siderable investment.  It  is  a  notable  fact  in  the  recent  history 
of  the  town  that  the  only  refusal  it  has  made  in  the  way  of  tax 
exemption  was  to  deny  to  this  property  a  favor  granted  all  others 
under  similar  conditions,  and  this  action  was  taken  under  the 
leadership  of  one  who  never  before  or  since  has  failed  to  advocate 
such  exemptions.  Just  why  the  town  should  have  thus  discrim- 
inated in  this  case  is  not  known,  and  all  semblance  of  a  pretence 
to  return  to  a  policy  of  non-exemption  was  soon  after  abandoned 
and  sucli  favors  have  since  been  had  for  the  asking. 

For  threescore  years  Colonel  Eastman's  influence  was  felt  in  all 
directions  in  the  mercantile  and  industrial  life  of  the  town.  That 
influence  was  given  in  a  healthful  conservative  way  to  the  up- 
building of  all  the  interests  that  are  universally  regarded  as  essen- 
tial to  the  promotion  of  the  public  weal.  He  was  not  born  to 
affluence,  and  was  early  thrown  upon  his  own  resources  to  make 
his  way  in  the  world.  Such  men  usually  grow  to  think  before 
they  act,  and  count  the  cost  as  well  as  the  benefits  to  be  derived 
from  any  proposed  personal  or  public  action.  First  necessity,  and 
then  habit,  makes  them  slow  to  venture  where  the  way  is  obscure 
and  the  results  doubtful.  Men  of  this  cast  of  mind  arc  never 
found  among  the  promoters  of  enterprises  of  an  exotic  character. 
They  prefer  paths  that  experience  and  observation  have  shown  to 
be  safe,  though  the  rewards  promised  at  the  end  arc  small  and 
no  sound  of  approval  from  the  careless  throng  is  heard  along  the 
way.  To  this  class  Colonel  Eastman  belonged, —  conservative,  and 
yet  sufficiently  progressive  to  lead  rather  than  to  follow  his  asso- 


54  History  of  Littleton. 

elates  and  rivals  in  trade,  as  we  have  seen  when  he  broke  from 
the  traditions  that  held  the  merchants  of  the  town  in  the  old  way 
of  annual  settlements  and  exorbitant  profits  and  blazed  the  way 
to  the  modern  system.  The  industrial  and  mercantile  history  of 
the  town  during  the  half-century  of  his  most  active  life  show  how 
intimate  was  his  connection  with  all  the  industrial  enterprises 
established  during  that  period  to  promote  its  growth  at  a  time 
when  our  citizens  of  wealth  found  it  necessary  to  invest  their  own 
funds  for  that  purpose  in  ventures  foreign  to  their  chosen  line 
of  business.  It  was  his  fortune  to  have  been  engaged  in  active 
business  for  a  longer  period  than  any  other  merchant  of  the  town, 
and  early  to  have  won  a  position  among  the  foremost  traders  in 
northern  New  Hampshire  and  to  have  maintained  it  to  the  end. 
In  integrity,  enterprise,  far-sighted  judgment  of  the  tendency  of 
the  currents  of  business,  and  in  resolute  adherence  to  his  con- 
victions, he  had  no  superior  in  his  day. 

Colonel  Eastman  was  a  strong  man  intellectually  and  physically, 
square  in  build,  with  a  face  denoting  intelligence  and  strength  of 
will,  and  the  carriage  and  demeanor  of  a  self-reliant,  deliberate 
man  both  in  thought  and  action,  —  a  noticeable  figure  in  any 
assembly.  He  deemed  it  a  privilege  as  well  as  a  right  to  hold 
opinions  of  his  own,  and  these  he  frankly  expressed  on  all  proper 
occasions  without  evasion  or  fear  of  consequences. 

Another  son  of  Danville  who  was  early  in  his  business  life 
connected  with  this  firm  was  Henry  Lowell  Tilton,1  son  of 
Joseph  and  Sally  B.  Tilton,  born  at  Xorth  Danville,  Yt.,  May  3, 
1828.  His  parents  were  then  living  upon  one  of  the  finest  and 
most  fertile  farms  in  Yermont.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  years  the 
family  residence  was  at  Danville  Green,  at  which  time  young 
Tilton  commenced  his  studies  at  Phillips  Academy,  and  finishing 
his  education  at  nineteen,  taught  school  one  term  at  the  Pond 
District,  and  at  twenty  a  term  in  the  then  called  Dole  District  in 
Danville. 

In  the  spring  of  1848,  when  twenty  years  of  age,  his  father 
gave  him  a  suit  of  clothes,  and  he  came  to  Littleton,  N.  H..  and 
engaged  as  clerk  in  the  store  of  Eastman,  Tilton,  A:  Co.  —  one  of 
the  firm  being  his  brother  —  for  the  compensation  of  his  board 
and  clothes  during  one  year,  and  remained  nearly  three  years, 
with  a  small  salary  for  the  last  part  of  his  services.  By  close 
economy  enough  was  saved  at  the  end  of  the  clerkship  to  pay  his 
passage  to  California,  for  which  State  he  started  on  the  1st  of 

1  The  sketch  of  Colonel  Tilton  was  contributed  by  Major  Bouthe  of  Spokane, 
Wash. 


HKNKV    L.  TII.TON. 


Merchants.  55 

December,  1850,  in  company  with  four  other  young  men  from 
Littleton. 

His  first  business  was  selling  water  in  San  Francisco  for  a  "bit 
a  bucket,"  this  being  ten  cents  a  pail ;  and  from  this  he  was  a 
salesman  in  a  large  hardware  establishment  in  San  Francisco  at 
a  salary  of  $200  per  month.  After  a  year  he  was  connected  with 
Mills  Cady  under  the  firm  name  of  Tilton  &  Cady,  importing 
goods  from  New  York  and  Boston  to  San  Francisco.  His  stay 
in  San  Francisco,  about  three  years  and  a  half,  was  very  suc- 
cessful in  every  way.  Returning  to  Littleton  May  10, 1854,  he 
within  a  month  was  a  partner  in  the  business  of  C.  &  F.  J. 
Eastman  &  Co.,  the  successors  of  the  same  firm  employing  him 
before  his  departure  to  California,  and  for  five  years  continued 
his  interest  in  this  firm,  which  was  very  active  and  prosperous. 
About  1859  he  retired  from  the  firm  and  started  a  general  mer- 
cantile business  by  himself,  which  continued  about  ten  years,  and 
during  this  period  he  was  interested  in  many  outside  operations. 
He  was  engaged  with  John  T.  G.  Leavitt,  under  the  firm  of 
John  T.  G.  Leavitt  &  Co.,  in  building  a  lumber-mill  below  the 
falls  on  the  Ammonoosuc  River,  and  operated  the  timber  lands 
connected  thereto,  all  situated  in  Carroll,  N.  H.  He  was  also  con- 
nected with  the  firm  of  Leavitt,  Brackett,  &  Co.  in  building  the 
mill  on  the  Ammonoosuc  River,  which  is  now  called  the  Am- 
monoosuc Falls,  in  Carroll,  and  the  firm  cleared  the  timber  lands 
connected  with  this  property.  Mr.  Tilton  had  one-half  interest 
in  the  firm  of  Tilton  &  Wilder  in  the  flour  business ;  and  was  also 
interested  in  the  firm  of  Brackett  <fe  Tilton,  dealing  in  flour, 
groceries,  etc.  During  these  years  he  was  also  connected  with 
Josiah  Kilburn  &  Son  in  the  purchase  of  lands  in  the  vicinity  of 
High,  Clay,  and  Jackson  Streets  in  Littleton,  and  sold  the  same  in 
building  lots,  assisting  many  in  building  themselves  a  home. 
In  1869  the  business  became  so  extended  that  William  J.  Bellows 
and  C.  W.  Brackett  were  admitted  as  partners  under  the  firm 
name  of  Henry  L.  Tilton  &  Co.  During  the  four  succeeding  years 
they  carried  on  a  large  mercantile  business,  including  the  pur- 
chase of  large  amounts  of  timber  lands  in  Grafton  County,  N.  II., 
so  that  at  one  time  they  were  the  owners  of  about  twenty-three 
thousand  acres  of  valuable  property  of  this  character. 

In  1870  Mr.  Tilton  completed  what  is  called  Tilton's  Block,  a 
building  ninety  by  fifty  feet,  three  stories  in  height,  situated  on 
Main  Street  in  Littleton  Village.  At  about  the  same  time  lie 
opened  a  banking-house  in  his  block,  doing  a  general  banking  and 
loan  business  under  the  stvle  of  Tilton  <fc  Co.  About  this  time  he 


56  History  of  Littleton. 

was  chosen  one  of  the  Board  of  Education  and  treasurer  of  Union 
School  District,  and  continued  in  the  same  for  six  years.  He  was 
also  a  director  and  treasurer  of  the  Littleton  Fair  Ground  Asso- 
ciation for  several  years.  In  1870  Mr.  Tilton  became  a  large 
owner  in  the  Union  Hall  building,  and  a  director  and  treasurer 
of  the  Union  Hall  Company.  He  was  the  same  year  appointed 
executor  of  his  father's  will,  and  had  the  care  of  his  mother's 
property  ;  he  was  subsequently  appointed  executor  of  her  will. 
He  was  one-fourth  owner  in  the  property  and  business  of  the 
firm  of  Howland,  Tilton.  <t  Co.,  manufacturers  of  chair-backs 
and  all  kinds  of  lumber,  at  Victory,  Vt. 

With  all  the  care  and  load  of  this  business  upon  him  in  1871. 
his  health  became  impaired,  and  a  retirement  from  business  and 
a  long  rest  were  advised  by  medical  counsel.  The  advice  was  at 
once  adhered  to :  he  retired  from  the  firm  of  Henry  L.  Tilton  & 
Co..  and  the  banking  house  was  converted  into  a  national  bank. 
He  as  much  as  possible  relieved  himself  from  all  his  other  busi- 
ness connections,  so  that  during  the  lapse  of  some  eighteen  months 
he  was  nearly  restored  to  his  usual  health.  He  was  director  and 
one  of  the  loaning  committee  in  the  Littleton  National  Bank  from 
1S71  until  1888.  and  for  several  years  was  appointed  auditor  and 
examining  committee  in  the  same  bank,  and  also  trustee  and 
loaning  committee  in  the  Littleton  Savings  Bank. 

In  1872  he  connected  himself  with  William  H.  Stevens,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Tilton  A:  Stevens,  in  the  purchase  of  the  Gile 
property,  amounting  to  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres  in  Lit- 
tleton village,  and  opened  streets  and  made  extensive  improve- 
ments in  this  property. 

In  1*73  lie  was  appointed  guardian  and  agent  for  the  Franklin 
Tilton  heirs  and  administrator  of  said  estate,  and  had  the  charge 
and  management  of  the  same  for  the  heirs,  and  at  the  same  time 
became  largely  interested  in  the  Mount  Washington  Hotel  Com- 
pany, and  a  director  and  treasurer  of  that  company.  He  was  also 
one  of  the  owners  in  the  Fabyan  Cottage  in  the  White  Mountains. 
In  1875  he  was  the  projector  and  furnished  the  means  for  build- 
ing the  Mount  Pleasant  House,  a  hotel  located  a  little  easterly  of 
the  Fabyan  House. 

In  1S70  he  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Eureka  Glove  Com- 
pany, and  a  director  and  treasurer  of  that  company.  He  was 
also  one  of  the  projectors  in  building  the  Oak  Hill  House,  and 
was  treasurer  of  the  company.  At  the  same  time  he  was  con- 
nected with  William  J.  Bellows  in  buy  in  2:  lands  in  the  vicinity  of 
this  house  which  were  platted  and  sold  or  built  upon.  He  was 


Merchants.  57 

elected  vice-president  of  the  Littleton  National  Bank  in  1877,  and 
the  same  year  purchased  from  William  H.  Stevens  his  interest  in 
the  property  owned  by  Tilton  &  Stevens,  and  carried  on  quite  an 
extensive  farming  interest,  laying  out  streets  on  his  property  and 
assisting  others  to  purchase  lands  and  to  build  homes.  He  was 
chosen  vice-president  of  the  Littleton  Savings  Bank  in  1880,  and 
was  active  in  pushing  the  Apthorp  Reservoir  Company,  by  which 
means  water  is  furnished  to  Littleton  village.  Mr.  Tilton  was 
elected  president  of  this  company. 

In  1881  he  was  the  projector  and  builder  of  Tilton's  Opera 
Block  in  Littleton,  situated  on  Main  Street,  at  a  cost  of  about 
$50,000,  and  was  made  president  of  this  company,  all  of  the  stock 
being  held  in  Mr.  Tilton's  family.  This  block  is  one  hundred 
and  sixty-two  feet  long  by  fifty  feet  deep,  it  being  four  stories  in 
height,  and  contains  six  stores.  It  is  built  of  brick  and  granite  in 
the  most  solid  and  thorough  manner.  The  same  year  he  purchased 
with  Messrs.  Calhoun  and  Hildreth  the  Bowman  meadow  property 
situated  in  the  centre  of  Littleton,  and  sold  building  lots  from 
the  same. 

He  has  served  as  one  of  the  loaning  committee  in  the  Littleton 
National  and  Savings  Banks  from  the  start  of  each,  and  continu- 
ing about  eighteen  years.  In  1882  he  was  appointed  agent  for 
the  defendants  to  carry  on  the  great  land  suit  instigated  by  the 
New  Hampshire  Land  Company  against  several  parties  owning 
a  large  tract  of  timber  land  in  the  vicinity  of  the  White  Moun- 
tains, involving  some  forty-five  thousand  acres  of  great  value.  In 
this  suit  the  defendants  prevailed.  In  the  year  1884  Mr. 
Tilton,  with  Ira  Parker,  Esq.,  and  E.  C.  Stevens,  Esq.,  pur- 
chased of  G.  G.  Moulton  the  Moulton  estate,  comprising  all  the 
real  estate  owned  by  Mr.  Moulton  in  Littleton.  This  estate  was 
sold  in  various  ways,  about  forty  acres  (what  is  now  known  as 
the  Park)  having  been  purchased  by  the  town.  This  Park  is  laid 
out  with  fine  drives  and  roads,  a  pond,  and  beautiful  shade  trees. 

The  winter  of  1885-1886  was  spent  by  Mr.  Tilton  with  Mr. 
Ira  Parker  in  travelling  through  the  Southwestern,  Western,  and 
Northwestern  States,  touching  the  Pacific  coast  twice  in  the  two 
journeys. 

Considerable  time  was  spent  at  Spokane  Falls,  Wash.,  and 
they  made  large  investments  in  that  city  in  valuable  inside  lots 
and  real  estate,  and  established  a  loan  company  called  the  Tilton 
Loan  Company. 

In  1887  he  was  connected  with  I.  S.  Kaufman,  of  Spokane 
Falls,  in  erecting  the  Post-Office  building  in  that  city,  of  brick 


58  History  of  Littleton. 

and  granite,  one  of  the  new  and  most  beautiful  blocks  recently 
built  there.  In  1888  he  returned  to  Spokane  Falls  and  bought 
largely  city  lots,  and  that  year  formed  the  real  estate  and 
loan  company  of  Tilton,  Stocker,  &  Tilton,  the  other  members 
being  J.  S.  Frye,  George  K.  Stocker,  and'  Mr.  Tilton's  son, 
Mr.  George  H.  Tilton.  Mr.  Tilton  was  elected  president  of  the 
Spokane  Loan  Trust  and  Savings  Bank,  also  president  of  the 
"Washington  National  Bank  of  Spokane  Falls,  but  resigned  his 
positions  in  both  of  these  banking  institutions  in  March,  1893, 
some  three  months  before  their  failure  the  following  June,  during 
the  great  bank  panic  of  1893,  and  was  made  a  director  in  the 
Spokane  National  Bank.  Mr.  Tilton  with  I.  S.  Kaufman  erected 
one  of  the  largest  and  handsomest  buildings  in  the  city,  it  being 
entirely  of  native  granite.  Mr.  Tilton  disposed  of  his  interest  in 
this  property  in  1896,  Mr.  Kaufman  becoming  the  sole  owner. 

Mr.  Tilton  has  not  inclined  to  political  life.  He  was,  however, 
a  delegate  to  the  Chicago  Convention  in  1880  which  nominated 
James  A.  Garfield,  and  was  chosen  one  of  the  New  Hampshire 
electors  on  the  Garfield  ticket.  He  was  a  member  of  Governor 
Straw's  staff  with  the  rank  of  colonel  in  1872.  In  1884  he  was 
elected  one  of  the  Representatives  to  the  New  Hampshire  State 
Legislature  from  Littleton.  He  is  an  Episcopalian  and  with  his 
wife  became  a  communicant  in  1868,  and  has  always  since  that 
time  been  a  very  regular  attendant  at  this  service. 

Mr.  Tilton  has  given  close  attention  to  business  from  the  age 
of  twenty-one  to  the  present  time,  and  whatever  branch  of  busi- 
ness he  undertakes  commands  all  his  energies. 

The  firm  of  Sinclair  &  Merrill  was  formed  in  1869  by  Charles 
A.  Sinclair  and  George  W.  Merrill.  Mr.  Sinclair  had  once  con- 
templated the  law  as  a  vocation,  but  a  few  months  of  study  in 
the  office  of  H.  &  G.  A.  Bingham  served  to  convince  him  that  his 
active  spirit,  aptitude  for  combination,  and  ambition  to  manage 
large  and  important  interests  in  the  financial  world  appealed  to 
his  sense  of  proportion  as  well  as  his  ideas  of  power :  so  he 
formed  this  partnership  in  the  hope,  undoubtedly,  that  he  might 
soon  outgrow  it  and  find  a  more  congenial  field.  Mr.  Merrill,  an 
old  stage  proprietor  on  the  line  between  the  Profile  and  Crawford 
Houses,  is  now  the  only  survivor,  save  Wilbur  C.  Steams,  of  Plym- 
outh, of  the  men  who  forty  years  ago  were  expert  knights  of  the 
whip  in  the  mountain  region,  and  has  lived  to  see  the  iron  horse  and 
steam  cars  supersede  the  coach-and-six  among  the  rugged  moun- 
tains in  passes  that  fifty  years  before  were  regarded  as  safe  from 
the  intrusion  of  anv  means  of  convevance  more  swift  and  luxurious 


Merchants.  59 

than  a  horse  and  saddle.  Mr.  Merrill,  in  his  age,  has  retired  from 
these  scenes  of  his  active  life  to  the  quiet  comforts  of  a  meadow 
farm  at  Compton  in  the  Province  of  Quebec.  The  firm  did  a 
large  business,  but  Mr.  Sinclair's  opportunity  came  sooner  than  he 
expected.  Its  affairs  were  closed  out,  and  he  removed  to  Ports- 
mouth, where  he  became  a  large  factor  in  railroads  and  other  ex- 
tensive business  enterprises  that  gave  full  scope  to  his  business 
energies. 

The  store  they  vacated  in  1872  was  purchased  by  Bellows  &  Son 
in  1873,  who  remodelled  the  interior  and  put  in  a  large  stock  of 
ready-made  clothing  and  furnishing  goods  that  occupied  all  the 
space  on  the  first  floor,  while  the  upper  was  given  over  to  an 
extensive  assortment  of  carpetings,  crockery,  and  glassware. 

For  several  years  the  firm  consisted  of  William  J.  Bellows  and 
his  sons  William  H.  and  George  S.  William  J.  Bellows  in  early 
life  was  engaged  in  the  dry-goods  business  in  Boston,  having 
charge  of  an  important  department  of  one  of  the  largest  houses 
in  the  line  in  that  city.  But  neither  climate  nor  occupation  was 
to  his  liking  and  he  returned  to  this  town,  where  he  had  formerly 
resided  as  the  ward  of  his  elder  brother,  Henry  Adams  Bellows, 
in  whose  office  he  entered  upon  the  requisite  course  of  reading 
for  admission  to  the  bar,  to  which  he  was  admitted  in  1845,  and 
continued  with  his  brother  in  the  practice  of  his  profession,  the 
firm  style  being  Henry  A.  &  William  J.  Bellows,  until  1850,  when 
the  senior  member  removed  to  Concord.  The  business  here  was 
continued  by  the  junior  of  the  old  firm  alone  until  1854,  when 
John  Farr,  who  had  been  a  student  in  his  office,  was  admitted 
to  practice  and  the  firm  of  Bellows  &  Farr  was  established. 
They  had  for  a  year  or  two  the  old  office  so  long  occupied  by 
Henry  A.  Bellows,  which  was  near  the  line  dividing  his  estate 
from  that  of  E.  S.  Woolson.  It  was  a  small  one-story  building 
with  two  rooms.  Offices  were  then  fitted  up  for  the  firm  over  the 
store  of  William  Bailey,  where  they  remained  during  the  time  Mr. 
Bellows  continued  in  practice. 

Mr.  Bellows  was  a  sound,  well-read  lawyer  and  persuasive 
advocate.  His  instinct  of  justice  was  strong  and  rendered  him 
prone  to  discourage  litigation,  and  when  he  found  the  case  weak 
in  law  or  the  facts  against  his  client,  he  could  not  assume  a  con- 
fidence he  did  not  feel,  and  for  this  reason  sometimes  failed  to 
satisfy  the  expectations  of  an  aggressive  client ;  but  in  a  good 
cause  he  did  not  fail  to  answer  all  the  demands  of  justice  and  the 
interests  his  client  had  confided  to  his  care. 

His  health,  long  infirm  from  the  oft  recurring  and  illusive 


60  History  of  Littleton. ' 

attacks  of  a  disease  of  the  stomach,  again  suggested  a  change  of 
occupation,  and  in  1860  he  retired  from  the  practice  of  the  law 
and  with  Henry  L.  Tilton  and  Charles  W.  Brackett  engaged  in 
mercantile  affairs.  Prior  to  this  he  had  assumed  editorial  charge 
of  the  "  People's  Journal,"  upon  the  retirement  from  that  sheet 
of  Henry  W.  Rowell,  and  for  several  years  graced  its  editorial 
columns  with  articles  from  his  facile  pen  which  sought  to  con- 
vince the  judgment  of  "the  enemy  "  without  awakening  its  passions 
or  resentments. 

Soon  after  the  inauguration  of  President  Lincoln  in  1864.  Mr. 
Bellows  was  appointed  postmaster  and  held  the  office  until  1868. 
On  his  retirement  from  office  he  joined  the  firm  of  H.  L.  Tilton 
&:  Co..  which,  aside  from  the  regular  business  of  the  company,  was 
interested  in  the  purchase  of  timber  lands,  owning  thousands 
of  acres  in  the  mountain  region.  He  was  to  some  extent  inter- 
ested in  the  mining  speculation  which  at  this  time  attracted  the 
attention  and  money  of  many  of  our  citizens,  and  it  may  be  said 
that  he  was  one  of  the  small  number  who  found  the  balance  on 
the  right  side  of  the  ledger  when  the  account  in  this  matter  was 
closed.  Mr.  Bellows  retired  from  business  in  1901. 

When  Mr.  Bellows  was  reading:  law.  he  had  as  a  fellow-student 
Charles  W.  Rand.  The  young  men  possessed  similar  tastes. 
They  were  fond  of  books  and  of  literary  pursuits,  and  organized 
a  literary  club  made  up  of  young  people  of  both  sexes,  and  many 
papers  read  before  the  club,  but  not  printed,  are  still  preserved. 
They  were  also  inclined  to  enact  a  part  in  the  amateur  theatricals 
of  that  day.  a  habit  Mr.  Bellows  continued  until  long  past  middle 
life,  and  their  ability  in  this  mimic  life  is  still  remembered. 

The  community  is  indebted  to  Mr.  Bellows  for  valuable  services 
in  many  a  good  cause,  especially  that  of  education.  He  was  one 
of  the  most  active  and  influential  members  of  the  small  band  that 
assumed  the  burden  of  carrying  through  the  plans  for  a  union 
of  the  village  school  districts  and  the  building  of  the  High  School 
House,  a  project  that  has  resulted  in  more  lasting  benefits  to  the 
town  than  any  other  that  has  been  organized  within  its  borders. 
He  was  also  one  of  the  efficient  promoters  of  the  Oak  Hill  House, 
an  enterprise  that  thinned  his  pocket-book  but  materially  added 
to  the  prosperity  of  the  town.  For  more  than  half  a  century  he 
has  been  relied  upon  in  every  emergency  to  give  time,  labor. 
and  money  to  every  cause  inaugurated  to  promote  the  mural 
and  material  growth  of  this  town. 

Mrs.  Bellows  was  the  daughter  of  Samson  Bullard.  formerly  a 
prominent  business  man  in  Concord.  On  his  retirement  from 


W.M.  J.  B!-;L LOWS. 


Merchants.  61 

active  pursuits  he  came  to  this  town  and  purchased  the  George 
W.  Ely  property,  now  the  site  of  the  residence  of  Ira  Parker. 
This  he  remodelled  and  there  made  his  home  for  the  remainder 
of  his  life.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bullard  were  liberal  dispensers 
of  charity;  Mrs.  Bellows  inherited  this  characteristic,  and  her 
life  was  tilled  with  good  works.  She  ended  her  earthly  journey 
in  1890,  and  Mr.  Bellows  is  rounding  out  a  well-spent  life  in  the 
society  of  his  children  and  the  constant  charm  of  those  friends 
of  the  printed  page  who  have  been  the  cherished  companions  of 
his  long  and  useful  life. 

Associated  with  Mr.  Bellows  in  business  were  his  sons  William 
H.  and  George  S.  The  former  was  in  charge  of  the  store,  while 
the  latter  superintended  the  shop  for  the  manufacture  of  stereo- 
scopic views  which  had  been  purchased  of  the  estate  of  George  H. 
Aldrich  in  1889 ;  the  manufacturing  department  of  this  establish- 
ment being  in  charge  of  Gilbert  Mozrall,  a  young  man  of  artistic 
taste  and  practical  skill  in  the  business. 

George  Samson,  youngest  child  of  William  J.  Bellows,  was  a 
man  of  more  than  ordinary  ability  and  accomplishments ;  always 
a  student  after  leaving  school,  he  pursued  a  course  in  modern 
languages  and  became  prolicient  in  French  and  Spanish  litera- 
ture. He  was  familiar  with  men  and  affairs,  but  he  was  over- 
modest  or  self-distrustful,  and  held  his  acquirements  for  personal 
use  rather  than  for  the  benefit  of  friends  or  the  public  He  was 
a  strong  believer  in  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party  and  an 
earnest  worker  in  its  behalf,  his  interest  being  for  the  cause  and 
not  for  the  honors  or  emoluments  so  dear  to  the  heart  of  the 
average  politician.  He  was  a  stout  friend  who  did  not  hesitate 
to  make  a  personal  sacrifice  in  order  to  aid  others.  He  was  as 
strongly  averse  to  becoming  the  recipient  of  a  favor  as  he  was 
eager  to  do  a  kindly  act. 

When  Opera  Block  was  first  tenanted,  one  of  the  stores  was 
occupied  by  Gilbert  E.  Lane  and  George  K.  Stocker,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Lane  &  Stocker.  They  came  here  from  Lancaster, 
and  while  having  a  successful  trade  were  not  entirely  contented 
with  their  lot.  When  Spokane,  Wash.,  was  passing  through  its 
booming  period,  Mr.  Stocker  went  there,  where  he  continues  to 
reside,  having  survived  the  Hood  of  inflated  prices  that  swept  over 
that  city  of  immense  promises.  Mr.  Lane  subsequently  sold  to 
his  brother  Charles  Lane  and  Edson  Bailey.  Charles  sold  his 
interest  to  his  partner  five  years  since. 

For  more  than  twenty-five  years  E.  S.  WToolson  and  his  sons, 
as  merchant  tailors,  had  no  opposition  in  this  vicinity.  Their 


62  History  of  Littleton. 

first  competitors  were  the  Starbird  brothers,  who  came  here  from 
Boston  and  opened  a  customs  tailoring  shop  in  the  west  store  in 
Paddleford's  building  in  the  early  fifties.  The  elder  of  the  brothers 
was  an  accomplished  workman,  but  he  remained  here  only  tbree 
years,  when  he  returned  to  Boston,  the  younger  brother,  George 
H.  Starbird,  continuing  the  business  for  a  time,  then  abandoning 
it  to  give  his  attention  to  the  sale  of  ready-made  clothing.  He 
became  a  somewhat  noted  character  on  account  of  one  or  two 
idiosyncrasies.  He  was  tall  and  angular,  bearing  a  somewhat 
close  personal  resemblance  to  President  Lincoln  ;  he  had  an 
exceedingly  nervous  temperament,  and  expressed  his  views  in 
strong  and  picturesque  language.  He  was  a  Democrat  without 
reservation,  and  was  prone  to  advocate  his  views  against  all 
comers.  His  method  of  reasoning  and  quaint  language  always 
gave  him  listeners,  and  while  he  was  sometimes  worsted  in  the 
argument,  he  never  surrendered  and  was  the  last  to  quit  the 
Held.  He  was  a  bachelor,  and  made  his  home  at  Thayer's  Hotel 
many  years. 

Henry  Merrill  conducted  a  merchant  tailoring  business  from 
1805  to  1875.  He  learned  the  trade  with  E.  S.  Woolson,  and 
first  located  in  the  Eastman  store.  In  a  short  time  he  moved  to 
the  store  now  occupied  by  Edward  M.  Fisher.  He  remained  here 
until  he  purchased  the  Bailey  store  in  186',*,  where  he  did  busi- 
ness until  the  sale  of  that  property,  in  1875,  to  Ira  Parker  A:  Co., 
and  his  retirement  from  the  business  which  had  never  been  quite 
congenial,  though  successful  in  a  pecuniary  point  of  view.  Sub- 
sequently he  was  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  at  Mclndoes 
Fails,  Vt.,  with  Richard  \V.  Peabody.  It  was  in  connection  with 
them  that  George  Van  Dyke  made  his  first  extensive  venture  as 
a  manufacturer  of  lumber.  Upon  the  withdrawal  of  Mr.  Peabody, 
the  firm  became  Van  Dyke  A:  Merrill,  the  former  having  special 
charge  of  the  manufacturing,  the  latter  of  the  sales  department. 
Having  accumulated  a  competency,  and  fearing  that  the  extensive 
purchase  of  timber  lands  by  Mr.  Van  Dyke  was  hazardous,  Mr. 
Merrill  sold  his  interest  to  his  partner,  and  when  the  Washington 
city  of  Spokane  was  well  advanced  in  its  boom  in  the  early  nine- 
ties, he  made  a  considerable  investment  there,  and  also  engaged 
in  the  ice  business  in  that  city,  which  has  been  disposed  of 
recently  (I'KJiT). 

Another  merchant  tailor  of  the  period  was  Nelson  Parker,  who 
conducted  the  business  in  the  Brackett  store  first,  and  continued 
in  various  shops  four  or  live  years  prior  to  entering  the  business 
of  the  manufacture  of  uioves.  When  the  Eureka  was  merged  in 


Merchants.  63 

the  Saranac  Company,  Mr.  Parker  went  to  Nebraska,  where  he 
became  a  hotel-keeper,  a  line  of  business  with  which  he  was  not 
familiar,  and  he  retired  after  a  brief  experience,  and  has  since  been 
engaged  in  various  manufacturing  and  commercial  enterprises. 

Newell  Moore,  who  married  a  daughter  of  Herod  Stevens,  was 
in  this  line  of  business  here  for  a  few  years.  He  came  here  from 
Lisbon.  His  health  soon  failed,  and  he  was  forced  on  that  account 
to  retire. 

A  tailor  of  more  recent  date  was  Carlos  P.  Day,  who  began 
business  in  Tilton's  Block  in  1878,  and  when  Opera  Block  was 
completed  in  1882,  located  there  in  store  No.  1.  He  was  a  good 
workman  and  an  enterprising  citizen.  He  resided  here  about 
twelve  years,  and  during  the  time  built  the  house  on  Cottage 
Street  which  he  sold  to  the  late  George  Carter,  that  on  Union 
Street  now  owned  by  A.  J.  Barrett,  and  then  built  on  the  Taylor 
place  on  the  Meadow  road.  In  1890,  in  association  with  other 
Littleton  people,  he  became  interested  in  New  England  City,  Ga., 
and  removed  to  that  city  of  great  promise  and  small  fulfilment. 
When  that  place  had  reached  its  utmost  growth,  he  returned  to  his 
native  State  and  resumed  his  trade  at  Berlin.  He  has  represented 
his  ward  of  that  city  in  the  Legislature,  and  he  held  a  position 
on  the  Governor's  staff  with  the  rank  of  colonel  in  1900-1901. 

When  Francis  F.  Hodgman  retired  from  the  drug  business,  he 
was  succeeded  by  Curtis  Gates,  who  had  been  bred  a  miller  and 
engaged  in  the  business  of  an  apothecary  purely  as  a  matter  of 
speculation,  in  1879  he  sold  to  Fred  A.  and  Benjamin  Frank 
Robinson,  who  like  their  predecessor  were  not  educated  to  the 
business  and  placed  the  prescription  trade  in  the  hands  of  a 
clerk  who  had  been.  The  Robinsons  were  able  and  popular 
men  and  did  a  large  business,  of  which  the  elder  brother  had 
immediate  charge,  the  younger  giving  his  personal  attention 
to  other  matters.  Fred  A.  Robinson  was  a  genial,  democratic 
man,  who  had  a  faculty  of  winning  friends,  and  holding  them 
with  hooks  of  steel.  He  was  an  active  Republican  and  one  of 
the  most  popular  and  efficient  leaders  of  that  party.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Health  in  1880,  fire-ward  under  the 
old  village  system  from  1882  to  1887,  and  a  member  of  the 
first  Board  of  Commissioners  elected  under  the  act  establishing 
the  village  district ;  was  messenger  to  convey  the  electoral  vote 
of  the  State  to  Washington  in  1888,  and  a  candidate  for  Repre- 
sentative at  a  time  when  his  party  went  down  in  defeat.  Mr. 
Robinson  was  a  Mason  of  high  degree,  an  Odd  Fellow,  and  a 
Knm'ht  of  Honor.  He  was  a  member  of  a  not  over-large  class 


64  History  of  Littleton. 

of  men  who  delight  in  manly  sports  and  good  fellowship.  Owing 
to  a  combination  of  untoward  incidents,  his  last  years  were  clouded; 
ill  health  racked  his  frame,  an  unfortunate  marriage  circumscribed 
his  liberty  of  action,  and  what  he  regarded  as  a  betrayal  by  some 
he  considered  his  friends  embittered  life.  He  closed  his  earthly 
journey  in  June,  1896. 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Robinson  the  business  was  sold  to  Her- 
bert E.  Kenney,  an  educated  and  experienced  pharmacist,  from 
whom  in  1891  it  passed  to  its  present  proprietor,  Fred  E.  Green. 

The  trade  of  the  town  at  the  present  time  is  more  extensive 
than  ever  before,  naturally  having  kept  pace  with  the  increasing 
population  in  this  and  surrounding  towns.     The  business  house 
now  holding  the  priority  both  in  age  and  volume  of  business  is 
that  of  Edson  &  Bailey,  proprietors  of  the  depot  store,  who  con- 
tinue to  deal  in  the  same  class  of  goods  as  did  the  firm  of  C. 
&  C.  F.  Eastman,  whom  they  succeeded.     George  Alden  Edson 
received  his  business  education  under  the  tutelage  of  his  father, 
and  his  mercantile  career  has  been  creditable  alike  to  teacher  and 
pupil.     After  a  brief  experience  alone  in  trade,  he  joined  with 
James  Henry  Bailey  and  Henry  Alston  Eaton  in  the  purchase  of 
the  stock  and  good-will  of  the  depot  store  in  1882.     Two  years 
later  Mr.  Eaton  retired,  and  the  business  has  since  been  conducted 
by  the  present  members  of  the  firm.     Mr.  Edson  finds  little  time 
to  devote  to  matters  not  connected  with  the  affairs  of  the  com- 
pany, but  was  once  persuaded  to  accept  the   position   of  town 
treasurer,  the  only  office  he  has  held,  and  this  after  a  few  years 
he  relinquished  voluntarily  and  much  against  the  wishes  of  the 
appointing  power.     Of  pleasing  address,  he  makes  friends  easily, 
and  has  the  faculty  of  retaining  their  good  will.     Mr.  Bailey  en- 
tered the  employment  of  the  old  firm  in  1874  as  bookkeeper,  and 
in  that  capacity  earned  a  reputation  for  integrity,  industry,  and 
business  ability,  qualities  that  when  he  became  a  partner  in  the 
purchase  of  the  business  constituted  a  large  share  of  the  capital 
he  invested.     The  change  in  the  management  wrought  no  percep- 
tible alteration  in  the  method  of  conducting  the  business,  and  it 
has  retained  through  many  years  the  confidence  and  patronage  of 
its  customers,  some  of  whom  have  patronized  the  depot  store  for 
half  a  century,  a  fact  that  furnishes  substantial  evidence  of  the 
high  character  of  the  house  for  fair  dealing.     Mr.  Bailey  has  been 
more  inclined  than  his  partner  to  interest  himself  in  public  mat- 
ters, and  has  served  the  town  as  Selectman  for  several  terms  and 
the  village  district  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Commissioners; 
he  is  a  trustee  of  the  Littleton  Savings  Bank,  and,  since  189o,  has 


Merchants.  65 

been  a  director  of  the  National  Bank.  When  a  town  officer  he 
gained  an  excellent  reputation  as  an  administrator.  Since  his 
retirement  his  services  have  been  sought  to  fill  the  same  positions, 
but  he  has  as  constantly  declined  to  re-enter  the  service  of  the 
town.  Both  members  of  the  firm  are  Littleton  born. 

The  other  houses  engaged  in  the  grocery  trade  confine  their 
business  to  that  line.  In  point  of  time  the  oldest  of  these  is  that 
of  Fred  Hubbard  English,  the  successor  to  the  several  firms  of 
which  Charles  Eaton  was  formerly  the  head.  Mr.  English  is  a 
Vermonter  by  birth,  as  was  his  father  before  him ;  his  mother 
was  of  Littleton,  a  daughter  of  Amos  Hubbard,  one  of  the  Cheshire 
County  emigrants  that  about  1800  settled  on  Farr  Hill.  He  was 
educated  in  our  schools,  and  began  his  business  life  as  a  clerk 
in  the  store  of  F.  J.  Eastman ;  he  was  then  for  three  years  in  the 
service  of  Charles  E.  Tilton  at  Tilton,  as  an  overseer  in  the  man- 
agement of  that  gentleman's  large  property.  He  then  returned 
to  this  town,  and  was  successively  a  partner  in  the  firms  of  South- 
worth,  Lovejoy,  <fe  English,  Eaton  &  English,  and  English  &  Bond. 
In  1901  he  became  sole  proprietor  of  the  extensive  business.  Mr. 
English  is  a  public-spirited  citizen,  always  eager  to  give  time  and 
means  for  the  advancement  of  any  enterprise  calculated  to  pro- 
mote the  public  weal.  He  has  never  held  a  purely  political  or 
partisan  office,  but  has  served  on  the  Board  of  Health  three 
years  and  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  for  twelve 
years,  and  on  the  executive  committee  of  the  Musical  Associa- 
tion. He  is  now  (1903)  serving  his  first  term  as  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  Selectmen,  and  ex  officio  as  a  member  of  the  Water 
Commission  having  in  charge  an  important  public  utility  recently 
purchased  by  the  town  and  which  is  being  greatly  extended  and 
improved. 

Harrington  &  Co.  (James  and  William)  are  the  successors  of 
the  firm  with  which  H.  H.  Southworth  was  long  connected.  The 
brothers  have  been  bred  to  their  business,  the  senior  with  the  firm 
of  Batchelder  &  Robinson  of  London,  the  junior  with  the  noted 
house  of  Cobb,  Bates,  &  Yerxa  of  Boston.  They  have  recently 
erected  on  the  site  of  the  old  McCov  building  a  large  and  im- 

•/  ~  o 

posing  block,  and  their  store  is  filled  with  all  the  modern  improve- 
ments for  the  successful  conduct  of  the  grocery  and  provision 
business. 

The  firm  of  F.  A.  Watson  &  Co.  is  located  in  the  old  Thayer 
store,  near  the  hotel,  and  has  a  flourishing  business.  The  com- 
pany is  composed  of  F.  A.  Watson  and  Joseph  Ide.  Mr.  Watson 
is  a  son  of  the  late  Porter  B.  Watson,  and  is  an  aggressive  and 

VOL.  II. 5 


66  History  of  Littleton. 

diligent  worker,  who  has  been  connected  with  this  branch  of  trade 
since  leaving  school.  His  only  official  position  is  that  which  he 
now  holds  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  District  Commissioners. 
Mr.  Ide  is  of  Waterford,  where  he  began  business  in  tanning  in 
company  with  his  father.  The  firm  was  noted  throughout  this  sec- 
tion for  the  high  quality  of  the  leather  it  produced.  When  he  first 
came  to  this  town,  it  was  to  take  charge  of  the  tanning  depart- 
ment of  one  of  the  glove  companies.  Since  1891  he  has  been  in 
trade,  and  has  met  with  satisfactory  success. 

Since  the  dry-goods  business  was  specialized  in  this  town,  there 
have  been,  until  very  recently,  but  two  firms  engaged  in  that 
branch,  C.  F.  Nutting  and  F.  G.  Chutter,  who  have  had  a  prac- 
tical monopoly  without  endangering  their  supremacy  by  any  out- 
ward manifestations  of  rivalry.  Both  are  enterprising  merchants, 
carrying  large  and  well-selected  stocks,  and  supplying  all  the 
demands  of  the  public  in  their  line  in  this  and  many  other  towns 
in  the  "  north  country."  Cortez  F.  Nutting  was  born  in  Bakers- 
field,  Vt.,  and  has  been  a  resident  and  in  business  in  this  town 
since  1890.  He  began  in  a  small  way,  purchasing  the  Opera 
Block  stock  of  dry-goods  owned  by  Dow  Brothers,  has  given  his 
time  and  attention  to  his  business,  and  now  has  a  patronage  that 
is  unsurpassed  in  the  county.  He  was  for  one  or  two  terms  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Education  of  Union  District,  from  which 
he  resigned.  He  has  also  been  an  efficient  officer  of  the  Musical 
Association. 

Frederick  George  Chutter  was  for  a  few  years  after  leaving 
school  connected  with  a  firm  in  Boston  doing  a  large  dry -goods 
business,  and  is  well  grounded  in  the  rudiments  and  requirements 
of  the  trade.  Ilis  intellectual  predilections  led  him  subsequently 
to  study  theology  and  enter  the  ministry  of  the  Congregational 
Church.  His  only  ministerial  charge  was  over  the  church  in  this 
town,  which  he  resigned  that  he  might  make  a  tour  of  Europe. 
When  he  returned  from  abroad,  his  health  was  not  firm,  and  he 
concluded  to  retire,  at  least  temporarily,  from  the  ministry.  Un- 
der these  circumstances,  when  the  business  of  Dow  Brothers  fell 
upon  the  market  by  reason  of  the  death  of  its  proprietors,  he  pur- 
chased it  in  1893,  and  has  since  conducted  a  large  and  profitable 
establishment.  While  so  doing  he  has  not  entirely  withdrawn 
from  the  religious  work  to  which  he  was  consecrated,  but  has 
nearly  every  Sunday  found  a  sick  or  weary  minister,  or  a  church 
whose  pulpit  was  vacant,  whom  he  could  serve  by  supplying  the 
sacred  desk.  His  services  are  also  much  in  demand  at  weddings 
and  funerals.  Mr.  Chutter  has  found  pleasure  and  intellectual 


Merchants.  67 

usefulness  in  the  public  service  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Edu- 
cation for  a  long  period,  and  in  a  large  measure  had  the  supervision 
of  our  schools  during  his  incumbency  of  this  office,  and  as  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Public  Library.  He  rep- 
resented the  town  in  the  Legislature  of  1901-1902,  and  served  as 
chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Education.  He  has  done  much 
to  add  to  the  attractiveness  of  the  town  by  improving  his  real 
estate  ;  the  block  at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Pleasant  Streets,  and 
the  brick  block  erected  for  his  own  business,  which  has  taken  the 
place  of  the  White  Store,  being  among  the  most  attractive  business 
structures  in  town. 

In  the  present  year  (1903)  L.  L.  Roy,  who  came  from  White- 
field,  has  taken  a  lease  of  the  quarters  recently  occupied  by  the 
Cohashauke  Club,  and  remodelled  them  for  the  use  of  trade,  and 
deals  in  dry-goods  and  small  wares. 

The  jewelry  business  is  now  flourishing  as  never  before.  The 
oldest  member  of  the  guild  is  Elbridge  Flint,  who  came  to  this 
town  thirty-seven  years  ago  to  work  as  a  journeyman  for  S.  W. 
Atwood,  and  has  since  been  connected  with  the  trade.  For  more 
than  twenty  years  he  has  occupied  the  store  in  Opera  Block,  of 
which  he  was  the  first  tenant.  Mr.  Flint  is  a  skilled  workman, 
and  was  for  some  time  the  leading  jeweller  of  the  town.  New- 
comers have  of  late  so  competed  for  a  share  of  the  business  that 
it  has  been  divided.  Among  his  rivals  Harry  F.  Howe,  a  young 
man  who  was  formerly  of  Lisbon,  keeps  a  good  general  stock. 
He  has  been  somewhat  active  in  politics,  and  has  served  as  super- 
visor of  the  check  list.  A  single  term  in  this  office  was  enough 
to  satisfy  him  that  its  honors  were  but  a  slight  compensation  for 
its  many  annoyances,  and  he  retired  to  the  less  conspicuous  and 
more  quiet  supervision  of  his  business  affairs.  W.  W.  Brown  com- 
bines with  his  jewelry  trade  that  of  an  oculist,  and  has  built  up  a 
successful  business.  He  is  a  man  who  attends  closely  to  his  affairs. 

The  retail  trade  in  boots  and  shoes,  as  now  conducted,  was  a 
long  time  in  gaining  possession  of  this  field.  A  little  more  than 
fifty  years  ago  merchants  would  occasionally  purchase  in  the  Bos- 
ton market  a  case  of  cowhide  boots,  a  class  of  footwear  now  seldom 
seen.  They  were  heavy-soled,  with  tops  reaching  nearly  to  the 
wearer's  knee,  and  were  clumsy  but  durable.  Goods  for  the  use 
of  women  and  children  made  their  appearance  later.  About  1882 
Alonzo  Weeks  and  John  Smith  Davis,  who  had  previously  kept  to 
the  old-fashioned  method  of  making  footwear  to  order,  u-avc  tip 
the  attempt  to  compete  with  machine  manufacturers,  who  had 
improved  the  style  and  comfort  of  their  goods  to  such  an  extent 


68  History  of  Littleton. 

that  they  commanded  the  market,  and  gave  over  their  shops  to 
the  sale  and  repair  of  the  ready-made  footwear.  The  last  effort 
to  maintain  custom  boot  and  shoe  making  was  made  by  Thomas 
S.  Nurse,  who  had  worked  for  Mr.  Weeks  for  a  generation ;  and 
when  that  gentleman  quit  the  business,  he  took  his  bench  and  tools 
to  his  house  on  Cottage  Street  and  there  continued  to  accommodate 
such  persons  as  were  too  old-fashioned  to  purchase  or  wear  foreign- 
made  boots,  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1896.  Marquis  L. 
Goold,  among  the  first  to  engage  in  the  sale  of  the  ready- 
made  goods,  located  in  1867  at  the  Thayer  store,  where  he  also 
carried  a  small  stock  of  groceries.  In  1870  Mr.  Gooid  sold  to 
Farr  cV:  Tilton,  who  put  in  an  extensive  stock  of  boots  and  shoes. 
Andrew  \V.  Biiigham  was  the  pioneer  dealer  who  confined  his 
stock  exclusively  to  these  goods.  He  leased,  and  subsequently 
purchased,  the  John  Smillie  building  in  1882.  remodelled  its 
interior,  and,  until  he  sold  to  George  J.  Patch  in  1898,  carried 
a  large  and  varied  stock  of  goods.  Mr.  Biugham  repurchased  the 
business  in  1902. 

Edwin  H.  Gould  is  a  practical  shoemaker,  familiar  with  the 
manufacture  as  with  the  sale  of  boots  and  shoes.  He  began 
business  here  in  1880,  confining  it  largely  to  repairing  and 
customs  work.  Jn  1885  he  occupied  the  store  in  Union  Block, 
and  has  since  dealt  in  manufactured  goods  on  an  extensive  scale. 

George  J.  Patch,  who  for  four  years  did  business  at  the  Bingham 
store,  was  an  enterprising  merchant,  and  carried  a  well-selected 
stock.  Owing  to  the  fact  that  Mr.  Bingham,  who  owned  the  block, 
wished  to  re-enter  the  business,  Mr.  Patch  parted  with  his  stock  and 
purchased  the  laundry  which  had  maintained  a  precarious  exist- 
ence for  a  dozen  years  under  the  direction  of  various  proprietors. 
Since  it  came  under  the  management  of  Mr.  Patch  it  has  been 
brought  to  modern  methods  and  has  become  a  successful  enterprise. 

The  drug  business,  once  no  small  item  in  the  profit-producing 
department  of  the  general  store,  has  in  practice  and  in  law 
been  elevated  to  the  position  of  a  profession.  The  pharmacist, 
however,  still  continues  to  deal  in  many  articles  not  essentially 
an  adjunct  of  the  business,  but  which  the  process  of  evolution 
from  trade  to  profession  has  failed  to  eliminate,  and  to  that 
extent  the  pharmacist  continues  a  merchant.  Xo  single  line  of 
trade  has  more  clearly  marked  the  progress  of  the  town  in  popu- 
lation than  has  this  of  the  druggist.  The  limits  of  success  or 
failure  seem  to  be  fixed  by  the  number  of  inhabitants.  In  this 
town  it  emerged  from  the  general  store  to  the  dignity  and  inde- 
pendence of  a  distinctive  profession  when  Francis  F.  Hodgman 


CHARLES   C.  SMITH. 


Merchants.  69 

took  that  part  of  bis  father's  business.  Then,  when  warranted  by 
the  increased  population,  came  the  Dr.  Watson  store  and,  fifteen 
years  later,  that  of  Fred  B.  Hatch. 

The  present  dean  of  the  profession  is  Wilber  Fisk  Robins,  who 
conducts  the  business  established  in  Union  Block  by  Dr.  Watson  in 
1867.  Mr.  Robins  became  proprietor  of  the  store  in  1874  and  has 
since  managed  it  with  success.  The  next,  in  point  of  time,  to  engage 
in  this  business  was  Mr.  Hatch,  who  came  from  Lancaster,  where 
he  had  learned  the  mysteries  of  compounding  and  mixing  drugs 
and  medicines,  and  opened  the  store  in  Opera  Block  now  occupied 
by  Charles  F.  Davis.  Mr.  Hatch  was  not  only  skilful  in  his  art,  but 
was  a  master  of  the  methods  of  so  arranging  his  goods  as  to  attract 
the  attention  of  his  patrons.  In  1897  he  sold  to  Davis  &  Green 
(Charles  F.  Davis  and  Fred  E.  Green).  The  firm  dissolved  in  1899. 
Mr.  Davis  is  thoroughly  conversant  with  every  department  of  the 
trade  and  has  been  successful  in  retaining  the  large  patronage 
attracted  to  this  store  by  its  former  proprietor.  The  Hodgman 
stand  has  the  advantage  of  being  the  oldest  establishment  in  the 
business,  having  been  founded  seventy  years  and  numbering  among 
its  patrons  some  who  would  not  think  of  purchasing  medicines 
elsewhere,  having  bought  such  as  they  required  at  this  store 
throughout  their  lives.  Among  its  successive  occupants  Robinson 
brothers,  Fred  A.  and  Benjamin  F.,  Herbert  E.  Kenney,  and  the 
present  proprietor  have  been  well  qualified  to  maintain  its  high 
reputation.  F.  E.  Green  became  proprietor  of  the  store  in  1901 
and  has  to  some  extent  changed  its  interior.  He  is  a  progressive 
man,  an  educated  pharmacist,  and  a  business  man  of  character. 

In  the  line  of  hardware,  tinware,  and  stoves,  the  union  formed 
many  years  ago  has  been  continued  to  this  day.  Myron  H. 
Richardson,  doing  business  under  the  firm  name  of  Lynch  & 
Richardson,  is  a  successor,  with  several  removes,  to  Hiram 
B.  Smith,  the  founder  of  the  stove  and  tinware  trade  in  town. 
His  former  partner,  Edward  B.  Lynch,  died  in  1901.  Mr.  Lynch 
was  from  Derby,  Vt.,  and  came  to  this  town  in  1878  to  enter 
the  depot  store  of  C.  &  C.  F.  Eastman  as  a  clerk,  where  he 
remained  until  1886,  when  he  purchased  a  half  interest  in  the 
business  of  Charles  C.  Smith.  Mr.  Lynch  possessed  far  more 
than  ordinary  business  capacity  and  power  of  concentration ; 
he  had  breadth  of  view  with  an  easy  mastery  of  details,  and 
these  attributes,  combined  with  a  pleasing  address,  rendered  him 
one  of  the  foremost  business  men  of  his  time  in  this  section. 
In  February,  1893,  Myron  H.  Richardson  purchased  the  inter- 
est of  Mr.  Smith,  and  in  January,  1902,  that  of  the  estate 


70  History  of  Littleton. 

of  his  former  partner,  Mr.  Lynch,  who  died  at  an  early  age 
in  1901.  In  addition  to  a  large  trade  in  stoves  and  tinware, 
the  firm  deals  in  general  hardware,  painters'  supplies,  and 
crockery. 

Royal  P.  White  came  here  in  1880,  and  in  partnership  with 
a  brother  under  the  firm  name  of  White  Brothers,  engaged  in 
the  general  hardware  business.  The  firm  dissolved,  however,  in 
1883,  and  Mr.  White  bought  out  the  business  of  William  Lucas, 
at  that  time  located  in  the  Old  Brick  Store.  Here  he  remained 
until  he  moved  to  the  Eastman  store,  and  thence  to  Tilton  Block. 
He  carries  the  same  line  of  goods  and  wares  dealt  in  by  Lynch  & 
Richardson,  but  has  added  thereto  an  extensive  collection  of 
curiosities  and  antiquities,  gathered  with  great  care  and  discretion 
from  year  to  year,  until  it  stands  unrivalled  in  the  State.  Ancient 
andirons,  rare  old  prints,  brazen  knockers,  and  household  uten- 
sils of  the  long  ago,  quaint  and  curious,  repose  upon  his  shelves 
and  afford  those  interested  in  the  relics  of  the  past  unusual 
opportunities  for  adding  to  their  own  collections. 

George  L.  Flanders  and  Frank  Bowles,  under  the  firm  name  of 
George  L.  Flanders  <fc  Co.,  were  until  recently  dealers  in  general 
hardware,  tinware,  and  plumbers'  supplies.  When  they  began 
business  the  field  appeared  fully  occupied,  and  seemed  to  offer 
few  inducements  for  such  a  venture,  but  they  met  with  grati- 
fying success.  Mr.  Flanders,  in  the  autumn  of  1003,  sold  his 
interest  to  Frank  P.  Bond,  and  the  firm  now  docs  business  as 
the  Littleton  Hardware  Company. 

The  ready-made  clothing  business  has  grown  to  large  propor- 
tions in  recent  years,  and  far  exceeds  the  amount  and  value  of 
custom  work  at  the  present  time. 

Bellows  £  Baldwin  are  among  the  most  enterprising  merchants 
of  the  town.  The  senior  member,  William  II.  Bellows,  was  for 
nearly  thirty  years  the  practical  head  of  the  firm  of  Bellows  <fc 
Sons,  having  active  control  of  the  extensive  business  of  that  firm. 
He  is  an  able  financier,  a  judicious  and  discriminating  buyer,  and 
as  a  salesman  has  few  equals.  He  has  been  interested  in  public 
matters,  and  is  of  prominence  in  the  political  councils  of  his  party. 
He  represented  the  town  in  the  General  Court  of  1808  as  a 
Republican,  and  was  chairman  of  the  important  committee  on 
banks.  He  also  served  in  the  early  eighties  as  a  deputy  sheriff, 
and  was  for  six  years  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education.  Be- 
sides the  management  of  large  private  interests,  he  has  been  a 
director  in  the  Littleton  National  Hank  and  a  trustee  of  the  Lit- 
tleton Savings  Bank  since  1802.  A  public-spirited  citizen,  he  has 


WILLIAM    H.  BELLOWS. 


Merchants.  71 

ever  been  zealous  for  the  advancement  and  improvement  of  the 
varied  interests  of  the  town.  Like  his  forbears,  it  has  always 
been  his  habit  to  extend  in  an  unostentatious  way  a  helping  hand 
to  others.  There  is  more  than  one  owner  of  a  home  who  is 
indebted  to  his  generous  assistance  for  its  possession. 

The  junior  member  of  the  firm,  Capt.  Harry  S.  Baldwin,  has 
long  been  associated  with  Mr.  Bellows  in  business,  first  as  clerk, 
and  since  1901  as  partner.  When  the  firm  deserted  the  Bellows 
building,  which  had  been  its  home  for  nearly  a  generation,  a  con- 
siderable change  in  the  character  of  its  business  occurred,  and  it 
is  now  confined  to  gentlemen's  clothing  and  furnishings.  Captain 
Baldwin  has  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  needs  of  this  trade.  He 
is  a  young  man  of  character,  energy,  and  tact,  and  as  captain  of 
the  Kilburn  Guards,  the  local  military  organization,  has  brought 
that  command  to  a  high  state  of  efficiency  in  a  remarkably  short 
time.  He  is  also  active  in  local  Republican  politics.  September 
2,  1902,  he  married  Bessie  Tuttle  Moffett,  daughter  of  the  late 
Frank  T.  Moffett,  M.D. 

Edson  Bailey,  doing  business  in  Opera  Block,  is  the  sole  pro- 
prietor of  the  business  founded  in  1882  by  Lane  &  Stocker.  This 
house  has  always  sustained  an  excellent  reputation  for  business 
integrity  and  enterprise.  The  owner  is  conservative  in  his  busi- 
ness notions,  and  believes  that  to  give  the  customer  what  he  pays 
for  is  the  best  of  advertisements.  A  Democrat  in  politics,  he  has 
taken  an  active  interest  in  promoting  the  welfare  of  that  party, 
and  was  once  its  candidate  for  the  Legislature. 

A  firm  conducting  a  similar  business  is  Renfrew  Brothers,  for- 
merly located  in  the  Bugbee  Block,  but  now  in  Harrington  Block. 
The  brothers  were  born  on  the  Vermont  side  of  the  Connecticut 
River,  but  have  long  been  residents  of  this  town,  —  the  elder,  John 
S.,  since  1883,  the  junior,  Irving  C.,  since  1889.  Men  of  business 
capacity  and  energy,  they  have  succeeded  in  building  up  a  large 
and  satisfactory  trade.  John  S.  Renfrew  has  been  interested  in 
promoting  local  improvements,  and  for  six  years  rendered  effi- 
cient services  as  one  of  the  commissioners  of  the  Littleton  Village 
District.  Irving  C.  Renfrew  has  confined  his  activities  mainly  to 
his  business  and  the  welfare  of  the  Congregational  Church,  of 
which  he  was  formerly  deacon.1 

The  clothing  store  now  owned  by  Robert  Tuttle  was  organized 
in  1897  as  Wilson  &  Tuttle.  Mr.  Wilson  was  a  St.  Jolmsbury 
man  and  never  resided  in  this  town,  the  management  of  the  busi- 

1  Since  the  above  was  written  Jolm  S.  Renfrew  lias  sold  his  interest  to  liis 
brother,  and  is  engaged  in  business  at  Plymouth. 


72  History  of  Littleton. 

ness  being  in  the  hands  of  Robert  Tuttle,  the  junior  partner,  who 
has  since  become  the  sole  owner  of  the  establishment.  His  place 
of  business  is  on  the  site  of  the  William  C.  Brackett  residence, 
which  was  remodelled  for  business  purposes  by  the  late  Col.  Cyrus 
Eastman. 

The  ill-fitting  ready-made  clothing  of  old  times  has  given  place 
to  a  better  style  and  workmanship  and  trenched  to  some  extent 
on  the  business  of  the  merchant  tailors.  There  are  at  the  present 
time  two  establishments  in  that  line,  the  proprietors  of  which  are 
thorough  workmen,  and  of  late  have  succeeded  in  more  than  hold- 
ing their  own  against  the  inroads  with  which  their  competitors 
once  threatened  them. 

James  A.  Moore  succeeded  in  1890  to  the  merchant  tailoring 
business  of  Carlos  P.  Day,  with  whom  he  had  previously  been  in 
partnership  more  than  a  year  preceding  that  date,  and  until  re- 
cently his  location  was  No.  1  Opera  Block,  whence  he  moved  to 
his  present  place  of  business  in  Remich  Block. 

Joseph  D.  Campbell,  formerly  with  Macullar,  Parker,  &  Co., 
of  Boston,  came  here  in  1897  and  engaged  in  business  as  a 
merchant  tailor,  and  has  succeeded  in  securing  a  satisfactory 
patronage. 

During  this  period  the  millinery  business,  once  transacted  at 
the  home  of  the  dealer,  has  assumed  such  proportions  as  to  win 
for  itself  a  distinct  position  in  mercantile  pursuits.  At  no  time 
in  the  history  of  the  town  has  the  combined  amount  of  business 
transacted  equalled  in  volume  the  business  of  each  of  the  present- 
day  firms  individually.  Those  now  engaged  in  that  line  are  Mrs. 
T.  E.  Parker,  Mrs.  E.  C.  Young,  and  Mrs.  Solon  Simonds,  all  of 
whom  have  a  reputation  as  skilful  and  artistic  designers. 

The  five  and  ten  cent  store  is  a  modern  invention.  The  first 
of  these  in  the  town  was  established  by  Fred  S.  Bellows  in  1888. 
His  shop  was  in  the  Paddleford  Building.  Ill  health  compelled 
him  to  close  out  what  promised  at  one  time  to  be  a  successful 
trade.  Others  to  subsequently  embark  in  this  line  were  Chester 
J.  Willey,  who  in  1894  bought  out  Mr.  Marston  and  who  occupied 
the  store  where  Mr.  Eldredge  now  is,  and  exposed  for  sale  a  large 
and  varied  stock  of  this  class  of  goods.  Mr.  Willey  in  1899  sold 
to  C.  A.  Simpson,  who  in  1900  returned  to  this  town  and  resumed 
business,  but  soon  after  sold  to  Mr.  Willey  again,  who  in  turn  in 
1900  sold  to  E.  E.  Eldredge.  who  has  since  conducted  the  business. 

It  would  fill  a  volume  were  we  to  give  space  in  this  narrative  to 
all  who  have  been  engaged  in  trade  in  the  town  during  the  last 
half-century.  The  purpose  has  been  to  omit  none  who  have  been 


Merchants.  73 

permanently  connected  with  mercantile  affairs  or  who  in  other 
ways,  though  for  but  a  brief  period,  were  factors  in  our  com- 
mercial life.  There  are  some  whose  names  time  has  nearly 
obliterated,  who  were  active  and  prominent  in  the  early  part 
of  the  period,  whose  record  should  not  be  neglected.  Among 
these  Nathan  McCoy  was  the  most  important.  He  came  here 
in  1854  and  bought  the  building  so  long  known  by  his  name,  and 
for  a  dozen  years  was  in  trade,  buying  and  selling  any  and  every 
thing  that  could  be  exchanged  for  goods,  wares,  or  merchandise, 
or  current  funds,  and  all  the  time  getting  a  little  the  best  of  the 
bargain.  He  was  a  man  of  great  energy  and  possessed  a  marvel- 
lous knowledge  of  human  nature,  and  had  he  confined  his  efforts 
within  a  narrower  field  would  have  been  a  great  merchant.  As 
it  was,  he  covered  too  large  a  territory  to  leave  a  lasting  impression 
on  any  part  of  the  field. 

Another  merchant,  but  differing  in  most  respects  from  Mr. 
McCoy,  was  John  Hale,  who  for  more  than  a  year  was  a  grocer  of 
the  town.  He  was  a  man  Of  large  experience  in  mercantile  affairs, 
an  excellent  salesman  and  of  agreeable  address ;  he  was  wanting 
in  the  hard-headed  selfishness  that  is  one  of  the  basic  elements 
of  the  accumulators  of  wealth  and  in  a  financial  sense  was  not  a 
success  in  his  calling.  He  closed  his  commercial  career  as  a 
travelling  salesman,  and  in  that  capacity  was  above  the  average 
of  the  guild. 

There  is  a  long  list  of  others  who  at  different  times  have  started 
business  in  this  field  but  did  not  continue  a  sufficient  time  to  send 
their  roots  deep  into  the  soil.  In  this  class  were  Charles  Conner, 
baker ;  F.  E.  Choate,  grocer ;  T.  J.  Pratt,  grocer  and  dealer  in 
horses ;  Norman  G.  Smith,  meats  and  provisions ;  Woodruff 
Brothers  in  the  same  line  ;  J.  Harvey  Quimby,  dry-goods  ;  Samuel 
L.  Clay,  general  store  ;  T.  E.  &  Harland  Parker,  grocers  ;  E.  S. 
Prescott,  grocer ;  Charles  H.  Stoddard,  ready-made  clothing  and 
dry-goods;  R.  T.  McKenzie,  merchant  tailor;  E.  Pyer  and  Henry 
George  &  Son,  grocers. 

The  merchants  of  Littleton  have,  with  rare  exceptions,  been 
men  of  enterprise,  honor,  and  active  public  spirit.  Their  interest 
in  the  progress  of  the  town  has  not  been  confined  to  anticipated 
personal  profits,  but  in  no  inconsiderable  degree  has  arisen  from 
the  loftier  motive  of  promoting  the  public  weal.  Observing  the 
wholesome  rule  of  omitting  mention  of  "  present  company,"  it  can 
be  said  of  such  men  as  William  Brackett,  George  Little,  the 
Redingtons,  the  Eastmans,  Henry  L.  Thayer,  Franklin  Tilton, 
and  Nelson  C.  Farr,  that  they  were  sagacious  merchants  whose 


74  History  of  Littleton. 

mercantile  careers  were  governed  by  the  immutable  laws  of  trade  ; 
but  they  were  more  than  this  :  they  were  always  patriotic  citizens, 
bringing  to  the  discharge  of  their  public  duties  the  wisdom  and 
integrity  that  guided  their  private  affairs.  They  contributed 
more  than  any  other  class  to  the  continuous  upbuilding  of  our 
manufacturing  industries  when  these  were  menaced  by  adverse 
conditions,  and  thus  kept  the  material  interests  of  the  town  mov- 
ing forward  in  paths  of  progress.  It  is  natural  for  men  to  forget 
or  ignore  the  past,  and  centre  their  minds  as  well  as  activities  in 
things  of  present  concern  where  their  interests  mainly  lie.  Still 
it  should  be  remembered  that  the  Littleton  of  the  present  was  not 
built  in  a  day,  but,  like  all  things  worthy  to  outlast  their  generation, 
has  been  developed  through  a  process  of  evolution,  and  that  honors, 
if  such  there  be,  should  be  granted  to  all  who  have  contributed  to 
its  making,  and  that  a  large  share  of  these  belong  of  right  to  its 
merchants. 


Banks  and  Bankers.  75 


XXIX. 
BANKS   AND   BANKERS. 

'  1  "'HE  founders  of  the  settlements  in  northern  New  Hampshire 

-L  had  little  use  for  banks  of  discount.  The  products  of  their 
farms  were  their  mediums  of  exchange,  and  answered  the  purpose 
in  this  town  for  all  save  the  State  tax,  and  that  was  not  paid  dur- 
ing the  first  twenty-five  years  of  our  history,  but  was  left  to  accu- 
mulate, and  was  adjusted  finally  in  two  annual  payments  near  the 
close  of  the  eighteenth  century. 

The  first  bank  in  the  State  was  incorporated  as  the  New  Hamp- 
shire Bank,  at  Portsmouth,  in  1792.  Ten  years  after,  in  1802, 
the  New  Hampshire  Union  Bank  at  Portsmouth  was  chartered, 
and  in  1803  the  Strafford  Bank  at  Dover  and  the  Cob's  Bank  at 
Haverhill  were  incorporated,  the  last-named  institution  having  a 
capital  of  $100,000.  Its  charter  ran  for  twenty  years  and  was  re- 
newed in  1821  and  its  name  changed  to  Grafton  Bank.  A  bank 
was  established  at  Lebanon  in  1828,  and  one  at  Lancaster  in  1832. 

The  old  Coos  Bank  was  a  flourishing  institution,  and  had  at 
least  one  considerable  patron  in  this  town,  from  a  date  soon  after 
its  door  was  opened  for  the  transaction  of  business,  in  Samuel 
Learned,  Jr.,  who,  when  he  branched  out  as  an  operator  in  lands, 
lumber,  and  produce,  as  well  as  a  merchant,  was  a  heavy  borrower ; 
and  when  his  investments  on  the  Ottawa  River  in  Canada  were 
lost  beyond  hope  of  immediate  recovery,  the  bank  obtained  judg- 
ments against  him  for  several  thousand  dollars,  and  all  his  posses- 
sions passed  from  his  control. 

When  the  scythe  factory  was  built  in  1835,  its  projectors 
patronized  the  Concord  Bank,  and  the  newly  founded  institution 
at  Lancaster.  Then  came  the  days  of  speculation  in  wild  lands 
in  Canada  and  Maine,  when  nearly  all  our  prominent  business 
men  became  heavy  borrowers  at  the  banks  at  Concord,  Haverhill, 
and  Lancaster,  and  investors  in  these  lands  that  promised,  accord- 
ing to  the  "promoters"  of  that  day,  to  lead  to  vast  fortunes. 
One  day,  in  1837,  Henry  A.  Bellows  and  Truman  Stevens  drove 
to  Lancaster,  where  they  had  a  note  for  $2,000  discounted  at  the 
bank.  The  day  was  rainy,  and  on  their  return  they  encountered 


76  History  of  Littleton. 

some  difficulty  in  crossing  Johns  River  in  Dalton,  but  finally 
made  the  passage,  and  reached  home  well  along  in  the  night, 
when  they  discovered  that  their  currency  was  missing.  Thinking 
the  package  had  been  dropped  at  the  passage  of  the  river  in 
Dalton,  Mr.  Stevens  in  the  early  morning  drove  to  that  place,  but 
failed  to  discover  any  trace  of  the  money,  and  he  supposed  it  was 
then  either  floating  down  the  Connecticut  or  torn  to  shreds  in  the 
passage  of  the  fifteen  mile  falls.  At  the  end  of  the  return  journey 
he  learned  that  the  funds  were  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Bellows, 
having  been  picked  up  in  the  street  by  Lyman  Heath  the  night 
before,  as  he  walked  from  his  singing-school  held  in  Brackett's 
Hall  to  his  home.  Ho\v  valuable  the  patronage  of  the  business 
men  of  this  town  may  have  been  in  those  days  cannot  be  known, 
as  the  records  of  the  courts  of  bankruptcy  are  not  available. 
Could  the  pages  of  that  record  be  scanned,  they  would  disclose  the 
fact  that  business  men  of  ability  and  experience  sometimes  dream, 
and  that  it  is  not  always  safe  to  discount  the  future,  however  rosy 
its  horizon  may  appear. 

In  the  early  forties  the  manufacturers  and  merchants  turned 
to  the  Bank  of  Xewbury  at  Wells  River,  Vt.,  for  banking  accommo- 
dations. Whatever  the  value  of  their  patronage  may  have  been 
to  other  financial  institutions,  there  can  be  no  doubt  but  that  the 
Vermont  bank  found  their  accounts  for  many  subsequent  years 
among  the  most  profitable  carried  on  its  books.  When  the 
national  banking  system  was  established,  the  officers  of  the  Wells 
River  Bank  recognized  the  probability  that  a  bank  would  sooner 
or  later  be  established  in  this  town,  and  by  adopting  a  liberal 
policy  sought  to  put  off  the  evil  day  as  long  as  possible,  and  in 
this  they  succeeded  admirably  for  a  long  time.  John  Fa  IT 
became  a  director  in  that  bank,  and  in  other  respects  it  became 
difficult  to  start  a  movement  in  favor  of  a  home  bank.  "  Let 
well  enough  alone,"  was  the  response  of  business  men  when  the 
matter  of  more  convenient  banking  facilities  was  urged  by  George 
B.  Redington.  For  several  years  he  stood  alone  as  an  advocate 
of  this  project  while  the  current  of  opinion  in  business  circles  con- 
tinued strongly  against  him.  Nothing  daunted,  he  did  not  relin- 
quish his  project,  and  continued  to  advocate  it  whenever  occasion 
gave  him  an  opportunity  to  make  an  effective  point.  It  was  nut, 
however,  until  Colonel  Tilton's  object  lesson  had  made  an  impres- 
sion upon  the  conservative  business  mind  of  the  community,  and 
he  saw  that  it  was  turning  to  his  opinion,  that  he  felt  the  time 
had  come  to  move  forward.  He  then  found  that  the  limit  of 
circulation  authorized  bv  the  banking  act  had  been  reached,  and 


Banks  and  Bankers.  77 

a  charter  could  not  be  obtained.  Within  a  few  days  he  learned 
from  a  news  item  in  a  paper  that  a  circulation  might  be  purchased 
from  existing  banks,  and  in  this  fact  he  saw  his  opportunity.  The 
following  day  he  invited  those  most  likely  to  be  interested  in  the 
project  to  meet  in  the  evening  for  consultation.  The  meeting 
was  held  at  the  office  of  John  Farr  &  Son.  There  were  present, 
beside  Mr.  Redington  and  the  Fairs,  Cyrus  Eastman,  Charles  W. 
Rand,  Henry  L.  Tilton,  Nelson  C.  Farr,  and  Samuel  A.  Edson  ; 
there  were  others,  but  those  named  include  all  who  were  active 
in  the  matter.  At  Mr.  Redington's  suggestion,  Major  Farr  was 
authorized  to  proceed  to  Washington  for  the  purpose  of  ascer- 
taining whether  a  charter  would  be  granted  if  the  required  circu- 
lation was  purchased.  Within  the  week  the  Major  returned  with 
the  necessary  authority  for  the  establishment  of  the  bank,  having 
arranged  with  the  New  York  bank  for  the  required  circulation. 
We  have  dwelt  on  the  details  of  this  transaction  beyond  what  its 
importance  might  seem  to  require,  because  it  illustrates  a  promi- 
nent trait  in  the  character  of  one  of  the  foremost  business  men 
of  the  town. 

George  Benjamin  Redington  was  born  in  Charlestown,  where 
his  father  was  established  as  a  merchant.  The  education  of  the 
son  was  designed  to  fit  him  for  the  same  line  of  business.  The 
father  dying  when  George  was  sixteen  years  of  age,  he  was  appren- 
ticed to  Josiah  Bellows,  3d,  of  Walpole,  a  prominent  trader  in  that 
section  of  the  State,  with  whom  young  Redington  mastered  the 
rudiments  of  a  mercantile  business.  Having  served  his  time,  he 
sought  a  place  to  begin  his  career,  and  was  persuaded  by  Henry 
A.  Bellows,  a  former  Walpole  friend,  to  locate  in  Littleton. 
Soon  after  coming  here  Mr.  Redington  purchased  the  stock  of 
Major  George  Little,  and  made  his  first  trial  in  trade,  on  his  own 
account,  in  the  Yellow  Store.  In  1834  he  built,  and  removed 
his  business  to  the  brick  store  at  the  westerly  corner  of  Main 
and  Saranac  Streets.  In  1836  or  1837  his  younger  brother, 
Henry  Cornelius  Redington,  was  admitted  to  a  partnership  in 
this  business.  In  1835  he  was  interested  with  John  Farr  and 
George  W.  Ely  in  founding  the  scythe  factory,  in  which  under 
many  discouragements  lie  displayed  his  pertinacious  industry 
through  many  years.  He  was  largely  interested  in  the  lumber 
industry,  both  directly  and  indirectly,  and  in  the  box  factory 
erected  on  the  site  of  the  scythe  factory.  His  interest  in  and 
labor  in  behalf  of  the  construction  of  the  White  Mountains  Rail- 
road was  second  only  to  those  of  Ebenezer  Eastman  among  our 
citizens,  and  his  memorable  contest  in  behalf  of  the  stockholders 


78  History  of  Littleton. 

of  that  road  after  it  passed  into  the  possession  of  the  Boston, 
Concord,  and  Montreal  Railroad  has  been  referred  to  in  another 
place.1  He  was  a  member  of  the  committee  appointed  by  the 
town  to  protect  its  interests  in  the  charter  of  the  Portland  and 
Ogdensburg  Railroad.  That  the  town  was  finally  defeated  in  its 
contention  in  this  matter  was  in  no  way  the  fault  of  the  com- 
mittee. He  was  also  chosen  a  member  of  the  finance  committee 
which  had  in  charge  the  funding  of  the  town  debt  contracted  in 
the  prosecution  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  and  of  many  other 
committees  selected  either  by  the  town  or  its  citizens  in  their 
private  capacity  to  promote  the  financial  and  business  interests 
of  the  community. 

His  early  political  opinions  were  in  harmony  with  those  advo- 
cated first  by  the  Federal  and  then  by  the  Whig  party.  He 
entertained  the  conservative  notions  of  most  of  his  political  as- 
sociates concerning  the  institution  of  slavery,  but  his  views  in 
regard  to  industrial  questions  were  entirely  in  accord  with  those 
of  the  Federal,  Whig,  and  Republican  parties.  He  discussed 
political  questions  from  the  standpoint  of  a  business  man,  and 
with  clearness  and  precision,  but  never  sought  to  enforce  his 
opinions  save  through  the  agency  of  the  ballot.  His  standing 
in  the  business  community  made  him  an  available  candidate  for 
his  party,  but  he  was  never  named  for  positions  except  when  the 
party  was  in  a  minority.  He  was  one  of  that  kind  of  men  who 
would  as  soon  have  thought  of  demanding  a  man's  purse  as  of 
asking  his  vote. 

Mr.  Redington's  religious  opinions  were  those  of  the  Channing 
Unitarian  school.  He  was  one  of  the  small  number  of  persons 
holding  that  faith  who  seventy  years  ago  made  an  effort  to  create 
a  living  society  of  that  church  in  this  town ;  but  while  they  were 
liberal  both  in  their  religious  views  and  with  their  monev  in  this 

C;  » 

cause,  zeal  and  strength  enabled  them  to  accomplish  little  in  this 
direction,  and  eventually  Mr.  Redington  and  his  associates  became 
regular  attendants  on  the  Sunday  service  of  the  Congregational 
denomination. 

George  B.  Redington  conferred  lasting  benefits  on  the  town, 
and  did  much  all  through  his  life  to  make  it  known  far  beyond  its 
borders  as  the  seat  of  an  important  manufacturing  industry  and 
the  home  of  honorable  and  enterprising  business  men.  For  more 
than  half  a  century  he  was  a  leader  in  nearly  every  enterprise, 
and  his  contributions  of  time,  labor,  and  money  given  unselfishly 
to  promote  the  common  welfare  would  make  ail  others,  save 
1  See  Vol.  I.,  chapter  on  the  Railroad. 


GEORGE   13. 


Banks  and  Bankers.  79 

those  of  Ebenezer  Eastman,  shrink  into  insignificance  by  com- 
parison. His  mind  was  at  once  broad  and  acute ;  he  possessed 
great  patience,  tireless  industry,  and  methodical  business  habits 
that  trusted  little  to  memory,  the  details  of  his  transactions  being 
committed  to  writing;  he  planned  with  skill  and  foresight  and 
executed  with  vigor  and  judgment,  and  his  projects  were  with 
few  exceptions  carried  to  a  successful  issue. 

In  the  spring  of  1871  a  paper  inviting  subscriptions  to  the 
capital  stock  of  a  National  Bank  which  had  been  fixed  at  $75,000, 
were  circulated,  and  that  sum  was  soon  over-subscribed.  The 
bank  was  organized  at  a  meeting  held  at  the  office  of  John  Parr 
&  Son,  Tuesday  evening,  July  18,  of  the  same  year,  when  the  fol- 
lowing directors  were  chosen  :  John  Parr,  Henry  L.  Tilton,  Cyrus 
Eastman,  George  B.  Bedington,  Charles  W.  Rand,  and  Eleazer 
B.  Parker.  At  a  meeting  of  the  directors,  held  on  the  same  day, 
John  Farr  was  elected  president,  and  William  B.  Dennison,  of 
Irasburg,  Vt.,  chosen  cashier.  The  bank  opened  its  doors  for  the 
transaction  of  business  in  November  following,  in  the  banking 
rooms  formerly  occupied  by  H.  L.  Tilton. 

The  volume  of  business  during  the  few  remaining  weeks  of  the 
year  was  not  large.  The  loans  amounted  to  82,000  ;  the  deposits 
were  $6,245.94,  and  the  surplus  and  profits,  $94.26. 

The  banking  rooms  in  Tilton's  Block  had  formerly  been 
occupied  for  two  or  three  years  by  Henry  L.  Tilton,  who  con- 
ducted a  private  bank.  They  were  conveniently  arranged : 
the  cashier's  room  was  on  the  right  of  the  entrance,  and  the 
directors'  room  was  at  the  further  end,  occupying  substantially 
the  space  now  used  by  Mr.  Wallace  for  his  printing  business. 
The  safe  and  other  furnishings  were  the  same  as  those  in  use  by 
Mr.  Tilton  when  he  closed  out  the  affairs  of  his  bank  and  rented 
the  rooms  to  the  National  Bank.  In  the  opinion  of  Mr.  Dennison 
they  were  of  a  character  to  oppose  very  slight  obstacles  to  profes- 
sional bank  robbers,  and  as  the  business  increased  and  his  respon- 
sibilities became  larger  he  came  to  feel  that  he  could  not  under 
the  circumstances  continue  in  his  position,  and  tendered  his 
resignation  to  the  directors  in  the  autumn  of  1872,  having  held 
the  position  about  a  year.  His  resignation  was  accepted  with 
regret.  During  Mr.  Dennison's  brief  occupancy  of  the  position 
he  had  met  all  its  requirements  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the 
officers  and  patrons  of  the  bank.  He  was  a  polite  and  obliging 
official  and  a  skilful  financier.  He  was  born  in  Burke,  Vt.,  and 
prior  to  his  engagement  here  was  cashier  of  the  National  Bank  at 
Irasburg  in  that  State.  On  leaving  Littleton  he  was  employed  in 


80  History  of  Littleton.] 

a  subordinate  position  in  the  Atlantic  National  Bank,  of  Boston, 
then  controlled  by  Isaac  Pratt,  Jr.,  and  John  E.  Lyon,  where  his 
integrity  and  ability  were  quickly  recognized,  and  his  promotion 
through  the  intervening  grades  was  assured ;  and  he  has  for  some 
years  been  president  of  that  substantial  financial  institution. 

In  December,  1872,  the  retiring  cashier  was  succeeded  by  Oscar 
Cutler  Hatch,  formerly  of  Wells  River,  Vt.,  where  he  was  for  four 
years  employed  as  general  clerk  in  the  National  Bank  of  New- 
bury,  and  had  for  two  years  been  cashier  of   the  Orange  County 
Bank  at  Chelsea,  Vt.,  which  position  he  resigned  to  accept  a  similar 
position  in  this  town.     When  he  assumed  charge  of  the  bank  its 
capital  was  $100.000;  deposits,  $10,523. 68  ;  surplus  and  undivided 
profits,  $1,622.90  ;  and  its  loans,  $45,683.62.    The  next  year,  1873, 
the  capital  of   the  bank  was  increased  to  $150,000 ;   its  deposits 
had  more  than  doubled,  and  were  $37,960.01 ;   the  surplus  and 
undivided  profits,  $10,660.77  ;  and  the  loans,  $122,275.77.    In  this 
year  the  first  dividend  was  declared,  the  previous  profits  having 
been  carried  to  the  surplus.     This  dividend  was  not  large,  only 
three  per  cent,  the  only  one  of  that  amount  the  stockholders  have 
received,  all  others  having  been  larger.    The  capital  has  remained 
$150,000  since  1873.     In  1880  the  deposits  were  $70,056.26  ;  sur- 
plus and  undivided  profits,  $30,459.67  ;  and  the  dividend  of   the 
year  was  seven  per  cent,  as  was  that  of   1874.     Other  dividends 
of  the  decade  were  eight  per  cent  in  1875,  1877,  1878,  and  1879 ; 
in  1876   it   was  nine   per  cent.     In   1890   the  deposits  reached 
$160,635.67  ;  the  surplus  and  undivided  profits,  $84,928.09 ;    the 
loans  were  $372,820.89 ;  and  the  dividend  was  ten  per  cent.     In 
1895  an  extra  dividend  was  declared  from  the  surplus  earnings, 
the  total  of  the  year  being  thirty  per  cent,  and  the  surplus  \vas 
reduced  from  $90,080.69  in  that  year  to  $47,025.30  in  1896.    The 
deposits  in   1900  were  $201,629.25 ;   the  surplus  and  undivided 
profits,  $62,882.93  ;    the  loans,  $186,368.32 ;    and   its  aggregate 
resources,  $495,510.18.    Its  present  standing  (1903)  is  as  follows  : 
deposits,  $191,557.99;  surplus  and  undivided  profits,  $75,098.34; 
loans,  $203,790.91,  and  aggregate  resources,  $506,568.52.     The 
bank  has  been  in  operation,  not  including  the  brief  period  in  1871, 
thirty-two  years,  and  has  divided  among  its  stockholders  $409,500 
in  thirty-one  dividends,  an  annual  average  of   eight  and  eight- 
tenths  per  cent. 

The  first  change  in  the  board  of  directors  was  occasioned  by 
the  death  of  Charles  \V.  Rand  in  1874,  and  the  election  of  Nelson 
C.  Farr  as  his  successor  at  the  annual  meeting  in  1875.  Five  years 
later  Oscar  C.  Hatch  succeeded  Nelson  C.  Farr,  who  retired  in 


OSCAR    C.   HATCH. 


Banks  and  Bankers.  81 

1880.  Eleazer  B.  Parker,  of  Franconia,  died  in  1884,  and  his  son, 
Osraan  Parker,  was  elected  to  the  vacancy  thus  created.  The 
year  1888  was  one  of  change  in  the  bank's  organization.  John 
Farr,  who  had  been  president  from  the  time  of  its  institution, 
resigned  that  office,  and  the  cashier,  Oscar  C.  Hatch,  was  chosen 
his  successor,  Mr.  Farr  continuing  to  serve  as  a  director ;  Ruel 
W.  Poor,  teller  of  the  bank,  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy  occa- 
sioned by  the  promotion  of  Mr.  Hatch ;  Charles  F.  Eastman 
succeeded  George  B.  Redington,  and  Charles  H.  Greenleaf,  of 
Franconia,  was  chosen  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  retire- 
ment of  Osman  Parker  from  the  board  of  directors.  The  fortunes 
of  two  of  the  young  men  connected  with  the  bank  were  materially 
affected  by  the  changes  in  1889.  The  cashier,  Ruel  W.  Poor, 
accepted  a  position  in  the  Garfield  National  Bank  of  New  York 
City,  and  Herbert  K.  Hallett  was  promoted  to  fill  the  vacant  posi- 
tion. Both  young  men  were  from  Maine ;  each  entered  upon  his 
business  career  as  clerk  in  this  bank  ;  here  each  became  active 
in  Masonry,  and  was  Master  and  filled  minor  positions  in  Burns 
Lodge,  and  each  became  cashier  of  the  bank.  Since  that  time 
Mr.  Poor  has  advanced  to  the  presidency  of  the  Garfield  National 
Bank,  one  of  the  strong  financial  institutions  of  New  York ;  and 
Mr.  Hallett  is  president  of  the  Atlantic  National  Bank  of  Boston, 
of  which  a  former  cashier  of  our  bank,  Mr.  Dennison,  until 
recently  held  a  high  position. 

The  position  of  vice-president  was  created  by  the  directors  in 
1877,  and  Henry  L.  Tilton  was  its  first  incumbent.  He  held  the 
office  by  successive  re-elections  down  to  January,  1890,  when 
Col.  Cyrus  Eastman  was  chosen  his  successor  on  the  retirement 
of  Colonel  Tilton  from  the  board,  who  was  at  the  time  conducting 
an  extensive  banking  and  real  estate  business  at  Spokane,  Wash., 
and  for  several  years,  while  retaining  a  legal  residence  in  this 
town,  was  practically  a  citizen  of  the  far  western  city. 

The  six  years  from  1890  to  1895  inclusive  witnessed  many 
changes  in  the  board  of  directors.  Ira  Parker  in  1890  succeeded 
Henry  L.  Tilton  ;  in  1892  George  T.  Cruft,  of  Bethlehem,  came 
into  the  board  as  the  successor  of  John  Farr,  and  in  1895  be- 
came vice-president  in  place  of  Colonel  Eastman,  resigned;  the 
next  year  William  H.  Bellows  and  James  H.  Bailey  respectively 
succeeded  George  A.  Bingham  and  Cyrus  Eastman,  who  were 
the  last  members  of  the  original  board,  elected  in  1871,  to  retire 
from  the  service  of  the  bank.  That  board  was  made  up  of  strong 
men.  All  had  been  leaders  in  their  several  professions  or  in 
their  business  pursuits  and  prominent  in  public  affairs.  Judge 

VOL.  II.  —  6 


82  History  of  Littleton. 

Bingham  passed  away  in  a  few  days  after  his  successor  had  been 
installed  in  the  board,  and  Colonel  Eastman  died  in  March,  1896. 
Col.  Henry  L.  Tilton  is  the  sole  survivor  of  the  group  who  were 
instrumental  in  establishing  the  bank  thirty-two  years  ago.  A  new 
generation,  in  accordance  with  the  inexorable  law  of  nature,  now 
occupy  the  places  they  once  filled  to  the  satisfaction  of  the 
stockholders  and  that  of  the  business  community.  Since  the  elec- 
tion of  William  H.  Bellows  and  James  If.  Bailey,  but  one  change 
has  taken  place  in  the  board,  that  of  the  resignation  of  Ira  Parker 
and  the  election  of  Henry  F.  Green  as  his  successor.  Henry  E. 
Richardson  was  elected  cashier  in  1898  to  succeed  Herbert  K. 
Hallett,  resigned.  The  present  officers *  and  directors  are :  Oscar 
Cutler  Hatch,  president;  Henry  Ellsworth  Richardson,  cashier; 
George  Theodore  Cruft,  vice-president ;  Charles  Franklin  East- 
man, Charles  Henry  Greenleaf,  William  Henry  Bellows,  James 
Henry  Bailey,  and  Henry  Francis  Green.2 

The  Littleton  Savings  Bank  was  chartered  three  years  before 
the  formation  of  the  National  Bank,  but  no  effort  was  made  to 
put  it  in  operation  until  the  last-named  institution  was  estab- 
lished. The  act  of  incorporation  was  passed  by  the  Legislature 
at  the  June  session  in  1868  with  these  charter  members  :  Cyrus 
Eastman,  John  Farr,  Harry  Bingham,  George  B.  Redington, 
James  J.  Barrett,  Edward  O.  Kenney,  William  Bailey,  Henry  L. 
Thayer,  Alonzo  Weeks,  Charles  Hartshorn,  George  Farr,  Charles 
M.  Turtle,  John  G.  Sinclair  of  Bethlehem,  Eleazer  B.  Parker  of 
Franconia,  Charles  W.  Rand,  George  Abbott,  George  A.  Bingham, 
William  J.  Bellows,  Luther  T.  Dow,  Nelson  C.  Farr,  Cephas 
Brackett,  Philip  P.  Mason  of  Monroe,  John  Sargent,  Otis  G. 
Hale,  and  Joseph  L.  Whittakcr. 

The  bank  was  organized  in  1871  by  the  election  of  the  following 
officers  :  John  Farr,  president  ;  Cyrus  Eastman,  vice-president ; 
William  B.  Dennison,  secretary  and  treasurer.  Trustees  :  Cyrus 
Eastman,  John  Farr,  George  B.  Redington,  George  A.  Bingham, 
Eleazer  B.  Parker,  Henry  L.  Tilton,  Charles  W.  Rand,  Joseph  L. 
Whittaker,  Luther  T.  Dow,  and  Nelson  C.  Farr.  It  will  be  seen 
that  all  but  the  three  last  named  were  officers  of  the  National 
Bank.  This  bank  began  business  October  14,  1871,  and  its  his 
tory  has  run  parallel  with  that  of  the  National  Bank;  the  officers 
of  one  have  been  connected  in  a  governing  capacity  with  the 
other.  The  directors  of  the  National  have  constituted  a  majority 

1  1903. 

2  In  January,  1904,  Fred  H.  English  entered  the  board  as  the  successor  of  Charles 
H.  Greenleaf,  resigned. 


Banks  and  Bankers.  83 

of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Savings  Bank  since  their  founda- 
tion. The  first  change  in  the  officers  of  the  Savings  Bank  was 
necessitated  by  the  change  of  cashiers  of  the  National  Bank 
when  William  B.  Dennison  was  succeeded  by  Oscar  C.  Hatch  as 
treasurer  in  1873.  In  1874  Otis  G.  Hale  and  Oscar  C.  Hatch 
were  added  to  the  board  of  trustees ;  in  1877  Joseph  L.  Whittaker, 
having  removed  from  town,  was  succeeded  by  Hartwell  H. 
Southworth.  No  other  change  in  the  official  board  occurred  until 
1880,  when  John  Farr,  wishing  to  be  relieved  of  some  of  his 
financial  responsibilities,  resigned  the  presidency,  but  remained 
on  the  board  of  trustees.  George  A.  Bingham  was  Mr.  Farr's 
successor  in  the  presidency.  The  following  year,  for  the  same 
reason  that  actuated  Mr.  Farr,  Cyrus  Eastman  relinquished  the 
vice-presidency  to  Henry  L.  Tilton.  Colonel  Eastman  at  the 
same  time  withdrew  from  the  board  of  trustees,  and  his  place 
was  taken  by  Augustus  A.  Woolson,  of  Lisbon.  Charles  F. 
Eastman,  in  1884,  succeeded  Otis  G.  Hale  in  the  board,  and  the 
death  of  Nelson  C.  Farr  created  a  vacancy  that  was  filled  by  the 
election  of  Ira  Parker  in  1885.  At  the  same  time  the  vacancy 
caused  by  the  death  of  E.  B.  Parker  was  filled  by  Osmon  Parker. 
George  Farr  became  a  member  of  the  board  in  1889,  succeeding 
George  B.  Redington  ;  and  in  1890,  upon  the  retirement  of  Henry 
L.  Tilton,  Charles  F.  Eastman  became  vice-president  and  George 
T.  Cruft  entered  the  board ;  at  the  same  time  John  L.  Foster,  of 
Lisbon,  succeeded  Mr.  Woolson  as  trustee.  Mr.  Foster  died  in 
1891,  and  in  January,  1892,  the  vacancy  in  the  board  was  filled  by 
the  election  of  Seth  F.  Hoskins,  and  William  H.  Bellows  took  the 
place  vacated  by  John  Farr,  whose  declining  health  compelled  his 
retirement  from  financial  cares.  The  official  roster  remained 
unchanged  until  1895,  when  George  A.  Bingham,  Hartwell  H. 
Southworth,  and  George  Farr  retired ;  Charles  F.  Eastman  suc- 
ceeded to  the  vacant  presidency,  Ira  Parker  became  vice-president, 
and  Henry  F.  Green  and  James  H.  Bailey  joined  the  board  of  trus- 
tees. Ira  Parker  resigned  in  1898,  and  the  vacancies  thus  created 
were  filled  by  Oscar  C.  Hatch  as  vice-president  and  Frank  P.  Bond 
as  trustee.  The  following  year  the  duties  of  secretary  and 
treasurer  were  divided,  William  H.  Bellows  succeeding  to  the 
former,  and  Mr.  Hatch  retaining  that  of  treasurer  of  the  bank. 
The  official  board  of  the  institution  has  remained  without 
change  and,  as  constituted  in  1903,  is  as  follows :  Charles  F. 
Eastman,  president  ;  Oscar  C.  Hatch,  vice-president  and  treas- 
urer; William  H.  Bellows,  secretary;  George  T.  Cruft,  James 
H.  Bailey,  Henry  F.  Green,  and  Frank  P.  Bond,  with  the  officers, 


84  History  of  Littleton. 

make  up  the  board  of  trustees.  Henry  0.  Hatch  is  clerk  and 
teller.  The  first  deposit  was  made,  as  has  been  stated,  October 
14,  1871,  and  at  the  close  of  business  on  the  last  day  of  the  year, 
the  receipts  on  this  account  had  reached  the  sum  of  $6,245.94; 
in  1872,  the  first  full  year,  they  were  $57,970.61.  In  1880  the 
value  of  the  assets  of  the  bank  on  its  books  was  $311,294.96; 
due  depositors,  8303,238.95;  the  guarantee  fund  was- $4,600  and 
its  surplus  $3,456.01.  In  1890  the  value  of  the  assets  on  its 
books  was  $1,020,369.54  and  their  market  value  $1,038,712.87; 
the  guarantee  fund  $40,000,  and  the  surplus  $43,864.17.  In  1900 
the  cost  of  the  assets  as  shown  by  the  books  was  $1,269,703.60, 
their  market  value  81,310,948.60,  the  guarantee  fund  856,700, 
and  the  surplus  $50,612.95.  At  the  present  time  (1903)  the 
financial  standing  of  the  bank  is  given  as  follows:  book  value  of 
assets  81.526,403.24,  market  value  $1,572,728.24,  the  guarantee 
fund  875.000,  and  the  surplus  $65,487.34.  The  alternating  in- 
crease and  decrease  in  assets,  as  a  rule,  indicate  the  periods  of 
general  prosperity  and  adversity.  The  largest  increase  in  de- 
posits in  any  year  was  in  1889,  when  it  was  $73,207.30  ;  the 
most  considerable  decrease  was  in  1896,  when  it  reached  the  sum 
of  $63.255. 21.  The  bank  passed  the  million  mark  in  1891,  and 
at  no  time  since  have  its  resources  fallen  below  that  sum. 

The  stockholders  and  depositors  in  these  banks  have  been 
fortunate  in  the  selection  of  the  executive  officers  chosen  to  ad- 
minister their  affairs.  The  first  president  of  the  bank,  John 
Farr,  was  particularly  well  qualified,  both  by  character,  ability, 
and  experience,  for  the  position.  His  legal  practice  had  been 
largely  connected  with  the  settlement  of  estates  and  collections, 
and  his  knowledge  of  credits  was  unequalled  by  any  person  in 
this  valley;  his  familiarity  with  the  details  of  banking  had  been 
acquired  through  his  experience  as  a  director  in  the  Bank  of 
Newbury,  and  as  receiver  of  the  White  Mountain  Bank  at  Lan- 
caster, when  it  went  into  liquidation  in  1865.  As  receiver  he  be- 
came familiar  with  every  branch  of  the  banking  business  and  the 
law  relating  thereto,  as  the  adjustment  of  the  affairs  of  the  bank 
was  fruitful  in  litigation.  Mr.  Farr  was  by  nature  a  cautious  man. 
who  counted  the  cost  and  hazard  as  well  as  the  profits  of  every 
venture,  and  this  conservative  tendency  had  been  increased  in  the 
school  of  experience.  Yet,  as  he  was  a  wise  man  of  affairs,  he 
seldom  applied  the  brake  to  the  wheels  of  progress,  and  in  so  far 
as  his  influence  guided  the  affairs  of  these  institutions  their  course 
was  in  the  direction  of  a  sound  and  healthy  system  that  inured 
alike  to  their  financial  prosperity  and  to  the  benefit  of  the 
commercial  interests  of  the  community. 


LITTLETON  NATIONAL  BANK  AND  SAVINGS  BANK  BUILDING 

United  States  Courts,  Coashauke  Club. 


Banks  and  Bankers.  85 

The  brief  connection  of  William  B.  Dennison  with  the  manage- 
ment of  the  banks  has  been  referred  to.  His  successor  as 
cashier  of  the  National  and  treasurer  of  the  Savings  Banks,  Oscar 
C.  Hatch,  came  to  their  service  with  an  education  in  the  banking 
business  acquired  under  the  tuition  of  0.  C.  Hale  and  George 
Leslie  in  the  Bank  of  Newbury,  and  two  years'  experience  as 
cashier  of  the  Orange  County  National  Bank  at  Chelsea,  Vt.,  and 
after  a  laborious  life  extending  over  the  years  of  a  generation,  he 
is  a  young  man  in  feeling,  a  sage  in  experience,  still  at  his  post. 
Mr.  Hatch  was  born  in  the  village  of  Wells  River  in  1848.  His 
scholastic  education  was  acquired  in  the  common  schools  and  a 
private  school  taught  by  Rev.  William  S.  Palmer.  When  but 
a  few  months  past  his  sixteenth  year,  he  entered  the  employment 
of  Deming  &  Baldwin,  where  two  years  were  past,  when  he 
became  a  clerk  in  the  village  bank,  and  there  acquired  the  rudi- 
ments of  the  business  which  was  to  become  his  life  work.  When 
he  went  to  Chelsea  to  assume  charge  of  the  bank,  he  found  it 
with  a  capital  of  $200,000 ;  some  of  this  was  unused  for  want  of 
a  local  demand,  with  the  result  that  the  stockholders  had  for 
some  years  received  small  dividends.  This  idle  fund  he  invested 
in  commercial  paper  in  Boston,  and  at  the  close  of  his  first  year 
had  the  entire  capital  invested.  Dividends  were  increased,  and  in 
the  two  years  he  was  cashier  the  policy  of  the  bank  was  changed, 
and  from  a  small,  it  became  a  large,  money-earning  institution. 

Mr.  Hatch  assumed  charge  of  the  Littleton  National  and  Sav- 
ings Banks  December  9,  1872.  It  is  said  that  confidence  is  a 
plant  of  slow  growth  ;  it  was  not  in  this  instance.  Mr.  Hatch 
was  trusted  without  reserve  by  the  banks  with  which  he  had  pre- 
viously been  connected,  and  he  came  to  the  institutions  here  hav- 
ing the  entire  confidence  of  their  governing  boards.  There  were 
among  their  patrons  some  who  regarded  him  as  too  young  and 
inexperienced  for  such  weighty  responsibilities.  These  doubts 
were  soon  dispelled,  and  his  capacity,  like  his  integrity,  was 
firmly  established,  and  neither  has  since  been  questioned.  As  a 
banker  he  is  cautious,  striving  to  keep  well  within  the  limits  of 
safety,  having  more  regard  for  the  security  of  the  investment  than 
the  amount  of  the  income,  and  adhering  with  unvarying  steadfast- 
ness to  the  strict  letter  of  the  law.  These  traits  render  his  work 
entirely  impersonal,  and  guard  him  from  the  perils  of  favoritism, 
that  fatal  maelstrom  which  has  engulfed  so  many  reputations  in 
the  banking  world. 

At  the  start  the  selection  of  banking  rooms  was  determined  by 
the  law  of  neccssitv.  Thev  were  several  times  remodelled,  vet 


86  History  of  Littleton. 

always  inadequate  and  outgrown  prior  to  1882,  when  a  lot  on  the 
north  side  of  Main  Street  was  purchased  of  the  heirs  of  the  late 
Major  Aaron  Brackett,  and  a  substantial  brick  block,  with  ample 
accommodations  for  the  business  of  the  banks,  was  built  thereon. 
The  banks  occupied  the  entire  first  floor,  while  the  second  was 
rented  by  the  law  firm  of  Bingham  &  Aldrich  for  offices.  The 
block  was  located  on  a  level  and  in  line  with  other  buildings  in  its 
immediate  vicinity,  and  was  approached  from  the  street  by  a  long 
flight  of  granite  steps.  The  structure  was  severe  and  substantial 
in  its  architectural  form,  and  filled  with  all  the  conveniences  that 
the  despatch  of  business  and  the  requirements  of  safety  could 
suggest,  and  it  was  thought  by  its  projectors  well  calculated  to 
meet  the  wants  of  the  institutions  for  several  generations,  but 
within  a  score  of  years  extension  was  required.  This  was  effected 
by  excavating  to  the  street  level,  and  adding  a  front  of  three  stories 
of  Indiana  limestone  and  brick  of  a  corresponding  color.  With 
heavy  cornices  and  other  trimmings,  the  new  structure  presents 
an  imposing  outward  appearance,  while  the  interior  is  richly 
furnished  and  conveniently  arranged  with  counters  around  a 
circular  lobby.  The  building  is  regarded  as  the  finest  in  the 
State  devoted  to  the  banking  business.  In  the  erection  of  both 
structures  Mr.  Hatch  was  the  guiding  spirit,  and  in  each  success- 
fully accomplished  his  purpose  of  providing  adequate  and  secure 
accommodations  for  the  institutions  over  which  he  presides,  and 
at  the  same  time  adding  to  the  architectural  adornment  of  the 
village. 

To  his  duties  as  a  citizen  Mr.  Hatch  has  brought  the  solid 
judgment  and  sane  business  sense  that  have  characterized  his 
conduct  as  a  banker.  His  services  have  been  in  demand  by  the 
town  as  a  member  of  important  committees  raised  to  execute 
public  enterprises,  notably  those  of  building  the  Town  House  in 
1894  and  the  Library  building  now  in  process  of  erection.  He 
can  hardly  be  termed  a  politician,  though  he  has  taken  consider- 
able interest  in  public  affairs  and  in  Republican  party  politics, 
and  is  regarded  as  a  sound,  practical  adviser  in  such  matters  by 
his  party  associates.  Living  in  a  town  and  district  where  political 
honors  are  much  sought,  it  is  probable  that  lie  has  felt  the  prevail- 
ing contagion,  but  such  success  as  he  has  attained  in  the  political 
field  has  been  bestowed  more  for  the  purpose  of  satisfying  a 
reasonable  public  feeling  than  to  reward  a  skilful  political  ma- 
nipulator for  party  services.  In  the  spirited  political  contest  of 
1892  he  was  the  only  successful  candidate  of  his  party  in  the 
local  field,  when  he  was  elected  Representative,  and  in  the  Legis- 


LITTLETON  NATIONAL  BANK  AND  LITTLETON  SAVINGS  BANK  -   INTERIOR. 


Banks  and  Bankers.  87 

lature  was  appointed  chairman  of  the  committee  on  banks.  In 
1898  lie  represented  this  district  in  the  State  Senate,  where  he 
served  on  the  important  committees  on  banking,  revision  of  laws, 
and  railroads.  He  was  also  a  member  of  Governor  Rollins's  staff, 
with  the  rank  of  Colonel.  This  military-political  position  is 
esteemed  one  of  the  desirable  prizes  awarded  by  the  incumbent 
of  the  gubernatorial  chair. 

Mr.  Hatch  is  a  zealous  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and 
has  attained  its  highest  degree.  His  record  in  the  fraternity 
follows  :  Received  the  degrees  in  Burns  Lodge  of  A.  F.  and  A. 
Masons  September  1,  1882,  and  subsequently  the  degrees  in 
Franklin  Chapter  of  Royal  Arch  Masons,  Omega  Council  of  R.  <fe 
S.  Masons,  St.  Gerard  Commandery  ;  Knights  Templar  (was  two 
years  Eminent  Commander)  ;  Aaron  P.  Hughes  Lodge  of  Perfec- 
tion, Nashua,  N.  H.  A.  A.  S.  Rite ;  Washington  Council  Princes 
of  Jerusalem,  A.  A.  S.  Rite  (Grand  Master  five  years)  ;  Littleton 
Chapter  of  Rose  Croix,  A.  A.  S.  Rite  ;  Edward  A.  Raymond  Con- 
sistory, A.  A.  S.  Rite  ;  and  on  September  18, 1894,  was  coronated 
an  Honorary  Member  of  the  Supreme  Council,  33°  for  the  North- 
ern Masonic  Jurisdiction  of  the  United  States  of  America. 

When  John  Farr  began  to  feel  that  his  comfort  was  to  be 
promoted  by  lessening  rather  than  increasing  his  business  cares, 
he  resigned  the  presidency  of  the  Savings  Bank,  George  A. 
Bingham  succeeding.  Judge  Bingham  remained  in  the  position 
until  within  a  few  weeks  of  his  death  in  January,  1895,  when 
Charles  F.  Eastman  was  chosen,  and  has  continued  in  the  office 
since.  When  in  1888  Mr.  Farr  retired  from  the  head  of  the 
National  Bank,  it  was  to  give  place  to  Oscar  C.  Hatch.  Since 
their  establishment  the  National  Bank  has  had  but  two  presidents, 
the  Savings  Bank  but  three;  while  Mr.  Hatch  has  for  nearly  a 
generation  been  the  directing  genius  at  the  governing  board  of 
both  institutions. 

The  workman,  whether  he  labor  with  mind  or  hands,  impresses 
the  character  of  his  individuality  upon  the  product.  All  who  have 
known  the  character,  sagacity,  and  attainments  of  John  Farr, 
Oscar  C.  Hatch,  George  A.  Bingham,  Charles  F.  Eastman,  and 
their  associates  in  the  direction  of  the  affairs  of  these  banks,  will 
recognize  the  moral  force  and  financial  strength  of  these  men 
stamped  upon  these  institutions  through  the  growth  from  small 
beginnings  to  their  present  strength,  which  rests  more  in  the 
confidence  of  the  people  than  in  the  sums  distributed  among 
investors  or  stored  in  the  vaults  of  the  banks. 


History  of  Littleton. 


XXX. 

THE   PROFESSION   OF   MEDICINE.1 

BY    ALBERT    STILLMAN    BATCHELLOB,  M.A. 

^^HE  first  period  of  the  history  of  the  town  as  viewed  from 
the  medical  standpoint  might  be  limited  by  the  date  of 
settlement  and  the  advent  of  the  settled  physician,  that  is  to  say, 
from  1700  to  1800.  Much  of  the  material  which  would  be  valuable 
and  interesting  for  this  theme  and  which  might  once  have  been 
drawn  from  that  period,  is  irretrievably  lost.  The  doctor  dwelt 
a  long  distance  apart  from  his  Apthorp  patients.  He  had  no 
time  to  inform  the  world  of  his  doings.  The  newspapers  did  not 
report  his  cures  nor  advertise  his  skill.  He  did  not  anticipate 
the  duty  that  would  fall  upon  his  remote  successors  on  occasions 
like  this.  He  failed  to  hand  down  a  convenient  journal  of  inter- 
esting dates,  experiences,  and  observations,  as  a  country  prac- 
titioner of  the  ancient  days.  Moreover,  the  science  of  recorded 
observations  of  disease  and  of  medical  statistics  found  small 
place  in  the  outfit  of  the  custodian  of  the  healing  art  in  that 
early  day  in  this  region.  He  dealt  with  the  ills  of  the  flesh 
according  to  his  best  skill  and  judgment,  but  had  neither  the 
opportunity  nor  the  facilities  for  compiling  vital  statistics  or 
health  reports. 

McMaster,  in  his  "  History  of  the  People  of  the  United  States,'' 
has  graphically  described  the  doctor  of  this  period,  his  education, 
his  practice,  his  medicines.  No  better  view  of  the  subject  can  be 
found  in  the  space  which  he  devotes  to  it.  The  picture  is  inter- 
esting and  instructive.  It  gives  us  an  opportunity  for  a  suggestive 
comparison  of  the  practice  at  the  extremes  of  our  own  centenary, 
for  it  is  the  doctor  of  1784  who  is  described  by  McMaster.2 

1  The  profession  of  medicine  was  assigned  to  Dr.  C.  M.  Tuttle,  as  a  subject  for 
his  contribution  to  the  Centennial  of  1884.     He  gathered  some  data,  but  the  address 
was  omitted  and  subsequently  prepared  for  the  volume  of  published  proceedings 
and  credited  to  the  doctor,  but  as  published  it  was  from  the  pen  of  Judge  Batchellor, 
who  has  also  brought  the  chapter  down  to  date. 

2  Vol.  i.  pp.  27-36. 


The  Profession  of  Medicine.  89 

The  population  was  scattered  over  the  river  valleys,  and  was 
made  up  of  a  class  that  was  adventurous  and  strong.  They  had 
no  luxuries.  If  there  were  any  virtue  in  exercise  and  ventilation, 
the  human  system  ought  to  have  corne  very  near  perfection  in  the 
persons  of  our  pioneer  ancestors.  They  had,  of  course,  the  rough 
life  and  diet  peculiar  to  new  settlements.  There  was  no  profit  in 
adulteration  of  food  and  rum.  Women  worked  out  of  doors  with 
the  men,  and  practised  no  black  art  to  cut  off  posterity.  We 
have,  in  the  case  of  Hannah  Caswell,  whose  story  has  been  so 
well  related  by  Dr.  Rankin,1  an  illustration  of  the  stamina  of  the 
women  of  that  time.  The  people  of  that  generation  had  a  mission 
to  perform,  and  nature,  at  the  same  time  generous  and  discrimi- 
nating, had  given  them  physical  capabilities  equal  to  all  the 
burdens  that  were  thrust  upon  them.  No  doubt  they  defied 
many  of  the  maxims  of  health  which  we  regard  as  fundamental. 
Consumption  assailed  individuals  who  failed  to  inherit  the  average 
vital  power  of  the  race,  and  fevers  brought  down  the  strong  in 
their  strength.  Disorders  of  the  latter  class  were  generated, 
in  some  instances,  from  the  decay  of  vegetable  matter  \vhich 
precedes  the  abolition  of  swamps  and  follows  the  clearing  up  of 
the  new  land  ;  and  in  other  cases  in  neglect  of  sanitary  conditions, 
in  the  location  and  care  of  stables,  out-buildings,  and  places  of 
retirement,  and  imperfect  drainage ;  in  the  non-exclusion  of  filth 
from  milk  and  other  food,  and  recklessness  in  exposure  to  the 
rigors  and  vicissitudes  peculiar  to  the  climate.  The  inevitable 
results  of  these  conditions  followed ;  but  the  fatal  diseases  were 
generally  of  simple  diagnosis,  and  belonged  to  a  very  few  classes, 
as  compared  with  the  complex  catalogue  of  physical  disorders 
with  which  the  medical  profession  has  to  do  in  the  same  locality 
at  the  present  time. 

In  the  first  ten  years  the  population  had  not  reached  a  score ; 
in  1790  it  is  given  as  96,  and  in  1800  it  was  381.  The  dearth 
of  interesting  data  for  an  account  of  the  relations  of  such  a  popu- 
lation to  the  subject  of  medicine  is  not  due  solely  to  the  remote- 
ness of  the  time.  Towns  about  us  equally  isolated  in  location 
and  sparsely  populated  would  not  to-day  yield  very  much  more 
material  for  the  purposes  of  medical  history  than  the  Littleton 
which  antedated  the  days  of  its  first  settled  physician. 

We  know  something  of  the  early  practitioners  who  came  with 

their  saddle-bags  at  infrequent  intervals  through  the  town.     We 

know  their  modes  of  practice  and  we  have  their  books  of  account, 

showing  what  the  hardy  settlers  had  to  take  and  what  they  had 

1  Littleton  Centennial,  p.  21. 


90  History  of  Littleton. 

to  pay.  We  know  that,  owing  to  the  skill  of  the  doctors  to  cure  or 
the  stamina  of  the  people  in  resisting  the  effects  of  disease  and  per- 
haps of  medicine,  they  increased,  multiplied,  and  were  strong.  We 
know  that  no  deadly  epidemics  scourged  the  populace,  and  that 
they  were  blessed  with  health  to  a  degree  that  is  remarkable. 

The  good  old  mothers  knew  the  simplest  and  best  of  nature's 
restoratives,  and  every  garret  was  an  honest  and  reliable  deposi- 
tory of  the  pharmacy  of  the  field  and  forest. 

Patent  medicines  and  the  nostrum  tramps  who  announce  their 
coming  in  the  gorgeous  rhetoric  of  the  circus  bills  are  now  the 
humbug  substitutes  for  the  wholesome  regimen  of  health,  which, 
in  the  absence  of  professional  advice,  the  good  housewives  of  old 
prescribed,  without  money  and  without  price,  for  the  healing  of 
the  people.  If  the  doctor  could  not  be  called  or  was  not  wanted, 
the  old  matrons  gave  doses  from  substances  whose  properties  were 
understood,  and  gave  them  in  accordance  with  the  teachings  of 
authentic  experience.  The  good  sense  of  the  people  in  this  mat- 
ter is  monumental.  The  times  have  changed.  We  read  of  a 
nostrum;  somebody  has  lied  about  its  virtues;  the  falsehood  is 
advertised  in  a  thousand  papers,  on  fences  and  on  rocks  ;  with- 
out analysis,  without  knowledge  of  its  constituents,  without 
inquiry  as  to  the  skill  of  its  contriver  or  the  character  of  its 
sponsor,  its  consumers  are  the  millions  of  all  classes  and  con- 
ditions. The  stuff  is  taken  in  quantities  that  would  turn  a 
thousand  mills,  and  craft  is  made  rich  out  of  folly  and  ignorance. 
Butler  well  says  in  his  "  Hudibras  v  :  — 

"  Doubtless  the  pleasure  is  as  great 
Of  being  cheated  as  to  cheat." 

There  were  few  medical  schools  and  few  medical  societies  at 
the  time  of  which  I  have  spoken.  The  doctors  were,  as  a  rule, 
fairly  taught,  but  by  private  preceptors.  The  degree  of  M.D. 
was  an  exceptional  distinction.  It  is  difficult,  and  perhaps  im- 
possible, to  name  all  the  regular  physicians  who  rode  a  circuit 
through  Apthorp  and  early  Littleton.  We  know  that  Dr.  Samuel 
White,  of  Xewbury,  Vt.,  and  later  on,  Dr.  Isaac  Moore,  of  Bath, 
were  among  them.  There  may  have  been  others,  but  we  do  not 
find  their 

"  Footprints  on  the  sands  of  time." 

Perhaps  the  purposes  of  the  subject  and  the  occasion  may  be  as 
well  subserved  by  giving  personal  sketches  of  these  men  and  of 
their  successors  in  the  profession,  in  the  order  in  which  they  have 


The  Profession  of  Medicine.  91 

entered  into  the  history  of  the  town,  and  by  showing  the  re- 
lations of  each  to  medical  progress  in  his  day  and  place  of 
action. 

In  comparing  the  accomplishments  of  the  early  practitioners 
with  their  successors,  it  should  be  constantly  borne  in  mind  that 
great  advances  have  been  made  in  the  methods  and  appliances  of 
medical  science  since  1770.  This  is  not  the  occasion  for  a  careful 
review  of  this  progress,  but  we  may  note  hereafter  some  of  its 
more  prominent  features. 

It  fortunately  happened  that  all  mention  of  Dr.  Samuel  White, 
the  first  settled  physician  in  the  Cob's  Country,  so  called,  was 
omitted  in  Miss  Hemmenway's  "  Gazetteer  of  Vermont."  I  speak  of 
the  incident  as  fortunate,  for  it  called  out  a  very  full  biographical 
account  of  Dr.  White  from  his  friend  Dr.  W.  H.  Carter,  who  was 
formerly  also  located  at  Newbury,  but  was  then  living  at  a  great 
age  at  Bradford.  Dr.  Carter  was  eminently  qualified  for  this  duty, 
as  he  had  from  his  boyhood  known  Dr.  White,  and  during  the 
last  twenty  years  of  the  latter's  life  was  intimately  acquainted  with 
him.  The  lives  of  these  two  men  cover  a  long  space,  and  include 
the  whole  period  of  the  civilized  history  of  the  region  in  which 
they  practised  their  profession.  I  shall  adopt  all  of  Dr.  Carter's 
article  that  is  material  to  my  subject ;  one  item  should  be  added, 
—  Dr.  White  had  a  large  family  of  children,  in  which  twins  were 
a  not  infrequent  occurrence. 

Dr.  Carter  says  :  — 

"  Dr.  Samuel  White  was  born  in  Plaistow,  State  of  New  Hampshire, 
November  10,  1750.  He  was  the  son  of  Nicholas  White,  Esq.,  a  re- 
spectable farmer  of  that  town.  He  received  his  earl}'  education  at  the 
common  school  where  he  lived  ;  and  he  also  obtained  a  competent 
knowledge  of  the  Latin  language  to  enter  upon  the  study  of  medicine 
with  facility.  At  the  early  age  of  seventeen  he  commenced  his  medi- 
cal studies,  and  continued  them  four  years,  under  the  instruction  of 
Thomas  Brickett,  M.D.,  of  Haverhill,  Mass.,  who  was  a  man  of  learn- 
ing and  skill,  having  enjoyed  the  advantages  of  the  medical  schools  and 
hospitals  of  Edinburgh,  in  Scotland,  and  served  as  surgeon  in  the 
British  army.  The  long  term  of  stud}',  under  the  instruction  of  an 
eminent  physician  and  surgeon,  was  well  calculated  to  fasten  in  his 
mind  that  knowledge  which  was  afterward  so  much  needed  by  him 
when,  far  removed  from  his  professional  brethren  and  in  a  new 
country,  he  was  forced  to  rely  upon  his  own  knowledge  and  judgment 
in  many  difficult  cases  committed  to  his  charge. 

"At  the  expiration  of  his  pupilage  Dr.  White  was  well  recommended 
by  his  preceptor,  and  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  profession.  He 
practised  one  or  two  years  in  his  native  town  with  good  acceptance  in 


92  History  of  Littleton. 

families  of  the  best  respectability.  But  at  that  time  the  tide  of  emi- 
gration was  fast  setting  to  the  north.  Many  families  and  individuals 
from  the  southern  portion  of  New  Hampshire  and  from  Massachusetts 
had  located  themselves  upon  the  fertile  meadows  of  the  Coos  Country. 
Noah  White,  an  elder  brother  of  the  doctor,  had  removed  to  Newbury 
with  his  family  in  1763;  and  Col.  Jacob  Kent,  who  married  his  sister, 
Man*  White,  emigrated  with  his  family  the  same  year.  Some  years 
after  this  Samuel  visited  his  brother  and  sister  at  the  '  Coos,'  and 
carried  with  him  a  proclamation  for  a  day  of  Thanksgiving,  which  had 
been  duly  observed  where  he  resided,  but  was  received  and  used  by 
Rev.  Peter  Powers  and  his  parishioners,  as  related  in  the  '  Early 
History  of  Coos.'  In  the  spring  of  1773  Dr.  White  concluded  to  try 
his  fortune  with  the  new  settlers  on  the  hills  and  valleys  of  the  wilder- 
ness. This,  it  will  be  perceived,  was  ten  years  after  the  first  settle- 
ment of  Newbury  was  begun,  and  two  years  before  the  Revolutionary 
War.  At  that  time  there  were  some  families  in  Newbury.  Haverhill, 
Bradford,  Orford.  and  Piermont,  and  it  was  necessary  that  a  physician 
should  be  located  among  them.  Nor  was  there  any  physician  between 
Newbury  and  Canada  on  the  river,  so  that  Dr.  White  was  the  only  one 
to  be  called  upon  for  a  considerable  distance  round,  at  the  first  com- 
mencement of  his  practice.  He  was  sometimes  called  to  the  distance 
of  many  miles  through  dense  forests  to  visit  the  sick ;  and  these  ex- 
cursions were  sometimes  performed  on  foot  and  on  snow-shoes,  while 
marked  trees  were  the  only  guide  that  led  him  to  his  destination.  The 
writer  of  this  has  heard  Dr.  White  relate  many  stories  of  his  nocturnal 
rambles  to  visit  his  patients,  when  the  darkness  was  so  great  that  he 
was  obliged  to  feel  for  a  path  to  avoid  wandering  into  a  swamp  or 
falling  headlong  from  some  abrupt  precipice. 

"  Roads  and  bridges  were  but  few  ;  rapid  streams  were  to  be  forded 
and  quagmires  to  be  passed  through  ;  while  the  howl  of  a  wolf  or  the 
growl  of  a  bear  were  the  onlv  evidence  given  him  that  the  woods  were 
inhabited.  The  doctor  would  often  tell  of  the  uncomfortable  situation  in 
which  he  found  his  patients  ;  many  of  them  in  log  houses  without  chim- 
neys, while  the  only  redeeming  chance  that  they  had  to  be  warm  was 
to  fill  the  fireplace  with  wood,  of  which  they  had  a  plenty.  He  said  lie 
had  seen  little  drifts  of  snow  where  the  new-born  infant  was  lying  with 
its  mother.  On  one  or  two  occasions  the  doctor  travelled  on  snow- 
shoes  to  Lancaster.  N.  H.,  to  visit  some  families  settled  there,  while 
the  log  huts  on  the  way  were  few  and  far  between.  Most  of  the  in- 
habitants at  that  time  wore  able  to  pay  him  but  little  for  his  services  ; 
but  there  was  one  thing,  lie  said,  to  cheer  him,  —  they  were  always  glad 
to  see  him.  At  the  time  of  the  Revolutionary  War  Dr.  White  had 
fully  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  profession  at  his  new  home.  With 
the  new  settlers,  generally,  he  was  well  acquainted,  and  he  had  his 
patients  in  turn  among  them  all.  And  whether  they  were  active  patri- 
ots in  the  American  cause  or  favored  the  idea  of  submission  to  British 


The  Profession  of  Medicine.  93 

rule,  he  still  pursued  the  even  tenor  of  his  way,  seeking  their  best  good 
as  their  physician.  He  was  ready  at  all  times  to  serve  his  country  in 
his  professional  capacity,  as  occasion  required.  He  acted  as  surgeon 
to  the  Continental  soldiers  who  were  stationed  at  Jsewbury,  under  the 
command  of  Gen.  Jacob  Baj'ley,  and  dressed  the  wound  received  by  a 
Mr.  Gates,  when  a  scout  of  British  and  Tories  made  a  foray  upon  the 
people  at  the  Oxbow,  in  quest  of  General  Bayley.  When  General 
Burgoyne  entered  the  western  part  of  Vermont,  Dr.  White  attended, 
as  surgeon,  such  troops  as  could  be  spared  from  Newbury  and  the 
vicinity,  to  arrest  the  march  of  the  British  army,  and  remained  with 
them  until  their  return  from  the  field  of  victory.  Dr.  White  was  con- 
sidered a  good  physician  by  his  empkn'ers  generally  ;  and  the  writer  of 
this  remembers  of  hearing  several  of  his  cotemporaries  speak  in  high 
praise  of  his  success  in  some  very  serious  diseases  ;  and  he  continued 
to  sustain  the  reputation  of  a  judicious  and  skilful  practitioner,  as  the 
country  became  more  settled.  In  the  various  epidemics  which  appeared 
at  different  times,  he  manifested  a  good  degree  of  professional  knowl- 
edge, and  evinced  a  tact  and  judgment  adapted  to  the  embarrassing 
and  uncomfortable  situation  in  which  he  frequently  found  his  patients. 
In  the  treatment  of  chronic  diseases  the  powers  of  his  judgment  and 
discerning  were  conspicuously  displayed,  and  he  always  adhered  to  a 
regular  and  scientific  course,  founded  upon  true  principles  of  Pathology 
as  developed  in  his  time.  In  his  intercourse  with  his  professional 
brethren,  Dr.  White  was  quite  communicative,  and  liberally  contrib- 
uted from  the  stores  of  knowledge  which  a  long  experience  had 
enabled  him  to  lay  up.  Hence  he  was  often  consulted  with  confidence 
by  his  juniors,  after  age  and  infirmities  rendered  it  necessary  for  him 
to  relinquish  in  a  great  measure  the  regular  care  of  patients.  As  an 
operative  surgeon  Dr.  White  never  made  any  pretension  to  fame, 
although  at  different  periods  of  his  practice  he  performed  several  of 
the  minor  operations  with  success.  He  was  of  a  calm  and  easy  dis- 
position, benevolence  greatly  predominating,  so  that  he  might  truly  be 
said  to 

'  Lay  his  own  advantage  by 
To  seek  his  neighbors  good.' 

"He  was  not  a  close  collector  of  debts  due  to  him,  and  a  great  part  of 
his  earnings  were  never  paid.  In  his  daily  intercourse  with  his  em- 
ployers, Dr.  White  was  of  a  cheery  and  facetious  turn  of  mind,  and, 
where  danger  was  not  apprehended,  his  funny  remarks  and  capital 
stories  would  often  act  as  a  cordial  in  cases  where  there  was  a  de- 
pression of  the  mind  from  extreme  '  nervousness  '  or  an  unfounded 
apprehension  of  danger.  He  had  a  peculiar  way  of  relating  his  anec- 
dotes and  short  stories,  well  calculated  to  diffuse  a  spirit  of  mirth  and 
pleasantry  among  his  audience,  and  cause  them  for  a  time  to  forget 
their  troubles.  Many  of  his  capital  stories  will  long  be  remembered 


94  History  of  Littleton. 

and   rehearsed ;    but    his   manner   of    telling    them    cannot    be   fully 
imitated.1 

"  About  four  years  previous  to  his  death  Dr.  White  united  with  the 
First  Congregational  Church  in  Newbury.  But  the  sun  of  his  life  was 
fast  declining,  and  his  mind  and  memory  soon  exhibited  but  a  wreck 
of  what  it  had  once  been.  The  powers  of  life  gradually  receded  from 
the  worn-out  body,  and  on  the  twenty-sixth  day  of  FebruaiT,  1847,  he 
quietly  fell  asleep,  aged  ninety-seven  years." 

The  worn  and  time-stained  account  books  of  Dr.  White  pre- 
sent to  us  a  most  interesting  view  of  the  practice  of  a  country 
doctor  rather  more  than  a  hundred  years  ago. 

Two  books,  of  some  three  hundred  and  sixty  manuscript  pages, 
which  seem  to  have  dated  from  the  beginning  of  his  Newbury 
practice,  are  preserved.  In  them  are  the  itemized  accounts, 
written  in  a  hand  like  copperplate,  of  the  journeys  he  took,  the 
drugs  he  exhibited,  the  teeth  he  pulled,  and  the  sums  he  charged 
but  often  did  not  collect.  There  are  entries  from  1773  to  1790, 
not  always  chronologically  arranged,  and  probably  not  covering 
the  whole  of  his  practice  during  that  period,  but  presenting 
doubtless  a  good  average  specimen. 

He  visited  in  Corinth,  Bath,  Mooretown,2  Haverhill,  Barnet, 
Upper  Coo's,  Piermont,  Lyman,  Peacham,  Ryegate,  Topsham,  Gun- 
thwaite,3  Landaff,  Morristown,4  Apthorp,5  Wentworth,  Coventry,6 
Runmey,  Grotou,  Bradford,  Riveiiamoile,7  and  Newbury. 

The  visit  and  each  item  of  treatment  were  accounted  sepa- 
rately. For  instance,  we  find,  at  the  last  of  a  series  of  visits  to 
Mr.  Abial  Chamberlain,  the  charge  made  as  follows  :  "  Sept.  10th, 
1784.  To  visit  2-s.  Physic  Is.  Emet.  Is.  Bleeding  Is.  Sal. 
Nitre  Is.  —  6s."  The  minimum  charge  for  a  visit  was  one  shilling  ; 
the  maximum  was  sixty  shillings  —  to  Upper  Coos.  While  there 
was  usually  a  regular  schedule  of  charges,  there  are  occasionally 
great  variations,  for  reasons  which  do  not  appear,  but  the  weather 
and  the  difficulty  of  the  journey  and  the  urgency  of  the  call  were 
doubtless  taken  into  consideration  ;  and  a  very  low  price  may  have 
arisen  from  other  visits  to  the  same  place,  as  well  as  from  the 
poverty  of  the  patient.  To  Corinth  it  was  all  the  way  from  one 
to  twenty  shillings  ;  to  Haverhill,  two  to  six ;  to  Apthorp,  two, 
three,  and  twenty -seven  shillings. 

Medicine  was  usually  one  shilling,  sometimes  two;    bleeding, 

1  It  was  Dr.  White  who  remarked  that  he  always  had  poor  luck  with  his  patients 
in  their  last  sickness. 

2  Now  Bradford,  Vt.  3  Now  Lisbon. 
*  Franconia.  5  Littleton. 

e  Bentou.  "  A  location  not  ascertained. 


The  Profession  of  Medicine.  95 

always  one  shilling;  tooth  pulling,  one  shilling ;  dressing  a  wound, 
one  shilling;  lancing  a  sore,  one  shilling;  setting  an  arm  or  leg, 
six  shillings.  "  Attendance  on  your  wife's  Travel "  was  twelve 
shillings.  The  dollar,  it  appears,  was  equal  to  six  of  the  twenty 
shillings  which  make  a  pound,  as  we  find  a  credit  of  seven  dollars 
on  account,  entered  as  £2  2s.,  or  42s.  These  two  books  show 
accounts  approximating  £2,500 ;  a  large  proportion  of  them  have 
no  credit  entries,  and  probably  were  not  paid,  as  he  seems  to  have 
entered  carefully  all  payments.  Many  a  large  account  ran  six, 
eight,  or  ten  years,  and  when  settlement  is  made,  it  is  more  fre- 
quently by  note  of  hand  than  by  cash. 

The  good  doctor  used  a  wide  range  in  his  materia  medica. 
One  hundred  and  fifty-two  remedial  agents  are  mentioned  in  his 
books ;  thirty-six  of  these  are  used  once  only,  ten  twice,  and 
eleven  three  times.  When  his  patients  wanted  medicine,  they 
had  it.  In  4,271  recorded  visits  only  181  were  plain;  in  all  the 
others  something  happened,  and  as  we  have  a  record  of  8,471 
doses  or  operations,  frequently  much  took  place. 

His  main  reliance  was  upon  comparatively  few  remedies.  It 
was  — 

"Physic"  (some  efficient  mixture  of  his  own)  1,630  times 

Camphor 994      " 

Valerian 650      " 

Bleeding 504      " 

Cream  Tartar  444      " 


4,222 
He  gave  — 

228  "vomits"  (or  "emetic"). 

288  doses  of  cortex,  or  balsam  Peru. 

275        "        mj'rrh. 

258        "        rhubarb. 

244        "        bitters. 

262        "        tartar  emetic. 

203         "        nitre. 

148        "        antimon}',  crude  or  wine. 

137        "        lavender. 

116        "        "  cootraery  "  (contraerva). 

93        "        calomel. 

83        ' '        assafoetida. 

81        "       chamomile. 

2,416  2.416 

6,638 


96  History  of  Littleton. 

He  used  guiacum,  jalap,  magnesia,  castor,  scilla,  and  sapo  pills 
more  than  fifty  times  each  ;  and  paregoric  twenty-one  ;  liq.  laud, 
twenty ;  cascarilla,  gum  Arabic,  oil  of  amber,  elixir  vitriol,  elixir 
salutis,  annis  seed,  gum  ammoniac,  cinnamon,  licorice,  pectoral 
balsam.  Armenia  Bole,  and  sweet  spirits  of  nitre,  twenty  or  more 
times  each. 

He  used  pill  cochias,  pill  aethiops,  pill  cathartic,  sapo  pills, 
female  pills,  mercurial  pills,  Hooper's,  Anderson's  and  Locker's 
pills;  elixirs  vitriol,  asima,  solutis,  proprieta,  stomatica ;  Bate- 
man's  and  Thurlington's  drops,  and  British  oil. 

Most  of  these  drugs  are  found  or  known  in  every  pharmacy 
to-day.  British  oil,  Batemau's  drops,  Thurlington's  drops,  and 
Hooper's  pills  greet  us  with  their  marvellous  cures  of  over  a 
century  upon  their  imitation  antique  wrappers. 

Less  familiar  are  these  others  of  Dr.  White's  medicines  :  sago 
perineum,  sp.  sal  c.  c.,  ens  veneris,  Roman  vitriol,  lios  bolostinos, 
lac  ammoniac,  mellilot,  cinnabar,  "  contraery,"  sal  mirabile,  oculi 
crancorum,  sp.  hierapic.,  lios  benjamin,  crocus,  vorsena,  sal  cor 
cerebrini,  winter  bark  and  hat  case. 

One  misses  from  the  list  many  potent  chemicals  and  chemical 
groups,  iodides  and  bromides  would  not  be  expected.  Opiates 
are  little  used ;  alcohols  were  probably  kept  in  the  house,  or 
easily  got  at  the  store ;  aids  to  digestion  appear  but  little.  The 
remedies  apply  to  inflammatory  diseases  largely  and  to  a  rugged 
people.  Dr.  White  bled,  in  his  record,  five  hundred  and  four 
times  at  a  shilling  each  —  about  a  hogshead  all  told.  He  seems 
to  attend  to  it  periodically,  as  we  find  entries  in  different  house- 
holds at  the  same  date.  Many  a  time  we  find  "  To  bleeding  two," 
and  not  infrequently  •'  To  bleeding  three." 

His  surgical  practice  seems  not  to  have  been  large.  In  the 
records  he  has  account  of  seventy-six  tooth  pullings  only,  dress- 
ing wounds  lii'ty-seven  times, —  often  several  times  in  the  same 
case,  —  setting  ten  arms  and  three  legs.  He  records  only  seven 
continenients,  a  number  so  small  that  it  is  difficult  to  find  satis- 
factory explanation. 

1  am  indebted  to  Dr.  E.  J.  Bartlett,  of  Dartmouth  College,  for 
this  excellent  analysis  of  the  old  books  of  account.  On  the  point 
raised  by  Dr.  Bartlett  as  to  the  reason  for  the  limited  practice 
in  obstetrics  indicated  by  the  charges,  I  have  little  doubt  that  the 
explanation  lies  in  the  fact  that  there  were  numerous  expert  mid- 
wives  in  the  new  settlements,  and  they  attended  to  this  class  of 
cases.  It  would  be  on  exceptional  occasions  that  Dr.  White,  the 
only  physician  in  the  country,  could  be  accessible  to  such  calls. 


The  Profession  of  Medicine.  97 

Between  1773  and  1787  the  doctor  visited  patients  in  Apthorp, 
as  shown  by  these  books  of  account.  Later  volumes  than  the 
ones  now  accessible  might  give  us  the  names  of  others  with  whom 
he  had  professional  relations  in  Littleton.  As  a  part  of  the  earli- 
est authentic  written  history  of  the  town,  such  accounts,  relating 
to  our  ancient  townspeople,  are  of  general  interest ;  and  as 
relics  of  the  beginning  of  the  practice  of  medicine  here,  they 
are  worthy  of  reproduction.  We  copy  them  as  they  are  written 
in  the  books. 

1773  Old  Mr.  Hopkinson  of  Apthorp  Dr. 

Aug't  23d.     To  a  visit  from  Davids  to  his  house,  "  3  " 

To  Spt.  Lavender,  Is.     Elix.  Camphor,  2s.  "  3  " 

To  a  visit,  20s.      Physic,  2s.      Guin  Camphor, 

2s.,  6d.  146 

To  Myrrh,  2s.     Sal  Nitre,  2s.     Valerian,  3s.  "  7  " 

Oct.  20th,  1786.     Rec'd  the  above  by  his  son  John's  note,    £1   176 

1774  Mr.  Johnathan  Hopkinson  of  Apthorp,  Dr. 

Nov'r  8th.     To  a  visit,  4s.     Physic,  Is.     Spt.  Lavender,  2s. 

Liquid  Laud,  Is.,  6d.  "86 

To  a  visit,  20s.     Cream  Tartar,  2s.     Rhei,  2s.  14" 

To  Cortex,  3s.     Spt.  Lavender,  3s.  "  6  " 

Oct.  20th,  1786.     Rec'd  the  above  by  his  note,  £1   18  6 

1775  Mr.  David  Hopkinson  of  Apthorp,  Dr. 

Aug't  23d.     To  a  visit,  18s.     Spt.  Lavender,  2s.     Sal  Nitre, 

2s.     Valerian,  2s.,  6d.  136 

1782.  Mr.  Samuel  Nash  of  Apthorp,  Dr. 

Oct'r  1st.          To  a  visit,  24s.     Gum  Camphor,  3s.                        1   10  " 

To  a  visit,  27s.     Gum  Camphor,  3s.                        110  " 

To  precipitat,  2s.     Roman  Vitriol,  Is.                     "     3  " 

To  Bazillicum  flavern,  2s.                                           "     2  " 

July  29, 1783  To  a  visit,  2s.     Pill  Cathart.  2s.      Cortex  Cas- 

carilla,  2s.,  6d.                                                         "     6  4 

Aug't  1st.         To  a  visit,  2s.     Physic,  2s.                                        "     4  " 

8th.         To  a  visit,  3s.     Gum  Myrrh,  2s.     Physic,  2s.        u     7  " 

9th.         To  a  visit,  3s.     Bitters,  2s.                                        "     o  '• 

17th.         To  a  visit,  3s.     Essence  Antimoni,  2s.                   "     5  " 

Sep't  1st.         To  a  visit,  2s.     Cortex,  2s.     Gum  Camphor,  Is.  "     5  " 

To  a  visit,  2s.     Valerian,  Is.,  6<£  "36 

£5     «  10 

VOL.  II.  —  7 


98  History  of  Littleton. 

1787  Capt.1  Apthorp,  Dr. 

Jan.  23d.     To  a  visit,  26s.  —net."  Is.     Gum  Caruph.  Is.      18" 

Sal  Nitre,  Is.     Antmi.  Vin.  Is.  "  2  " 

27th.     To  a  visit,  26s.     Cream  Tart.  2s.  180 

The  town  of  Bath  had  no  settled  physician  until  1790,  when 
Dr.  Isaac  Moore,2  coming  from  Haverhill,  located  in  the  place. 
He  is  supposed  to  have  begun  his  practice  about  1787.  He  was 
of  rugged  Scotch  stock,  and  his  youth  had  been  passed  in  the 
midst  of  the  hardships  and  dangers  of  the  frontier  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary period.  The  early  record  of  Worcester,  Mass.,  gives 
mention  of  three  of  this  name.  One  of  them,  the  son  of  Isaac 
and  Hannah,  born  March  11,  1741,  might  have  been  the  father  of 
the  doctor.  His  son  John  places  the  date  of  the  doctor's  birth 
in  1765,  and  the  family  also  have  it  that  it  was  in  Worcester/3 
While  but  a  boy,  he  saw  the  sacking  of  Royalton  by  the  Indians 
and  Tories  in  1780.  His  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Col.  Timothy 
Bedel.  She  was  born  in  Bath  in  1771,  and  was  quite  young  when 
she  married  the  doctor.  They  removed  to  Bath  the  next  year, 
and  for  several  years  occupied  the  Hurd  place,  so  called,  near 
the  old  meeting-house.  The  date  of  his  settlement  is  taken  from 
the  Appendix  to  Sutherland's  "  Historical  Discourse,"  page  80.  In 
the  same  volume,  however,  on  page  54,  there  is  evidence  that  the 
doctor  was  identified  very  intimately  with  Bath  in  a  professional 
capacity,  if  not  a  resident,  at  an  earlier  date.  The  text  is  as 
follows:  "Under  date  of  November,  1789,  we  find  the  following: 
Voted,  that  Dr.  Isaac  Moore  set  up  a  house  of  Inoculation  in  this 
town,  one  halt'  mile  west  of  Mr.  David  Weeks."  Mrs.  Smith 
states  that  this  movement  met  with  great  opposition,  and  that  the 
first  house  that  he  erected  was  torn  down  by  the  disaffected 
before  it  was  finished.  He  succeeded,  however,  the  next  year  in 
completing  one ;  and  a  good  many  persons  (she  among  the  rest) 
went  there  and  had  the  smallpox.  But  in  a  short  time  it  came 
to  a  sudden  end.  In  1793  it  took  fire  and  burned  to  ashes.  This 
account  reminds  us  of  the  public  sentiment  manifested  at  Montreal 
on  the  same  subject  some  twenty-five  years  ago.  But  whatever 
may  have  been  the  temper  of  the  public  towards  the  enterprise,  the 

1  The  name  is  obliterated,  but  was  doubtless  either  Captain  Caswell  or  Captain 
Williams. 

2  Dr.  Moore   was   the   father   of  John   Moore,  of  Barnet,  a  noted  auctioneer  a 
generation  ago. 

3  lion.  Nathan  Crosby,  in  his  "History  of  the  Crosby  Family,"  states  that  Dr. 
Moore  was  born  and  educated  in  Scotland,  but  is  understood  to  have  had  other  or 
additional  information  after  the  publication  of  the  book. 


The  Profession  of  Medicine.  99 

record  shows  that  Dr.  Moore  was  a  sagacious  and  progressive  phy- 
sician, who  early  encountered  the  same  difficulties  that  every  man 
will  who  gets  ahead  of  the  times  in  applying  the  true  science  of 
medicine. 

This  copy  of  an  advertisement  in  the  "  Vermont  Journal  and 
Universal  Advertiser,"  No.  391,  published  at  Windsor,  January  25, 
1791,  has  been  forwarded  by  Eev.  E.  M.  Goddard,  of  that  place, 
and  I  give  it  entire  :  - 

The  subscriber,  respectfully  informs  the  public,  that  he  has  good 
accommodations  at  his  hospital,  for  those  who  wish  to  take  the  benefit 
of  having  the  SMALL  POX  b}r  the  easy  and  safe  method  of  inocula- 
tion, and  on  very  moderate  terms,  viz  :  Inoculation,  medicine,  attend- 
ance, nursing  and  eveiy  thing  necessaiy  for  each  patient,  excepting 
their  bed  cloaths,  for  the  term  of  three  weeks  for  thirty  shillings;  if 
longer  detained,  six  shillings  per  week  —  Inoculation,  medicine,  and 
attendance,  for  fifteen  shillings  each.  The  money  to  be  paid  at  the 
time  of  inoculation,  or  at  the  farthest  at  the  time  of  leaving  the  hos- 
pital.—  Grain  will  be  received  in  part  payment.  The  public  ma}- be 
assured  that  mercurials  will  not  be  administered  by  their  humble 
servant, 

ISAAC   MOORE. 

Bath,  (Newhampshire)  January  17,  1791.  1  &  3 

It  is  quite  possible  that  Dr.  Moore  was  the  nearest  physician 
for  the  people  of  Littleton  for  several  years  after  his  location  in 
Bath.  But  a  short  time  previous  we  have  found  Dr.  White  com- 
ing to  his  Littleton  friends  from  Newbury.  It  would  not  there- 
fore be  unreasonable  to  assume  that  Dr.  Moore  from  1790  to 
1800,  a  period  that  evidently  was  the  most  effective  part  of  his 
career,  had  a  principal  share  of  the  medical  practice  in  Littleton. 

Dr.  Ainsworth  came  here  in  1800.  Dr.  Stanley  is  said  to  have 
been  a  local  practitioner  from  about  1802  to  1804.  Dr.  Moore 
himself  located  at  the  north  part  of  the  town  about  1806.  lie 
removed  from  Bath  and  lived  on  the  Connecticut  River,  in  the 
house  opposite  that  formerly  owned  and  occupied  by  T.  B. 
Wheeler.  His  dwelling-house  and  all  its  contents  at  Bath  had 
been  consumed  by  fire  that  year,  and  this  may  have  been  the 
occasion  of  his  change  of  location.  He  remained  in  Littleton 
only  two  or  three  years.  Returning  to  Bath,  he  occupied  a  house 
near  that  of  Andrew  Woods  as  it  was  in  1855.  At  a  previous 
period  he  occupied  the  S.  &  W.  Minot  place,  and  there  kept  a 
public  house  for  several  years.  In  politics  he  was  a  Federalist. 
lie  held  various  town  oflices,  and  was  town  clerk  of  Bath  for  a 


100  History  of  Littleton. 

number  of  terms.  He  died  in  1818  at  a  comparatively  early  acre. 
His  habits  conformed  perhaps  too  strictly  to  the  spirit  of  the 
times,  and  his  nervous  system  became  badly  deranged  a  consider- 
able time  before  the  end.  His  widow  remarried  and  lived  to  a 
great  age.  Her  faculties  were  well  preserved,  and  she  was  one  of 
the  best  authorities  on  events  which  had  come  to  her  knowledge. 
Thirteen  children  were  born  to  them.  Their  descendants  hold 
honorable  stations  in  society,  and  have  been  successful  in  affairs. 
We  have  the  estimate  of  contemporaries  on  the  professional 
character  of  Dr.  Moore.  The  Rev.  David  Sutherland  in  his 
"Historical  Discourse"  (p.  16)  says:  — 

"  When  1  settled  here,  Dr.  Moore  was  the  only  physician.  I  believe 
he  was  the  tirst  physician  who  ever  settled  here.  Moore  was  not  much 
of  a  book-learned  physician,  but  had  quite  a  knack  of  managing  dis- 
eases. He  was  a  very  rough  man,  with  a  quick  perception  of  the 
ludicrous  ;  but  his  drollery  was  apt  to  be  offensive  to  delicacy  and 
modesty.  He  was  superseded  by  Dr.  Edward  Dean,  who  immediately 
succeeded  to  almost  all  the  practice  in  the  place." 

Says  Dr.  Adams  Moore :  u  He  was  a  bold,  active,  and  often 
very  successful  practitioner  of  medicine." 

The  settled  physician  preceded  the  settled  lawyer  and  the  set- 
tled minister  in  the  practice  of  their  respective  professions  at  Lit- 
tleton. Notwithstanding  some  vague  traditions  to  the  contrary, 
the  distinction  of  being  the  first  physician  to  occupy  this  Held 
belongs  to  Dr.  Calvin  Ainsworth.  He  was  a  young  man  when  he 
took  up  his  residence  here,  having  been  born  at  Claremont,  N.  H., 
June  3,  1777.  His  father  was  Edward  Ainsworth,  of  that  place. 
His  education  was  academic.  We  learn  from  his  son  Laban,  who 
lived  and  died  in  this  place,  that  his  father  studied  medicine  at 
Charlestown,  X.  H.  At  one  time  his  preceptor  was  confined  in 
the  Charlestown  jail  for  debt,  and  Ainsworth  was  permitted  to 
enter  the  jail  limits,  recite  his  studies,  and  get  his  instruction 
without  much  interruption  from  outsiders.  Professional  calls  did 
not  interfere  with  the  student's  privileges,  and  he  always  knew 
where  to  find  his  instructor.  Dr.  Ainsworth  located  in  Littleton 
just  prior  to  the  year  1800.  The  population  of  the  place  was 
then  small,  and  the  people  were  just  entering  upon  a  moderate 
prosperity.  He  was  an  old-school  practitioner,  and  continued  in 
the  same  field  of  professional  labor  for  forty  years.  A  good 
nurse,  with  tact  and  a  genial  presence,  he  was  a  favorite  doctor 
in  many  families.  He  was  vivacious,  and  fond  of  amusement  and 
social  entertainment.  That  social  element  in  his  nature  is  under- 


The  Profession  of  Medicine.  101 

stood  to  have  dominated  his  personal  habits  in  a  marked  degree. 
He  could  play  the  violin,  and  sometimes  wielded  the  bow  to  help 
on  merry-makings.  He  was  for  a  time  a  Federalist  of  the  Hart- 
ford Convention  order,  but  latterly  a  Democrat.  He  had  no  special 
church  affiliations. 

He  is  described  as  rather  stout  and  short  in  stature.  He  had 
good  physical  powers,  but  was  not  of  a  pushing  or  belligerent 
disposition.  He  did  not  succeed  in  accumulating  property. 

Dr.  Burns,  the  only  rival  who  kept  the  field  any  considerable 
time  in  thirty  years,  commenced  practice  in  1806.  Burns  had 
many  elements  of  professional  success  that  Ains worth  lacked. 
The  relations  of  the  two  were  not  intimate.  On  the  other  hand, 
while  Adams  Moore  was  not  more  like  Burns  than  was  Ains- 
worth,  the  relations  of  the  latter  rivals,  if  they  could  be  called 
such,  were  very  close  and  harmonious. 

Dr.  Burns  did  not  allow  his  neighbors  to  joke  him  without 
snug-fitting  retorts.  One  story,  however,  has  come  to  us  without 
his  reply  to  Dr.  Ainsworth's  sally.  Burns  had  a  new  sleigh,  with 
runners  turned  back  over  the  dasher,  and  birds'  heads  carved  at 
the  ends,  according  to  the  prevailing  style  of  adornment.  He 
called  Ainsworth's  attention  to  his  purchase,  and  asked  him  what 
he  thought  of  it.  Ainsworth  said  it  was  all  well  enough  except 
the  birds'  heads.  He  would  suggest  that  ducks'  heads  were  more 
fitting  for  that  sleigh.  The  ducks  would  be  a  great  help  to  him 
in  crying  "  Quack,  Quack." 

Dr.  Ainsworth  married  Susannah  Howe,  of  New  Ipswich,  who 
was  a  school  teacher  in  Littleton  about  the  time  of  his  settlement 
in  the  place.  Their  children  were  (1)  Americus,  lately  a  farmer 
in  this  town;  (2)  Calvin,  a  lawyer  here  and  at  Concord,  and 
later,  a  municipal  judge  at  Madison,  Wis.  ;  (3)  Laban,  before 
mentioned;  (4)  Sybil  P.,  who  married  and  resided  at  Townsend, 
Mass.,  and  (5)  Susannah  H.,  who  lived  with  her  sister.  Both 
died  suddenly  and  within  a  few  days  of  each  other.  The  early 
death  of  these  daughters  was  a  severe  blow  to  Dr.  Ainsworth. 
He  sank  under  his  grief,  and  died  at  Littleton  July  12,  1839. 

His  latest  residence  was  near  the  first  Waterford  bridge,  though 
he  had  dwelt  in  several  other  localities,  but  always  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  river.  Dr.  Adams  Moore,  for  some  ten  years  his  contem- 
porary, left  this  minute  in  regard  to  Dr.  Ainsworth  among  his 
historical  papers :  "  His  disposition  was  amiable,  but  there  was  a 
great  lack  of  self-reliance  as  a  physician." 

Old  residents  recall  a  physician  named  Abner  Stanley,  who 
resided  here  for  a  short  time.  He  was  a  tax-payer  in  1802  and 


102  History  of  Littleton. 

1803.  We  have  not  been  able  to  learn  whence  he  came,  where 
he  went,  or  anything  further  for  his  biography. 

William  Burns1  was  of  Merrimac.  He  was  born  April  15, 
1783.  He  was  of  Irish  Presbyterian  descent,  his  family  having 
been  among  the  early  settlers  of  Londonderry.  From  them  he 
inherited  an  inflexible  will,  a  biting  wit,  a  proneness  to  sarcasm 
which  did  not  always  spare  his  friends,  and  the  sturdy  indepen- 
dence which  characterizes  the  race.  He  received  an  academic 
education,  pursued  the  course  of  medical  study  usual  in  his  da}*, 
but  did  not  take  his  degree  until  1826,  when  he  had  been  in 
active  practice  more  than  twenty  years.  He  came  to  Littleton  in 
1S06  and  took  up  his  residence  at  the  village,  then  known  as 
Mann's  Mills,  and  for  upwards  of  half  a  century  enjoyed  an  exten- 
sive practice.  In  his  practice  he  was  conservative,  being  governed 
largely  by  the  principles  laid  down  in  the  books  ;  he  was  a  rigid 
adherent  of  his  school,  and  its  ardent  defender  against  what  he 
regarded  as  the  heresies  of  other  systems  of  practice.  He  was  one 
of  the  founders  of  the  White  Mountain  Medical  Society,  and  his 
name  appears  in  its  records  more  frequently  than  that  of  any 
other  member ;  his  interest  in  its  welfare  continued  down  to  the 
closing  hours  of  his  life. 

Dr.  Burns  was  a  public-spirited  citizen,  who  gave  much  of  his 
time  to  the  advancement  of  every  good  cause.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  first  board  of  school  inspectors,  the  duties  of  the  position 
being  similar  to  those  of  the  present  superintending  school  com- 
mittee, and  for  a  period  covering  nearly  fifty  years  was  repeatedly 
a  member  of  the  board.  It  is  possible  that  no  man  in  the  State 
has  been  so  many  times  appointed  to  the  position.  He  was 
among  the  early  members  of  Morning  Dawn  Lodge  of  Masons 
at  Waterford,  and  with  a  zeal  and  fidelity  which  characterized 
his  life,  stoutly  maintained  the  principles  of  the  order  under 
the  adverse  conditions  which  resulted  from  the  crusade  waged 
against  it  during  the  period  of  the  anti-Masonic  contests  of  1826- 
1840.  It  was  his  proud  boast  that  at  a  time  when  it  cost  a  man 
his  social  position,  and  seriously  affected  his  professional  and 
business  standing,  he  had  the  courage  of  his  convictions,  and 
stood  up  and  was  counted  as  a  member  of  the  craft.  He  was 
active  in  securing  the  charter  of  the  lodge  in  this  town,  and  in 
his  honor  his  associates  conferred  his  name  upon  it.  He  be- 
came a  member  of  Franklin  Chapter  at  Bath  in  1823,  and  upon 
the  revival  of  the  organization  at  Lisbon  some  forty  years  after- 
wards, lie  was  one  of  the  old  guard  who  renewed  his  allegiance. 

1  This  sketch  of  Dr.  Burns  was  written  by  J.  R.  Jackson. 


WILLIAM    IH'R.xs.  M.I). 


The  Profession  of  Medicine.  103 

In  manner  the  doctor  was  a  gentleman  of  the  old  school.  His 
natural  dignity  was  softened  by  an  unfailing  politeness.  He  was 
noted  as  a  raconteur,  and  was  long  the  presiding  genius  at  the 
improvised  club  which  originally  assembled  at  the  Old  Red  Store, 
and  in  later  years  at  the  brick  store  when  under  the  management  of 
Goold  <fe  Balch.  Many  stories  are  still  current  of  his  encounters 
with  Dr.  Ains worth,  in  which  he  sometimes  came  off  second  best, 
as  his  rival's  tongue  was  nearly  as  sharp  as  his  own. 

Dr.  Burns  was  an  apostle  of  temperance  through  his  long  and 
useful  life,  and  by  precept  and  example  never  failed  to  encourage 
those  who  were  striving  to  conquer  the  evil  habit ;  his  caustic 
tongue  spared  neither  saint  nor  sinner  who  transgressed  by  in- 
dulgence in  too  liberal  potations.  Shortly  after  coming  to  town  he 
was  invited  by  the  parson  to  join  him  in  a  drink  of  flip,  but  de- 
clined with  the  remark  that  ministers  must  decide  upon  their  own 
consciences  whether  they  ought  to  drink,  but  the  physician's  re- 
sponsibilities were  such  that  he  must  keep  his  head  clear  and 
set  no  vicious  example  before  his  fellows  of  abuse  of  his  physical 
system  or  intellectual  powers. 

A  few  years  before  his  death  he  withdrew  from  active  practice, 
after  having  followed  it  for  sixty  years,  and  passed  his  time  in 
the  midst  of  his  favorite  books  and  in  delightful  social  inter- 
course with  friends.  He  died  in  September,  1868,  honored  and 
respected  by  the  entire  community. 

Dr.  Adams  Moore,1  son  of  William  and  Isabella  (McClary) 
Moore,  and  grandson  of  William  and  Molly  (Jack)  Moore,  was 
born  in  Bedford,  X.  H.,  October  17,  1799.  He  was  educated  at 
Londonderry,  N.  II.,  Phillips  Academy,  Andover,  Mass.,  and 
Dartmouth  College,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1822.  He  was 
principal  of  the  Academy  in  Peacham,  Yt.,  1822-1824;  tutor  in 
Dartmouth  College,  1824-1825  ;  studied  medicine  with  Dr. 
William  Burns,  of  Littleton,  and  took  his  medical  diploma  at 
Dartmouth  Medical  College  in  1827.  He  commenced  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine  in  Littleton ;  afterwards  removed  for  a  short 
time  to  Lowell,  Mass.,  then  returned  to  Littleton,  where  lie  con- 
tinued in  practice  till  his  death  in  1863.  As  a  scholar,  he  took 
high  rank  in  college,  as  is  clearly  indicated  by  his  appointment  as 
tutor  two  years  after  his  graduation.2  The  impression  of  the 
writer  is  that  he  stood  first  in  his  class,  but  efforts  to  determine 
this  point  positively,  have  been  unsuccessful.  As  a  teacher,  he  is 
remembered  by  one  who  as  a  boy  from  ten  to  twelve  years  old 

1  By  the  late  Dr.  Ezra  C.  Worcester,  of  Thetford,  Vt. 

2  Dr.  Moore  was  first  in  his  class  in  point  of  scholarship. 


104  History  of  Littleton. 

was  under  his  instruction  in  Peacham,  as  a  very  pleasant,  kindly 
man.  In  his  chosen  profession  his  scientific  attainments  were 
exceptionally  high.  He  was  always  thoughtful  and  studious,  and 
during  his  entire  professional  life  kept  himself  well  informed  in 
regard  to  the  progress  of  medical  science,  so  that  at  any  time  he 
could  tell  what  was  the  most  approved  method  of  treatment,  as 
well  as  what  was  the  generally  accepted  pathology  of  any  disease 
he  was  liable  to  meet  with  in  his  practice.  In  his  professional 
work  the  doctor  was  careful,  thoughtful,  faithful  to  every  trust, 
modest,  unassuming,  and  unpretentious,  and  entirely  free  from  all 
the  tricks  of  quackery  on  which  by  far  too  much  of  what  is  called 
professional  success  so  often  depends.  He  was  perhaps  somewhat 
deficient  in  energy  and  professional  enthusiasm,  and  in  that  nice 
discrimination  and  professional  tact  which  are  needed  to  make 
scientific  knowledge  most  fully  available  at  the  bedside  ;  but, 
taking  him  all  in  all,  he  was  certainly  a  physician  of  quite  unusual 
excellence. 

In  his  intercourse  with  other  physicians,  especially  those  prac- 
tising in  the  same  field  with  himself,  Dr.  Moore  was  always  gen- 
tlemanly, courteous,  considerate,  just,  and  kind,  and  in  some  cases 
certainly  very  generous,  as  the  writer  can  testify  from  his  own 
personal  experience.  It  is  not  often  the  case  that  two  physicians 
practising  in  the  same  village  live  so  many  years  in  such  perfect 
harmony  as  always  existed  between  himself  and  his  old  preceptor, 
Dr.  Burns.  But  he  was  not  merely  a  good  -physician.  Outside  of 
his  profession  he  was  well  informed  in  all  matters  of  general 
interest,  political  and  moral,  educational  and  social,  though  too 
modest  and  retiring  to  be  to  a  very  marked  extent  a  leader  of 
men.  His  great  intelligence,  sound  judgment,  shrewdness,  strong 
will,  and  quiet  persistence  in  whatever  he  undertook  enabled  him 
to  exert  a  very  decided  influence  over  others,  and  this  influence 
he  seemed  always  to  exert  in  favor  of  what  he  deemed  to  be  the 
best  interest  of  all  concerned. 

In  religious  matters  he  associated  with  the  Congregationalists, 
but  he  was  not  a  member  of  any  church.  In  politics  he  was  for 
many  years  a  Democrat,  but  in  the  latter  part  of  his  life  identi- 
fied himself  with  the  Freesoil  movement.  "  He  took  a  decided 
interest  in  political  controversies,  and  was  a  frequent  contributor 
to  State  and  local  papers.  A  series  of  articles  in  the  '  People's 
Journal,'  on  the  subject  of  slavery,  attracted  much  attention." 
He  was  for  many  years  associated  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Carpenter 
and  others  as  a  member  of  the  school  committee  in  Littleton.  He 
was  a  Freemason  and  an  Odd-Fellow.  He  had  a  livelv  sense  of 


ADAMS    MOORK.  A.M..  M.I). 


The  Profession  of  Medicine.  105 

the  humorous,  and  many  anecdotes  might  be  given  illustrating 
this  trait  of  character. 

"  Dr.  Moore's  wives  were  grand  daughters  of  Col.  Moses  Little,  of 
Newburyport,  Mass.,  a  prominent  soldier  of  the  Revolution,  and  pro- 
prietor of  nearly  all  the  land  in  the  original  territory  of  Littleton,  which 
took  its  name  from  him  ;  and  the  doctor  became  the  best  informed  man 
in  his  section  as  to  the  history  of  all  grants,  titles,  boundaries  of  town- 
ships, and  private  holdings  in  northern  New  Hampshire.  Before  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war  he  had  a  history  of  Littleton  well  under  way, 
the  first  chapters  of  which  were  devoted  to  these  topics,  and  constitute 
a  most  valuable  contribution  to  local  history.  Few  men  had  better 
opportunities  for  accurate  information  in  such  matters,  and  few  could 
have  made  better  use  of  them.  Had  he  lived  to  complete  this  literary 
undertaking,  he  would  have  placed  his  name  in  the  list  of  those  to  whom 
our  people  are  indebted  for  valuable  historical  work." 

"William,  the  oldest  son,  and  a  young  man  of  much  promise,  was 
one  of  the  earliest  volunteers  when  the  war  broke  out.  and,  after  a 
brief  service  in  a  New  York  regiment  of  Zouaves,  returned  to  Littleton, 
raised  a  detachment,  and  joined  the  fighting  Fifth  New  Hampshire  Regi- 
ment, under  the  heroic  Colonel  Cross.  Before  he  was  twenty-one  years 
of  age  he  became  a  captain,  fought  with  distinguished  bearing  in  all  the 
battles  of  the  Peninsula  and  Antietam." 

He  was  killed,  as  is  well  known,  at  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg, 
and  though  great  efforts  were  made  to  recover  the  body,  they  were 
unavailing.  This  sad  event  had  a  very  depressing  effect  on  his 
father,  who  died  not  long  after,  November  5,  1863.  His  death  is 
supposed  to  have  been  hastened,  if  not  caused,  by  this  great 
sorrow. 

Besides  the  public  positions  already  referred  to,  Dr.  Moore  was 
censor  of  the  New  Hampshire  Medical  Society  in  1860  and  1861 ; 
president  of  the  White  Mountain  Medical  Society  in  1848  and  1849 ; 
surgeon's  mate  of  the  Thirty-second  Regiment,  New  Hampshire 
Militia,  from  1838  to  1843.  He  was  the  author  of  an  epitome  of 
Braithwaite's  "Medical  Retrospect,"  arid  many  papers  read  before 
the  medical  societies  of  which  he  was  a  member,  besides  the 
political  and  historical  writings  already  noticed. 

Ezra  C.  Worcester,  son  of  Rev.  Leonard  Worcester,  having 
taken  the  degree  of  M.D.  at  Hanover  in  July,  1838,  being  in  poor 
health  came  to  Littleton  and  opened  a  select  school.  Tie  was 
unable  to  endure  the  fatigue  of  this  occupation,  and  after  a  few 
months  gave  it  up.  Drs.  Burns  and  Moore,  who  were  the  only 
physicians  in  town,  urged  him  to  try  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession here.  His  health  in  a  short  time  a^ain  failed.  After 


106  History  of  Littleton. 

studying  theology  n  year,  and  satisfying  himself  that  the  labor 
of  that  calling  would  be  beyond  his  strength,  he  located  in  the 
practice  of  medicine  at  East  St.  Johnsbury  in  1841.  He  was 
at  that  point  two  years,  then  at  Chelsea,  Vt.,  and  from  1846  at 
Thetford.  Vt.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Congregationalist  Church 
and  of  the  regular  school  of  medicine.  He  was  married,  August 
23, 1843,  to  Ellen  II.  Conant  at  Littleton.  She  was  a  grandaughter 
of  Peter  Bonney.  They  had  a  large  family  of  children  who  were 
thoroughly  educated,  and  some  of  whom  are  occupying  prominent 
positions  in  society  and  affairs.  The  scholarly  trend  may  be 
readily  sighted  back  to  the  great-grandfather,  Noah  Worcester, 
of  Hollis.  I>r.  Worcester  engaged  to  a  considerable  extent  in 
the  culture  of  small  fruits,  particularly  strawberries,  and  was 
a  successful  horticulturist.  He  turned  his  attention  in  these 
directions  as  a  relief  from  the  wear  and  tear  of  professional  life, 
which  he  was  never  able  to  endure  for  very  long  periods.  He 
gave  much  attention  to  the  study  of  the  subjects  of  chemistry  and 
botany,  and  taught  both  these  branches  for  several  years  in  Thet- 
ford Academy.  He  was  prominent  in  various  medical  associa- 
tions. His  annual  address  before  the  Vermont  Medical  Society 
for  the  year  1845  was  published.  He  also  delivered  one  of  the 
addresses  be-fore  the  Woodstock  Medical  Society.  He  was  many 
years  examiner  of  the  Woodstock  Medical  School,  by  appointment 
of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  delegate  from  the  Vermont  Medical 
Society  to  the  American  Medical  Society.  He  once  said  his  -life 
had  been  one  long  struggle  with  ill  health  and  bodily  infirmities. *' 
Notwithstanding  this  fact,  his  associates  knew  that  he  had  suc- 
ceeded in  making  it  useful  to  his  fellows  and  honorable  to  bis 
profession.  He  died  at  Thetford.  Vt..  July  20,  1887. 

Charles  Martin  Tuttle  was  one  of  the  most  distinguished 
physicians  who  have  practised  in  northern  New  Hampshire:  he  was 
a  son  of  Horatio  and  Betsey  (Thomas)  Tuttle.  and  was  born  in 
Eaton.  Province  of  Quebec,  Canada,  early  in  1S18.  His  grand- 
father Jonathan  Tuttle  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution,  whose  later 
life  was  that  of  a  farmer  in  Landaff,  now  Easton.  where  he  died 
and  is  buried.  lie  was  a  direct  descendant  from  John  Tuttle, 
of  Ipswich.  Mass.,  in  Ii'i3.~>.  In  1810  his  father's  family  re- 
turned to  this  country  and  lived  for  several  years  at  Colebrook. 
Charles  received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  that  town,  at 
Barnet.  Vt..  and  at  Peacham,  Vt..  Academy.  At  Barnet  he  was 
a  member  of  the  family  of  his  uncle  Socrates,  a  noted  physician 
of  that  town,  and  it  was  through  bis  influence  that  the  younir  man 
was  led  to  study  medicine,  which  was  pursued  under  the  direction 


f 


CHARLES  M.  TUTTLE.  A.M.,  M.D.  HENKV  P.  WATSON,  M.D. 

EZRA  C.  WORCESTER,  A.M..  M.D. 

TlIADiJEUS    T.  Cl'SH.MAX.  M.D.  MAJ.  FKAXK    T.   MoFl-'ETT.  M.I). 

RESIDENT    PHYSICIANS. 


The  Profession  of  Medicine.  107 

of  his  uncle  and  the  skilful  tutelage  of  Dr.  William  Neleon,  who 
was  at  the  time  of  his  death  lecturer  on  anatomy  at  Bellevue  Med- 
ical College.  He  was  graduated  from  Vermont  Medical  College 
at  Woodstock  in  1840,  and  the  same  year  began  the  practice  of 
his  profession  in  this  town.  For  some  reason  his  reception  by 
the  brethren  of  the  fraternity  was  wanting  in  cordiality,  and  for 
several  years  he  had  to  make  his  way  in  the  face  of  considerable 
adverse  criticism.  This  served  to  stimulate  his  activity  and  am- 
bition and  enlarge  the  circle  of  his  friends  and  patrons.  In  1858  he 
removed  to  New  Bedford,  Mass.,  where  he  had  a  successful  practice 
for  five  years,  when  he  returned  to  this  town  and  at  once  entered 
upon  a  career  that  was  unsurpassed  in  the  number  of  his  patients 
and  usefulness  by  any  of  his  contemporaries  in  this  section  of  the 
State.  His  services  were  in  constant  demand  by  his  brethren  of 
the  profession  in  consultation,  and  by  the  bar  as  a  witness  in 
cases  where  a  medical  expert  was  required.  He  was  a  bold  and 
brilliant  practitioner,  surprisingly  quick  in  all  his  mental  pro- 
cesses, full  of  resources  and  exceptionally  accurate  in  diagnosis. 
Having  reached  a  conclusion  as  to  the  character  of  a  disease,  he 
had  no  doubt  as  to  the  treatment  required  and  proceeded  to  its 
execution  with  equal  despatch  and  confidence.  His  tendency  to 
adopt  original  methods  of  treatment  rendered  him  a  frequent  sub- 
ject of  professional  criticism.  Tried,  however,  by  the  ultimate 
test  of  a  physician's  work,  the  successful  treatment  of  disease  and 
alleviation  of  suffering,  the  doctor  was  most  certainly  justified  by 
the  results  of  these  excursions  into  unknown  fields. 

Dr.  Tuttle  did  not  confine  his  sphere  of  usefulness  entirely 
to  his  profession.  He  was  interested  in  a  practical  way  in  edu- 
cation, religion,  and  politics,  and  was  active  in  promoting  the 
cause  of  each  along  lines  that  he  regarded  as  best  calculated  to 
promote  the  welfare  of  the  community.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Education  for  three  years;  was  one  of  the  leaders  in 
establishing  the  Unitarian  Church  ;  was  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Health,  and  a  Representative  to  the  Legislature  for  a  single 
term,  declining  the  usual  compliment,  in  those  days  of  annual 
elections,  of  a  re-election  on  account  of  his  inability,  by  reason 
of  the  demands  upon  his  professional  services,  to  attend  to  the 
duties  of  a  legislator ;  he  was  also  for  several  years  a  member  of 
the  State  Board  of  Agriculture.  In  the  early  days  of  his  practice 
he  was  surgeon  of  the  Thirty-second  Regiment  of  State  militia. 

When  he  returned  to  this  town  from  New  Bedford,  his  interest 
in  agriculture  led  him  to  purchase  several  farms  at  the  north  end 
and  engage  in  farming  on  an  extensive  scale.  The  location,  how- 


108  History  of  Littleton. 

ever,  was  too  remote  from  the  mass  of  his  patients,  and  soon  after 
the  death  of  Colonel  Gibb  he  purchased  of  his  administrator  the 
Paddleford  place  at  the  west  end  of  Main  Street,  and  there  re- 
sided until  his  death.  Dr.  Tnttle  disliked  conventionalities,  espe- 
cially such  as  conflicted  with  the  known  facts  of  experience  and 
observation.  This  feeling  led  perhaps  to  certain  mild  eccen- 
tricities, one  of  which  was  the  wearing  in  winter  of  several  hats 
as  a  protection  in  severe  weather.  He  was  careless  with  his  lanre 
professional  earnings,  and  freely  gave  his  services  and  money  for 
the  alleviation  of  the  sufferings  of  the  poor.  This  charitable  pro- 
pensity finally  became  a  habit  which  in  the  course  of  time  made 
inroads  into  his  income  and  eventually  into  his  accumulations. 

Another  physician  whose  sojourn  here  was  quite  brief  was 
Carleton  Clark  Abbey,  A.B.,  M.D.  He  was  born  at  Middlebury, 
Vt.,  in  May,  1818,  and  died  at  San  Francisco  in  February,  1853. 
His  father  and  grandfather  had  the  same  name,  Solomon  Abbey. 
He  graduated  at  Middlebury  College  in  1845,  and  attended  medi- 
cal lectures  at  the  Jefferson  Medical  College  in  Philadelphia, 
receiving  his  degree  of  M.D.  in  1848.  His  practice  was  begun  in 
this  town  in  1849,  but  he  remained  but  one  year.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  order  of  Odd-Fellows,  but  was  not  a  church  mem- 
ber. He  married,  first,  Nancy  J.  Gile  in  1848,  and,  second,  Fatima 
Hastings  in  1850.  Of  their  three  children,  the  son  died  in  child- 
hood :  one  daughter,  Mrs.  W.  S.  Hastings,  resides,  married,  in 
Waterford,  Vt.,  and  another,  Mrs.  \V.  W.  Weller,  lives  in  this 
town. 

Mr.  Abbey  taught  school  for  a  considerable  time  in  South  Caro- 
lina and  Alabama  while  studying  medicine.  After  leaving  Littleton 
he  opened  a  drug  store  in  Philadelphia,  continuing  the  business  a 
year  and  then  returning  to  Littleton.  This  was  his  residence  for 
two  years  more.  In  1853  he  joined  a  party  for  California,  but 
died  soon  after  his  arrival. 

He  was  possessed  of  a  strong  desire  for  travel.  He  was  well 
acquainted  with  general  literature:  his  talent  for  writing  was 
marked,  and.  had  his  life  been  spared,  he  would  himself  have  made 
his  mark  in  the  literature  of  the  time,  either  professional  or 
general. 

Dr.  Albert  \V.  Clarke  practised  his  profession  in  Littleton  for  a 
period  of  about  ten  months  in  1856,  and  left  this  field  intending 
to  locate  in  one  of  the  Western  States,  one  of  his  brothers  having 
preceded  him  in  that  direction.  He  made  an  extensive  tour  in 
those  States,  including  California  and  some  of  the  Territories. 
The  few  months'  experience  he  had  in  the  society  then  forming  at 


The  Profession  of  Medicine.  109 

all  points  where  lie  spent  any  time  convinced  the  doctor  that  he 
was  better  iitted  to  practise  his  profession  in  a  more  matured 
community.  Perhaps  he  did  not  fully  anticipate  the  future  of  the 
people  then  massing  at  so  many  points,  since  become  famous  for 
the  enterprise  and  push  materialized  in  the  rise  of  many  a  city 
where  but  a  few  years  ago  was  nothing  but  barren  wastes.  The 
result,  however,  was  that  for  a  few  years  Dr.  Clarke  made  his 
home  at  Woburn,  Mass. ,  until  called  by  his  country  to  take  position 
as  an  assistant  surgeon  in  the  Thirty-fifth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 
In  the  service  he  won  the  deep  regard  of  those  under  his  charge. 
He  was  a  bold  and  at  the  same  time  a  most  conscientious  prac- 
titioner, giving  more  of  his  strength  and  time  to  his  patients  than 
could  in  reason  be  asked  of  him.  To  this  untiring  devotion  and 
these  severe  demands  made  upon  his  strength,  particularly  by  the 
prevalence  of  pneumonia  at  the  time  of  his  death,  we  attribute  the 
great  loss  sustained  by  the  profession  in  his  death.  I  am  confident 
that  every  brother  in  the  profession  so  fortunate  as  to  know  Dr. 
Clarke  will  join  me  in  saying  that  his  life  was  one  of  spotless 
purity  towards  both  his  clientage  and  his  professional  brethren.1 
His  second  residence  in  Littleton  was  from  1864  till  his  death, 
March  27,  1867.  He  was  born  in  Lisbon  July  25,  1828.  When 
he  was  quite  young,  his  parents  removed  to  Lyndon,  Vt.,  where 
he  acquired  his  education  in  the  common  schools  and  academy. 
He  studied  with  Drs.  Sanborn  and  Newell  of  that  place,  beginning 
in  1848,  and  taking  his  degree  at  Dartmouth  in  1851.  Dr.  Clarke 
married  Philirida  G.  VVilley  in  March,  1852.  She,  with  his  three 
children,  two  sons  and  a  daughter,  survive.  Of  the  sons,  one, 
George  A.,  is  a  promising  artist  in  Boston,  and  the  other  follows 
his  father's  profession. 

Martin  Luther  Scott,  M.D.,  a  son  of  Rev.  Nathan  Scott  (M.  E. 
Church),  was  born  in  Glover,  Vt.,  January  1,  1835.  He  attended 
the  common  district  schools  where  his  parents  resided,  until, 
having  mastered  the  branches  taught  there,  he  was  sent  to  Lyn- 
don, Vt.,  Academy,  finally  finishing  his  education  in  Newlmry 
Seminary,  Newbury,  Vt. 

Choosing  medicine  as  his  profession,  he  commenced  his  studies 
with  Dr.  C.  13.  Darling,  an  honored  and  celebrated  homoeopathic 
physician  residing  in  Lyndon,  Vt.,  in  the  spring  of  1852,  where  lie 
remained  about  a  year ;  when,  at  the  urgent  request  of  his  brother, 
Chester  W.  Scott,  then  practising  in  Irasburg,  Vt.,  but  now  for 
some  years  in  Lawrence,  Mass.,  he  continued  his  studies  under  his 
direction,  and  graduated  in  the  University  of  Vermont  Medical 

1  This  estimate  of  the  character  of  Dr.  Clarke  is  from  notes  written  by  Dr.  Tuttle. 


110  History  of  Littleton. 

College  at  Burlington  in  1856.  He  commenced  practice  the 
same  year  at  Littleton,  but  after  a  fe\v  months  removed  to 
Georgeville,  P.  Q.  He  afterwards  practised  in  Bradford,  Vt., 
Denver,  Col.,  Randolph,  Vt.,  and  Northampton,  Mass.,  where  he 
died. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Censors  of  the  Vermont 
State  Homoeopathic  Society.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  Fraternity,  in  which  order  he  advanced  so  far  as  Knight 
Templar.  In  1857  he  married  Sarah  X.  Worthington,  by  whom 
he  had  three  daughters.  While  at  Littleton  he  was  regarded  as 
a  man  of  ability,  with  prospects  of  success  in  his  chosen  field 
of  labor. 

Ralph  Bugbec.  Jr.,  came  of  a  family  noted  in  medical  annals. 
His  father,  Ralph,  Sr.,  was  for  more  than  half  a  century  a  prom- 
inent physician  at  Waterford,  Vt.,  and  three  brothers  have  been 
distinguished  in  the  profession.  Ralph,  Jr.,  was  born  at  Water- 
ford  December  20,  1821,  and  early  began  the  study  of  medicine 
with  his  father ;  he  took  his  degree  at  the  Medical  College  at 
Castleton  October  4,  1845,  and  began  practice  at  once  in  his  na- 
tive town,  where  he  remained  nine  years.  He  was  at  Franconia 
three  years,  and  in  1857  came  to  Littleton,  where  he  enjoyed  an 
extensive  and  lucrative  practice.  Dr.  Bugbee  acquired  a  wide 
reputation  for  his  successful  treatment  of  a  class  of  chronic 
diseases  which  brought  him  patients  from  distant  States.  He  was 
also  noted  as  a  surgeon  and  ibr  his  personal  attention  to  the  care 
and  comfort  of  his  patients,  which,  in  tiie  days  before  the  employ- 
ment of  persons  especially  trained  for  that  purpose,  was  esteemed 
a  peculiar  professional  virtue,  and  one  that  added  much  to  Dr. 
Bugbee's  popularity  with  those  who  were  placed  under  his  care. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  White  Mountain,  Caledonia,  and  Vermont 
State  Medical  Societies. 

James  Lang  Harriman,  M.D.,  was  born  in  Peacham,  Vt.,  May 
11,  ISoo.  He  was  educated  at  the  academies  at  Meriden  and 
Exeter,  and  in  185o  entered  the  olfice  of  Dr.  Albert  Winch  at 
Whitefield,  where  he  pursued  the  usual  course  of  study,  lie 
then  attended  three  full  courses  of  lectures  at  the  Medical  College 
at  Woodstock,  Vt..  Albany,  X.  Y..  and  Brunswick,  Me.,  and  was 
graduated  from  the  last  named  in  1857.  The  same  year  he  began 
the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Littleton.  He  remained  here  but 
four  and  a  half  years,  acquiring  the  reputation  of  being  a  careful 
and  skilful  practitioner. 

In  July.  lNJ2.  he  entered  the  service  as  assistant  surgeon  of 
the  Thirteenth  Regiment,  Massachusetts  Volunteers,  and  was 


RALPH    BLT(;HEE,  M.D. 


The  Profession  of  Medicine.  Ill 

discharged  for  disability  in  January,  1863.  He  then  settled  in 
Hudson,  Mass.  Dr.  Harriman  is  a  member  of  the  White  Mountain, 
Middlesex  Southern,  and  Massachusetts  Medical  Societies ;  has 
represented  his  town  in  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  ;  for 
many  years  has  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Health  and  school 
committee  of  Hudson;  and,  while  residing  at  Littleton,  was  chair- 
man of  the  school  committee.  He  married  in  1859  Mary  E. 
Cushman,  daughter  of  Horace  Cushman,  Esq.,  of  Dalton.  They 
have  one  child,  a  daughter.  Dr.  Harriman  is  still  in  the  full  tide 
of  a  successful  practice. 

The  most  prominent  representative  of  the  Homoeopathic  school 
in  northern  New  Hampshire  is  Thaddeus  Ezra  Sanger,  M.D. 
He  located  here  after  two  years'  practice  in  Hardwick,  Vt.,  in 
1858,  succeeding  Dr.  Scott,  who  had  then  lately  left  this  field. 
He  was  born  March  12,  1833,  at  Troy,  Vt.,  a  son  of  Ezra  Sanger. 
His  academic  education  was  at  St.  Johnsbury  Academy,  and  his 
medical  education,  begun  in  1850,  was  pursued  under  Prof. 
A.  F.  Bissel  at  Toledo,  Ohio,  and  with  Dr.  Stone  at  St.  Johns- 
bury,  and  Dr.  Darling  of  Lyndon.  He  took  degrees  in  medicine 
at  Cleveland  in  1854  and  at  Philadelphia  in  1856.  His  marriage 
with  lanthe  C.  Kneeland  occurred  October  22,  1857.  In  his 
forty-five  years  of  practice  here  Dr.  Sanger  has  identified  him- 
self with  many  important  interests  of  a  social,  business,  and 
professional  nature.  His  politics  are  Republican,  and  his  church 
preferences  Episcopalian.  He  has  been  instrumental  in  organ- 
izing the  homoeopathic  practitioners  in  local  and  State  associa- 
tions. In  these  he  has  been  an  active  worker,  and  has  been 
repeatedly  president  of  each  body.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
the  American  Institute  of  Homoeopathy.  For  a  number  of  years 
he  held  the  office  of  United  States  pension  examiner  at  this 
place.  This  office  had.  a  single  incumbent  here,  and  was  not, 
according  to  the  general  rule,  committed  to  a  board  of  three. 
In  Templar  Masonry  he  attained  the  rank  of  Grand  Commander. 
Notwithstanding  the  digressions  which  the  doctor  makes  in 
general  business,  Freemasonry,  or  politics,  he  keeps  his  profession 
next  his  heart. 

Dr.  Scott,  the  pioneer  of  homoeopathy  in  the  town,  did  not 
succeed  in  making  a  permanent  lodgment  for  the  school ;  that 
task  was  reserved  for  Dr.  Sanger,  and  he  was  well  equipped  for 
the  work.  His  professional  accomplishments  were  many ;  he 
took  to  the  sick-room  and  to  the  family  circle  a  genial  presence 
and  kindly  humor  that  changed  the  atmosphere  of  doubt  or  fear 
to  one  of  hope  and  wholesome  expectancy  that  were  quickening 


112  History  of  Littleton. 

agencies  in  effecting  a  cure.  These  social  characteristics  dis- 
armed the  prejudice  existing  against  his  school  of  medicine  and 
opened  many  doors  to  his  professional  success.  In  two  years  his 
income  was  $2,500  a  year,  and  it  soon  reached  $5,000  and  did 
not  1'all  below  that  amount  until  he  felt  the  necessity  of  relin- 
quishing a  part  oi'  his  practice  to  younger  men.  Though  the 
patriarch  of  the  profession,  he  has  the  spirit,  if  not  the  ambition, 
of  his  younger  years,  and  finds  it  difficult  to  deny  to  those  who 
have  been  his  patients  for  nearly  hall'  a  century  calls  for  his  pro- 
fessional services. 

The  doctor  has  been  too  busy  in  attending  the  afflicted  to  give 
much  of  his  time  to  the  public  service,  and  his  non-professional 
offices  have  been  confined  to  the  Board  of  Health  and  Board  of 
Education.  He  has  aided  in  establishing  several  business  enter- 
prises and  enlarging  others,  and  is  at  present  a  director  in  the 
Saranac  Glove  Company. 

Adams  Brock  Wilson,  M.D.,  was  a  native  of  New  bury,  Vt.,  a 
son  of  Adams  Wilson,  born  .March  8,  1842.  He  prepared  for 
college  at  the  old  Newbury  Seminary,  and  was  at  Wesleyan  Uni- 
versity at  Middletown,  Conn.,  one  year.  He  commenced  the 
study  of  medicine  in  1803  :  his  preceptors  were  Dr.  H.  L.  Watson 
and  Dr.  Dixi  Crosby.  After  taking  three  courses  of  lectures  at 
Dartmouth  Medical  School  and  the  medical  department  of  the 
Vermont  University,  he  graduated  at  the  former  institution  in 
1806.  He  entered  zealously  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession 
at  Littleton  immediately  after  his  graduation,  but  in  less  than 
three  years  was  broken  down  by  overwork,  and  died  at  Bradford, 
Vt.,  August  30,  1809.  He  was  of  the  regular  school  of  practice, 
His  church  affiliations  were  with  the  Congregationalists.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Alpha  Delta  Phi  College  Fraternity,  and  of  the 
Freemasons  in  Pnlaski  Lodge  at  Xewbury.  In  politics  he  was 
a  Democrat.  In  1800,  November  18,  he  married  Louella  ,M. 
Little  of  this  place,  but  there  were  no  children.  His  widow  re- 
mains unmarried,  and  has  gained  an  enviable  reputation  as  an 
educator.  She  was  for  several  years  superintendent  of  public 
schools  at  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  and  is  at  present  in  charge  of  a  large 
school  for  young  ladies  in  Chicago. 

The  ancestors  of  Henry  Lyman  Watson,  M.D.,  were  among  the 
early  settlers  of  Salisbury,  and  were  of  the  Society  of  Friends; 
in  that  town  he  was  born  February  10,  1811.  He  received  an 
academic  education  at  Phillips  Academy  at  Exeter,  and  soon  alter 
attaining  his  majority  began  the  study  of  medicine;  he  attended 
three  full  courses  of  lectures  at  the  Dartmouth  and  Vermont 


The  Profession  of  Medicine.  113 

Medical  Schools,  and  received  his  degree  of  M.D.  at  the  last- 
named  school  in  1838.  He  opened  an  office  at  Stewartstown, 
remained  but  three  months,  and  then  removed  to  Guildhall,  Vt., 
where  he  was  in  full  practice  for  twenty  years.  On  account  of 
the  superior  educational  advantages  afforded  at  Newbury,  he  took 
up  his  residence  there  in  1858,  and  in  1865  came  to  Littleton. 
His  practice  here  filled  the  measure  of  his  desires ;  the  frosty 
hand  of  time  had  been  laid  lightly  upon  him,  and  advancing  age 
brought  its  full  share  of  honors  and  the  rewards  incident  to  a 
life  spent  in  an  earnest  and  successful  endeavor  to  assuage  the 
sufferings  of  humanity. 

Dr.  Watson  was  frequently  called  to  fill  administrative  and 
legislative  positions.  While  residing  in  Guildhall  he  was  county 
commissioner,  postmaster,  twice  elected  to  the  State  Senate, 
1852  and  1853,  and  in  1856  and  1857  was  elected  Representative, 
and  was  the  candidate  of  his  party  for  the  speakership  of  the 
House  of  Representatives'.  In  1868  he  was  appointed  postmaster 
at  Littleton  by  President  Johnson,  a  position  he  resigned  within 
the  year.  In  early  life  he  was  an  active  member  of  the  military, 
was  a  commissioned  officer  of  high  rank  in  it,  and  for  a  long 
time  was  regimental  surgeon.  He  married,  first,  Roxanna 
Hughes.  She  dying,  he  married,  second,  Mary  Jane  Hardy.  He 
had  three  children,  the  eldest  being  Dr.  Henry  P.  Watson,  of 
Manchester.  He  died  February  19,  1891. 

Thaddeus  Thompson  Cushman,  M.D.,  was  in  practice  here  but 
eighteen  months,  coming  in  1868  from  Ltmenburg,  where  he  had 
been  in  practice  for  twenty-four  years  and  gained  the  reputation 
of  being  a  skilful  and  honorable  physician.  He  was  fast  gaining 
a  practice  here  when  he  removed  to  Randolph,  Mass.,  where  his 
only  child,  Mrs.  Breitling,  resided.  He  was  born  in  Sumner, 
Me.,  in  1821,  took  his  degree  in  course  at  Bowdoin  Medical 
College  in  1844,  and  established  himself  at  Lunenburg  the  same 
year.  He  was  a  member  of  the  White  Mountain,  Vermont, 
and  Massachusetts  Medical  Societies,  and  president  of  the  first 
named,  and  a  councillor  of  the  Massachusetts  Society.  In  1848 
he  married  Lucretia  W.  Gates,  who  died  in  August,  1850.  After 
going  to  Randolph,  he  was  a  trustee  of  the  Stetson  High  School 
twelve  years  and  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education.  He  was 
highly  esteemed  both  in  medical  and  social  circles.  He  died  at 
Randolph,  Mass.,  February  6,  1896. 

Dr.  Leonard  Marshall  Etidy  practised  in  this  town  but  one 
year.  He  was  a  student  of  the  Harvard  Medical  School,  and  had 
received  his  preliminary  education  at  the  common  schools  in 

VOL.  II. 8 


114  History  of  Littleton. 

Bethlehem,  where  he  was  born  January  8,  1843.  He  was  a  son 
of  Capt.  William  Eudy,  who  resided  many  years  in  Bethlehem, 
but  subsequently  located  at  North  Littleton.  Dr.  Eudy  served 
as  a  private  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  during  the  full  term  of 
his  regiment,  the  Fifteenth  New  Hampshire  Volunteers.  He 
entered  upon  the  study  of  medicine  in  1805  with  Dr.  Tuttle, 
continuing  with  Dr.  Watson  and  entering  upon  the  practice  in 
1870.  After  his  brief  location  in  Littleton  he  removed  to  Upper 
Bartlett,  and  continued  in  practice  there  as  long  as  he  lived.  He 
was  of  the  regular  school ;  never  married,  was  an  attendant  upon 
the  Free  Baptist  Church,  and  a  Democrat  in  politics.  In  1877 
he  was  engaged  in  the  care  of  the  small-pox  cases  at  the  camp 
established  near  his  circuit  of  practice,  and  died  in  the  midst  of 
the  epidemic  on  the  28th  of  November  at  Bartlett.  He  is  entitled 
to  a  large  measure  of  credit  for  the  courage  and  persistency  with 
which,  in  the  face  of  serious  obstacles,  he  pursued  his  ambition  to 
acquire  a  position  in  the  medical  profession. 

Frank  Tifft  Moffett,  M.D.,  was  a  native  of  Littleton.  He  was 
born  August  6,  1842.  His  father.  Col.  Alden  Moffett,  was  for 
many  years  prominent  in  town  affairs.  His  well-known  military 
title  was  gained  in  the  old  militia.  The  son  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  Littleton  and  the  high  schools  of  Barnet,  Vt. 
At  the  age  of  twenty  he  entered  the  Union  army  as  a  private  in 
the  Fourteenth  New  Hampshire  Volunteers,  Captain  Hodgdon's 
company.  His  service  extended  from  August  15  of  that  year  to 
July,  1865.  He  was  with  Banks  on  the  Red  River;  was  all 
through  the  valley  campaign  with  Sheridan  ;  went  to  Savannah, 
Ga.,  and  met  Sherman's  command  as  it  emerged  from  the  march 
to  the  sea;  was  present  with  his  regiment  when  it  met  the  cavalry 
command  that  had  captured  Jefferson  Davis  and  acted  as  its 
escort  to  Augusta,  Ga. 

In  1867  he  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  C.  M. 
Tuttle  ;  attended  three  courses  of  medical  lectures,  and  gradu- 
ated at  the  Harvard  Medical  College  in  1870.  He  located  in 
the  practice  of  medicine  at  Littleton  in  1871,  and  prosecuted 
his  profession  with  marked  success  at  that  place  and  the  vicinity, 
and  was  fast  making  his  way  to  the  top  of  the  professional  ladder 
when  his  incessant  labors  impaired  his  nervous  system  and  he 
gave  way  under  the  strain  and  died  July  12,  1896. 

Dr.  Moffett  was  singularly  devoted  to  his  profession,  and  seldom 
voluntarily  took  more  than  a  passing  interest  in  matters  foreign 
to  it.  This  habit  of  u  minding  his  business  "  made  him  popular 
with  all  classes,  and  gave  him  strength  as  a  candidate  in  a  close 


The  Profession  of  Medicine.  115 

campaign  of  which  his  party  associates  availed  themselves,  and 
he  was  nominated  for  Representative,  together  with  Henry  F. 
Green.  One  of  their  Democratic  opponents  was  declared  elected, 
and  on  a  contest  in  the  Legislature  both  seats  were  awarded  to 
the  Republicans.  The  doctor  served  several  terms  as  a  member 
of  the  Board  of  Health.  His  military  and  hospital  experi- 
ence in  the  war  naturally  suggested  his  appointment  as  assistant 
surgeon  of  the  Third  Regiment,  National  Guard,  which  post  he 
held  from  1884  to  1889,  and  surgeon,  with  rank  of  major,  from 
1889  to  1894.  He  was  a  member  of  the  White  Mountain  and 
State  Medical  Societies,  and  was  a  delegate  from  the  last-named 
society  to  the  American  Medical  Society  in  1883,  and  then  be- 
came a  member  of  the  national  organization. 

No  man  in  our  midst  was  nearer  the  heart  of  the  people 
than  Dr.  Moffett  in  the  period  of  his  professional  activity.  Night 
and  day,  in  winter's  storm  and  in  summer's  heat,  he  patiently 
served  them  as  the  good  physician,  knowing  no  distinctions  among 
men  and  no  guide  but  duty.  His  kindness  of  heart,  his  industry, 
and  his  professional  skill,  brought  his  personality  home  to  thou- 
sands to  whom  the  strong  man  was  a  help  and  inspiration.  He 
wras  modest,  unassuming,  clear-headed,  clean-minded,  self-reliant, 
skilful,  and  conspicuously  successful.  He  was  discreet  and  self- 
contained.  A  social  or  professional  confidence  could  never  be 
tossed  by  him  into  the  thoughtless  gossip  of  the  town.  If  he  had 
disappointments  and  sorrows,  he  bore  the  burden  alone,  and  no 
one  saw  the  secrets  of  his  heart.  Among  his  professional  brethren 
he  was  the  soul  of  honor  and  an  exemplar  of  the  ethics  of  his 
calling.  While  his  professional  ability  commanded  the  utmost 
confidence  of  the  people,  their  profound  respect  for  his  sturdy 
manhood  was  the  crowning  fact.  No  one  remembers  of  Dr. 
Moffett  the  expression  of  an  unworthy  purpose,  the  endorsement 
of  an  unseemly  thought,  or  the  semblance  of  a  dishonest  act. 
The  memory  of  his  self-sacrificing  life  is  now  the  heritage  of  his 
family,  his  friends,  his  brethren,  and  his  contemporaries.  The 
stanch  physique,  the  skilful  intellect,  and  the  great  heart 
were  not  spared  in  the  ceaseless  labors  of  a  quarter  of  a  cen- 
tury, in  which  no  call  of  duty  was  unheeded,  and  no  oppor- 
tunity to  help  the  poor,  the  sick,  and  the  afflicted  neglected. 
He  had  toiled  to  the  high  plane  of  professional  accomplishment, 
and  before  the  slow  descent  had  begun  he  laid  down  his  burden. 
He  will  be  remembered  as  he  was  when  he  stood  on  the  summit 
of  a  noble  life  in  the  ripeness  of  his  wisdom  and  the  perfection  of 
his  powers. 


116  History  of  Littleton. 

Dr.  George  R.  Bugbee  is  the  only  son  of  the  late  Dr.  Ralph 
Bugbee,  Jr.,  and  Mary  (Barker)  Bugbee,  born  at  Waterford,  Vt., 
February  7,  1849.  He  received  a  common  school  education  at 
Franconia  and  Littleton,  and  an  academic  at  Newbury,  Vt.,  and 
New  Hampshire  Conference  (Tilton)  Seminaries.  His  father 
was  his  private  medical  preceptor,  and  he  attended  lectures 
in  the  Medical  Department  of  Michigan  University  at  Ann  Arbor, 
and  at  the  Dartmouth  Medical  School.  He  obtained  his  degree 
at  the  latter  institution  in  June,  1872.  His  first  year's  practice 
thereafter  was  at  Littleton.  He  removed  to  Whitefield,  where 
he  remained  a  few  years,  and  from  there  to  Wausau,  Wife., 
where  he  has  since  continued  in  practice.  He  is  Republican 
in  politics,  and  of  the  regular  school  of  practice.  In  1871, 
December  31,  he  married  Emma  E.  Lindsey.  They  have  two 
children,  a  son  and  daughter. 

William  Sage  Crosby,  LL.B.,  M.D.,  resided  here  for  a  brief 
period.  He  was  born  in  Roxbury,  Mass.,  in  1849,  educated  at  the 
Roxbury  High  School,  and  graduated  in  medicine  at  the  Harvard 
Medical  Department  in  1874.  His  first  location  in  practice  was 
at  Boston.  A  country  practice  was  afterward  deemed  advan- 
tageous in  his  case,  and  Littleton  was  selected.  He  bad  been 
in  town  only  a  few  days  or  sveeks  when  he  was  stricken  with  a 
fatal  sickness,  and  died  at  his  hotel,  April  5,  1875.  He  was 
of  the  regular  school  of  practice,  but  had  no  opportunity  to  dis- 
play his  ability  as  a  practitioner  among  us.  He  was  a  man  of 
agreeable  manners  and  dignified  bearing. 

Edward  Josiah  Brown,  A.B.,  M.D.,  was  one  of  the  promising 
young  men  who  have  been  engaged  in  practice  in  this  place.  He 
is  a  son  of  Ira  Brown,  M.D.,  who  was  a  well-known  Vermont 
practitioner,  and  was  born  at  Burke,  January  14,  1851.  He 
received  a  thorough  education  at  Kimball  Union  Academy,  at 
Meriden,  N.  H.,  and  at  Dartmouth  College,  from  which  he  gradu- 
ated in  the  academic  department,  class  of  1874.  He  commenced 
the  study  of  medicine  in  1876,  his  father  being  his  office  pre- 
ceptor. He  took  three  courses  of  lectures  at  the  University  of  the 
City  of  New  York,  and  at  the  Dartmouth  Medical  School,  gradu- 
ating from  the  latter  in  October,  1878.  In  the  following  Februarv 

O  O  v 

he  located  in  practice  at  Littleton,  and  remained  until  May,  1880. 
The  next  two  years  he  practised  at  Haverhill,  and  in  April,  1882, 
settled  in  Minneapolis,  Minn.  There  he  rapidly  came  to  the  front 
in  his  profession.  The  Minnesota  State  Board  of  Health  gave 
him  service  in  1882  as  health  officer  and  inspector.  From  Janu- 
ary, 1883,  to  April,  1884,  he  held  the  position  of  quarantine 


GEORGE   W.  MCGREGOR.  M.I). 


The  Profession  of  Medicine.  117 

physician  of  the  city.  June  30,  1884,  he  was  appointed  to  the 
chair  of  Preventive  Medicine  and  Hygiene  in  the  Minneapolis 
College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons.  He  has  also  been  active 
and  useful  in  promoting  the  cause  of  medical  organization.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  Moosilaukc  Medical  Society  in  New  Hamp- 
shire, Hennepin  County  Medical  Society,  and  Society  of  Phy- 
sicians and  Surgeons  of  Minneapolis,  and  treasurer  of  the  two 
last  named  societies,  member  of  the  Minnesota  State  Medical 
Society,  and  a  member  of  the  American  Medical  Society. 

He  is  an  active  member  of  the  Congregationalist  Church,  and  an 
efficient  worker  in  social,  philanthropical,  and  religious  enterprises. 

The  town  of  Bethlehem  has  been  a  prolific  contributor  to  the 
intellectual  strength  as  well  as  to  the  brawn  and  muscle  of  Little- 
ton ;  but  the  only  member  of  the  medical  fraternity  of  Bethlehem 
nativity  to  locate  here  is  George  Wilber  McGregor,  son  of  Willard 
A.  McGregory,  who  for  many  years  was  among  the  most  active 
business  men  and  political  leaders  from  over  the  border.  The 
doctor  received  a  thorough  academic  education  at  Tilton  Semi- 
nary, and  became  a  medical  student  in  the  office  of  Dr.  George 
S.  Gove,  of  Whitefield,  and  subsequently  with  Prof.  L.  B.  How,  of 
Manchester.  He  then  pursued  the  regular  course  of  lectures  at 
Dartmouth  Medical  College,  and  received  his  degree  in  June,  1878. 
He  then  settled  in  Lunenburg,  Vt.,  where  he  practised  two  years, 
and  in  1880  came  to  this  town,  where  he  has  had  a  large  practice 
since  that  time.  He  frequently  takes  a  "season  off"  for  the  pur- 
pose of  attending  lectures  at  one  of  the  medical  schools  at  New 
York,  and  has  thus  kept  thoroughly  informed  in  regard  to  the 
progress  of  medical  science.  He  has  also  been  absent  from  his 
local  practice  two  or  three  seasons  to  be  house  physician  at 
Pinehurst,  a  noted  winter  resort  at  Southern  Pines,  N.  C.  He 
has  an  extensive  summer  practice  at  the  summer  resorts  in  this 
vicinity,  especially  those  in  Bethlehem,  Franconia,  Sugar  Hill,  and 
Lincoln.  The  doctor  is  an  active  member  of  local  and  State 
medical  societies,  and  for  several  terms  has  been  a  member  of 
the  Executive  Committee  of  the  latter. 

Dr.  McGregor  is  a  public-spirited  citizen  and  has  been  active  in 
assisting  in  the  upbuilding  of  the  business  of  the  town.  For 
some  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Health  and 
also  of  the  Board  of  Education,  and  is  its  present  president.  He 
is  the  only  physician  of  the  place  in  active  practice  who  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Democratic  party  ;  his  Scotch  blood  and  Scotch  tenacity 
of  purpose  have  served  to  keep  him  true  to  the  principles  of  his 
early  manhood. 


118  History  of  Littleton. 

The  Canadian  element  constitutes  a  considerable  part  of  our 
population,  but  they  are  not  particularly  clannish,  and  easily  adapt 
themselves  to  their  environment,  and  professional  men  of  the 
race  have  seldom  located  among  them.  Louis  Antony  Genereaux, 
M.D.,  was  the  earliest  Canadian  to  make  an  effort  to  build  up  a 
practice  here,  which  he  did  in  1880,  when  he  was  fresh  from  the 
Medical  Department  of  Laval  University.  The  venture  was  not 
a  success,  though  the  doctor  possessed  the  natural  and  acquired 
elements  that  unite  to  constitute  an  able  physician,  and  he  removed 
to  Claremont,  where  he  has  a  large  practice. 

In  1892  Dr.  Edward  Coutu  was  located  here  for  a  short  time ; 
he  finally  located  at  Concord. 

Dr.  Dassoint,  now  of  Groveton,  was  in  practice  a  few  months 
in  1893. 

Dr.  L.  P.  Caissac  was  also  a  physician  at  this  point  for  a  short 
time,  but  in  1898  removed  to  Nashua. 

Another  prophet,  not  without  honor  in  his  own  country,  is  Dr. 
Benjamin  Franklin  Page,  born  in  this  place.  July  7,  1843.  His 
father  was  Benjamin  Page,  of  Lisbon.  Dr.  Page  is  a  brother  of 
Samuel  B.  Page,  of  Woodsville.  Dr.  Page  received  an  academic 
education  at  the  old  Newbury  Seminary.  In  1864  he  began  the 
study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Henry  L.  Watson,  then  of  Newburg, 
and  also  studied  with  Dr.  Charles  H.  Boynton,  of  Lisbon.  He 
attended  three  courses  of  lectures  and  graduated  at  the  Vermont 
University.  Medical  Department,  in  1867.  For  five  years  there- 
after he  was  located  at  Lisbon  in  practice  ;  next,  at  St.  Johnsbury, 
Vt,  nine  years,  and,  since  1881.  at  Littleton.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  White  Mountain  and  Vermont  State  Medical  Societies.  His 
school  of  practice  is  regular;  his  church  relations  are  somewhat 
Congregationalist ;  secret  society.  Masonic.  He  married  Caroline 
Farr,  daughter  of  John  Farr.  in  1870. 

Dr.  Page,  throughout  his  professional  career,  has  adhered 
closely  to  the  approved  methods  of  the  profession.  He  retired 
from  active  practice,  or  supposed  he  had.  in  1898.  The  importu- 
nities, however,  of  patients  have  kept  him  in  the  harness,  and  his 
"  retirement"  was  an  illusion  rather  than  a  fact.  The  doctor  is  a 
Democrat  in  his  political  affiliations  as  well  as  habits  and  asso- 
ciations with  his  fellow-citizens.  He  has  fulfilled  the  public  duties 
imposed  by  custom  upon  physicians  of  the  town  by  serving  on  the 
Boards  of  Health  and  of  Education. 

William  Johnston  Beattie  comes  from  the  Scotch  stock  that  in 
the  last  quarter  of  the  eighteenth  century  settled  the  towns  of 
Barnet  and  Rvesrate  on  the  Vermont  side  of  the  Connecticut,  and 


WILLIAM  JOHNSTON  BKATTIE,  M.D. 


The  Profession  of  Medicine.  119 

since  then  has  peopled  many  of  the  towns  of  Caledonia  County 
with  a  sturdy  race.  This  people  were  in  fact,  as  well  as  tendency, 
Presbyterians,  and  adhered  strictly  to  the  ancient  formulary  of 
their  sect.  Dr.  Beattie's  father  and  his  maternal  grandfather, 
the  Rev.  James  Milligan,  were  ministers  of  this  church,  a  fact 
that  has  probably  had  something  to  do  with  the  establishment  of 
the  doctor's  religious  convictions.  He  was  educated  at  St.  Johns- 
bury  Academy,  and  pursued  the  study  of  medicine  for  four  years 
in  Bellevue  Hospital  Medical  College,  in  New  York.  Having 
received  his  degree,  he  located  in  this  town  in  1889,  and  had  not 
long  to  wait  for  patients.  Few  physicians  at  the  outset  of  their 
professional  careers  have  met  with  such  a  degree  of  success  as 
did  Dr.  Beattie.  Nor  was  this  the  result  of  circumstance  or  of 
kindly  fortune,  but  was  due  in  a  large  measure  to  attractive 
personal  qualities  and  known  educational  qualifications  for  his 
chosen  work.  He  is  well  equipped  both  on  the  surgical  and  medi- 
cal sides  of  the  profession,  especially  for  exacting  emergencies, 
and  possesses  in  a  marked  degree  the  essential  quality  of  a  well- 
grounded  self-reliance. 

The  doctor  is  a  believer  in  the  theory  of  Dr.  Jacob  Bigelow, 
that  "a  physician  might  be  accomplished,  and  serve  his  genera- 
tion in  other  ways  than  as  a  mere  vehicle  of  pills  and  plasters," 
and  has  been  active  in  public  affairs.  He  represented  the  town 
in  the  General  Court  in  1899-1900,  and  in  1901-1902  was  ap- 
pointed Surgeon-General  on  the  staff  of  Governor  Jordan,  with  the 
rank  of  Brigadier-General,  positions  he  filled  to  the  satisfaction 
of  the  public.  He  has  recently  been  appointed  to  the  office  of 
Medical  Referee  for  the  county  under  the  Act  of  1903. 

In  the  line  of  his  profession  his  services  are  sought  for  beyond 
the  borders  of  the  town,  and  he  has,  until  the  season  of  1903,  had 
an  office  at  Bethlehem  for  the  accommodation  of  his  patrons  in 
the  summer  season,  and  is  now  house  physician  at  the  new  Mt. 
Washington  Hotel,  and  also  professionally  connected  with  the 
Boston  and  Maine  Railroad. 

Among  the  successful  physicians  of  the  town  it  may  be  said 
that  Dr.  George  F.  Abbott  drifted,  by  reason  of  environment,  into 
the  profession.  After  leaving  school  he  was  for  some  years  clerk 
in  the  apothecary  store  of  F.  F.  Hodgman,  and  thereafter,  through 
several  business  changes,  never  escaped  a  fondness  for  drugs  and 
medicines.  After  leaving  the  shop  of  Mr.  Hodgman  he  was  in 
partnership  with  his  father  in  a  general  store  for  a  short  time, 
and  then  in  the  pharmacy  now  conducted  by  W.  F.  Robins.  He 
subsequently  engaged  in  the  same  business  at  Bethlehem,  where 


120  History  of  Littleton. 

he  remained  nearly  ten  years.  He  moved  to  Tilton  to  engage 
in  the  same  business,  and  there  studied  medicine  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Dr.  Edwin  Abbott.  He  attended  a  full  course  of  lectures 
at  Dartmouth  Medical  College,  and  one  course  at  Baltimore.  He 
received  the  degree  of  M.D.  at  Dartmouth  in  1891,  and  opened 
an  office  in  this  town  soon  after  in  the  same  year.  Dr.  Abbott 
has  an  extensive  practice,  a  fondness  for  the  Methodist  Church 
and  the  Republican  party,  and  has  a  dry  and  effective  humor 
which  makes  him  much  sought  as  an  after-dinner  speaker  and  on 
public  occasions. 

He  has  performed  long  and  efficient  public  service  on  the  local 
Board  of  Health,  where  his  hard  common-sense  and  long  experi- 
ence with  the  practical  questions  of  sanitation  have  made  him  an 
official  whose  special  adaptation  to  the  work  is  unquestioned. 

Three  generations  of  the  doctor's  family  have  been  citizens  of 
Littleton.  His  grandfather  lived  on  Mann's  Hill  all  his  mature 
life,  and  his  father  came  here  when  but  a  lad.  The  doctor  was 
born  in  the  town.  All  have  been  high-minded  citizens,  given  to 
performing  their  part  in  the  promotion  of  the  public  weal. 

The  late  Edward  Kenney  Parker,  M.D.,  son  of  Hollis  M.  and 
Sarah  (Bronson)  Parker,  was  born  in  Lyndon,  Vt.,  December  21, 
1863,  and  came  to  Littleton  with  the  family  in  1872.  He  was 
educated  in  the  High  School  and  received  his  medical  instruction 
in  the  office  of  Dr.  T.  E.  Sanger,  the  Homoeopathic  Medical  College 
and  Hospital,  the  New  York  Post-Graduate  College  and  Hospital, 
and  New  York  Clinical  School  of  Medicine.  For  eight  years 
he  practised  at  West  Cornwall,  Vt.,  and  then  came  to  this  town 
in  1896,  where  he  had  an  extensive  practice  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  suddenly  from  an  over-dose  of  chloral,  August  29,  1902. 
He  was  suffering  intensely  at  the  time  from  nervous  prostration. 

Dr.  Parker  was  thoroughly  educated  in  his  profession,  skilful 
in  both  medicine  and  surgery,  and  was  regarded  by  competent 
judges  as  capable  of  taking  high  rank  among  his  professional 
brethren. 

Another  physician  of  the  same  school,  who  came  here  a  year 
after  Dr.  Parker,  is  William  C.  E.  Nobles.  He  was  born  in 
Batavia,  N.  Y.,  in  1870;  educated  at  the  Rochester,  N.  Y., 
High  School,  and  graduated  from  the  Cleveland  University  of 
Medicine  and  Surgery  in  1897.  During  this  course  he  also 
attended  the  hospitals  at  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  the  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
Hospital,  and  also  the  Maternity  Hospital  in  that  city.  The  year  of 
his  graduation  he  located  in  this  town,  where  he  has  from  the 
start  received  a  generous  professional  patronage,  and  established 


Kinvix    K.  PAKKKR.  M.D. 


The  Profession  of  Medicine.  121 

a  reputation  as  an  excellent  physician  and  a  surgeon  of  skill. 
Thoroughly  grounded  in  the  science  of  medicine,  he  keeps  in 
close  touch  with  its  progress  by  attending  each  year  a  course  of 
lectures  at  an  approved  Hospital  Medical  School.  Dr.  Nobles  is 
devoted  to  his  work  and  finds  little  time  for  affairs  not  directly 
connected  with  the  profession.  He  is  an  Episcopalian  and  a 
Republican. 

One  of  the  young  members  of  the  local  faculty  is  Dr.  John  M. 
Page,  who  entered  the  professional  circle  in  1896.  He  is  a  son 
of  Dr.  B.  F.  and  Caroline  (Farr)  Page,  whose  intellectual  strength 
is  discernible  in  the  mental  equipment  of  the  young  doctor.  From 
his  schoolboy  days  he  was  destined  to  follow  his  father's  profes- 
sion, and  when  graduated  from  the  High  School  became  a  student 
of  medicine  in  his  father's  office.  He  pursued  and  received  his  de- 
gree of  M.D.  at  the  Medical  School  of  the  University  of  Vermont, 
in  1896.  He  stands  high  with  the  profession  for  his  medical 
knowledge,  and  is  rapidly  achieving  a  successful  career. 

David  Russell  Brown  was  in  practice  here  in  the  summer  and 
autumn  of  1903.  He  is  a  young  man  of  ability  and  attain- 
ments. At  the  close  of  the  year  he  removed  to  Danville,  Vt., 
where  there  was  a  promising  opening  for  a  young  physician. 
.  Christian  Science,  according  to  the  statement  of  Mrs.  Eddy,1 
was  an  original  conception  on  her  part  in  1866.  The  doctrines 
of  Christian  Science  consist  in  part  of  religious  tenets  and  in  part 
of  theories  respecting  the  science  of  healing.  Miss  Julia  S.  Bart- 
lett,  of  Boston,  was  the  person  who  first  formally  presented  this 
faith  in  Littleton.  A  group  of  persons  who  had  accepted  these 
teachings  organized  for  worship,  for  the  practice  of  the  principles 
of  this  method  of  healing,  and  for  study  and  communion  as  be- 
lievers in  -a  new  theory,  in  1883.  Several  of  the  professors  of 
Christian  Science  have  practised  healing  according  to  the  teach- 
ings of  the  Eddy  school  at  this  place.  Among  them  have  been 
Mrs.  Jennette  (Gibson)  Robinson,2  who  was  defendant  in  Robin- 
son v.  Robinson,3  a  leading  case  on  the  question  whether  the  prac- 
tices of  those  who  espouse  Christian  Science,  if  tending  to  injure 
the  other  party  physically  or  mentally,  may  be  a  ground  of  divorce ; 
Mrs.  Jane  M.  Rand,  and  Mrs.  Mary  S.  Heald.  This  method  of 
practice  has  lately  acquired  a  more  definite  legal  status  in  this 
State  by  the  decision  of  the  Supreme  Court  in  the  case  of  Speed 

1  Science  and  Health,  p.  11. 

2  Mrs.  Robinson  in  recent  years  has  resumed  the  name  of  Weller,  which  was  that 
of  her  first  husband,  Mr.  F.  G.  Weller. 

8  66  N.  H.  Reports,  p.  600. 


122  History  of  Littleton. 

v.  Tomlinson.  decided  at  the  October  Terra  of  the  New  Hampshire 
Supreme  Court,  1903.1  The  Christian  Science  association  or  group 
at  this  place  maintain  apartments  for  worship  in  Kounsevel's 
Building  on  Main  Street.  The  organic  membership  of  the  be- 
lievers resident  here,  however,  is  understood  to  be  directly  or 
immediately  with  the  Mother  Church  at  Boston. 

Osteopathy  was  introduced  here  as  a  distinct  school  of  medical 
practice  in  August,  1900,  by  Mary  A.  Burbank.  Subsequently 
(1901)  Miss  Burbank  married  Dr.  Herman  K.  Sherburne,  and  both 
were  from  that  time  engaged  in  practice  here  and  at  Bethlehem 
until  1903.  when  they  removed  from  this  town  to  Rutland,  Vt. 
Their  successor  here  was  Margaret  J.  Mathison,  who  was  the 
only  practitioner  of  that  school  located  at  this  place  or  in  this 
vicinity  until  her  recent  marriage  and  removal  from  town  with 
her  husband.  Miss  Mathison  is  a  graduate  of  the  Littleton 
High  School,  class  of  1899.  She  was  also  for  a  time  a  student 
of  Middlebury  College,  in  Vermont,  in  the  class  of  1903,  but 
not  a  graduate  from  that  institution.  She  was  a  graduate  of 
the  American  School  of  Osteopathy  at  Kirkville,  Mo.,  in  1902. 
The  Doctors  Sherburne  were  also  graduates  of  the  same  school. 
The  president  of  this  institution  is  A.  T.  Still,  M.D.,  the  founder 
of  this  theory  and  method  of  treating  diseased  conditions  in  gen- 
eral, as  well  as  muscular  and  other  misplacements  and  malforma- 
tions. This  institution  confers  the  degree  of  D.  0.  (Doctor  of 
Osteopathy).2 

Although  the  Dartmouth  Medical  College,  founded  in  1798,  is 
the  nearest  institution  of  the  kind,  a  large  majority  of  our  prac- 
titioners have  come  from  other  medical  schools.  Dr.  Burns 
attended  its  lectures  in  1813  and  again  in  1834.  The  College 
at  Castleton,  Vt.,  was  instituted  in  1818,  by  charter,  as  Castleton 
Medical  Academy,  and  closed  in  1862,  having  been  legally  desig- 
nated in  the  mean  time  as  the  Vermont  Academy  of  Medicine, 
and  finally  as  the  Castleton  Medical  College.  Another  flourished 
at  Woodstock,  Vt.,  from  1831  to  1854.  That  year  the  Medical 
Department  of  the  University  of  Vermont  was  established,  suc- 
ceeding the  Woodstock  school,  and  it  has  been  successfully  main- 
tained to  the  present  time.  Many  of  our  students  and  practi- 
tioners were  educated  at  these  institutions.  A  few  were  at 
Harvard.  Xew  York,  Philadelphia.  Ann  Arbor,  or  Bowdoin.  A.  R. 
Chamberlain,  in  1819,  and  Harry  Brickett,  in  1842  and  1843, 

1  This  case  has  not  been  finally  disposed  of.     It  stands  for  reargument  in  the 
Supreme  Court. 

2  Dr.  Nora  L.  Thompson  is  the  successor  of  Dr.  Mathison  in  the  practice  here. 


The  Profession  of  Medicine.  123 

were  catalogued  from  this  place  at  Hanover.  Horace  White  was 
a  student  with  Dr.  Burns  and  Albert  Winch,  and  Dr.  Ross  with 
Dr.  Moore.  Edwin  L.  Farr,  of  Boston,  James  B.  Sumner,  of 
Lunenburg,  Vt.,  Dr.  Dunbar,  of  New  Bedford,  Dr.  Henry  West, 
Dr.  Wheeler,  of  Peacham,  Vt.,  who  fell  while  heroically  devoting 
himself  to  the  treatment  of  the  victims  of  ship  fever  in  Quebec, 
Dr.  Smillie,  of  Quebec,  and  many  others,  have  been  under  the 
professional  instruction  of  Dr.  Tuttle.  Francis  Town,  surgeon, 
retired,  U.  S.  A.,  studied  with  the  late  Dr.  Bugbee.  Frank  and 
Lafayette,  brothers  of  the  doctor,  were  also  his  pupils  in  medi- 
cine. With  Dr.  Watson,  while  he  resided  at  this  place,  were 
N.  Harvey  Scott,  afterward  of  Wolf  borough,  Fred  Phelps,  now 
deceased,  and  others.  Dr.  Sanger's  students  have  been  George  S. 
Kelsea,  late  of  Newport,  Vt.,  Moses  Whitcomb,  of  North  Strat- 
ford, Bukk  G.  Carleton,  of  New  York,  Aaron  Bond,  of  Nashua,  and 
the  late  Edward  K.  Parker.  It  is  not  necessary  to  repeat  here  the 
names  of  those  whose  preceptors  have  been  already  stated  in  the 
personal  sketches.  The  sons  of  our  doctors  have,  in  several  in- 
stances, followed  the  paternal  profession.  James  W.  Moore  is  in 
practice  in  New  York  City  ;  Israel  J.  Clarke  is  now  at  Haverhill, 
Mass.  ;  Henry  P.  Watson,  at  Manchester ;  George  R.  Bugbee,  at 
Wausau,  Wis.  In  recent  years  our  boys  have  been  more  generally 
attracted  in  this  direction  than  to  the  law.  Charles  E.  Thomp- 
son, M.D.,  late  of  North  Stratford,  was  a  native  of  this  town,  born 
April  11, 1856,  son  of  Merrill  W.  Thompson,  a  student  in  medicine 
with  Dr.  Moffett,  and  a  graduate  of  the  Medical  Department  of 
Vermont  University,  and  Harvey  E.  Mclntire,  M.D.,  now  of  Wis- 
consin, a  son  of  Warren  Mclntire,  born  at  Lyman,  September  1, 
1859,  but  reared  in  Littleton,  a  student  of  Dartmouth  College, 
and  of  Dr.  McGregor,  and  a  graduate  of  the  Bellevue  Medical  Col- 
lege, have  both  been  well  received  in  the  practice,  and  have  become 
useful  members  of  their  chosen  profession. 

Many  facts  of  historical  interest  relating  to  this  division  of 
our  subject  must  be  derived  from  the  annual  catalogues  of  the 
medical  schools.  These  are  not  readily  accessible.  Whoever 
accomplishes  the  task  of  collecting  these  scattered  pamphlets 
from  the  nooks  and  crannies  in  which  they  are  now  concealed, 
will  be  the  largest  contributor  of  material  for  the  personal  his- 
tory of  the  medical  profession.  No  satisfactory  accomplishment 
of  that  work  can  be  expected  without  that  material. 

The  "  White  Mountain  Banner  "  contained  the  business  card  of 
E.  K.  Cummings,  M.D.,  now  of  Claremont,  as  a  Littleton  practi- 
tioner in  1856.  He  writes  that  his  sojourn  here  was  in  February 


124  History  of  Littleton. 

of  that  year  and  for  only  one  day.  He  treated  one  patient  in  the 
night,  but  seems  to  have  experienced  an  unfavorable  impression 
of  our  climate  at  that  season,  for  he  got  his  fee,  and,  the  next 
day,  shaking  the  snow  from  his  feet,  abandoned  the  field. 

Dr.  C.  Woodward  came  here  in  1842.  He  was  a  disciple  of 
Thompson,  and  advocated  the  theories  and  practised  the  healing 
arts  of  that  school.  In  the  few  weeks  of  his  sojourn  in  this 
place,  the  doctrines  of  Hahnemann  received  his  attention,  and  he 
adopted  them.  Subsequently,  locating  in  the  practice  as  a  repre- 
sentative of  the  school  of  Homoeopathy  at  Danville,  Vt.,  he  achieved 
a  liberal  measure  of  success  and  prosperity. 

Dr.  John  L.  Martin,  a  physician  of  the  botanical  school,  was 
located  here  from  about  1844  to  1855.  He  resided  on  Auburn 
Street,  then  the  Fan*  Hill  road,  in  the  house  now  occupied  by 
Mr.  King.  He  removed  to  Gorham  in  1855  or  1856. 

Dr.  Eldad  Alexander,  one  of  the  strong  men  of  the  profession 
in  Vermont,  proposed  to  locate  in  this  place  in  1854,  and  estab- 
lished himself  at  Thayers  Hotel.  Old  associations  were  too 
strong  for  his  new  resolve,  and  he  returned  to  Danville,  after  a 
six  weeks'  residence  among  us.  He  was  a  man  of  intellect,  emi- 
nent as  a  surgeon  and  in  all  the  branches  of  general  practice. 
History  will  accord  him  a  high  rank  among  his  contemporaries 
for  professional  accomplishments  and  native  worth. 

Dr.  Jonathan  Knight  made  a  short  sojourn  at  Littleton  about 
1837.  He  came  from  Stoddard,  had  studied  medicine  with  the 
elder  Twitchell.  and  shortly  proceeded  to  Piermont,  where  he 
remained  many  years.  Dr.  Spaulding,  of  Haverliill,  who  knew 
him  well,  says  he  removed  to  the  lower  part  of  the  State  in  his 
later  years. 

Dr.  George  A.  Martin  was  a  practitioner  here  since  the  War 
for  the  Union.  It  has  been  impossible  to  obtain  the  necessary 
personal  response  and  biographical  data  from  which  to  construct 
a  sketch  of  him  or  of  his  professional  history  as  a  member  of  this 
community. 

A  summary  of  the  items  pertinent  to  this  topic  may  be  a  con- 
venience in  reference,  and  we  include  it  in  that  view.  Dr.  Burns, 
Dr.  H.  L.  Watson,  Dr.  Tattle,  Dr.  Moffett,  and  Dr.  Irving  A.  Wat- 
son have  been  surgeons,  Dr.  Adams  Moore  and  Dr.  Moffett,  as- 
sistant surgeons,  of  regiments  in  the  militia  organizations.  Dr. 
J.  S.  Ross  and  Dr.  Francis  L.  Town,  who  were  students  of  medicine 
here,  became  army  surgeons,  the  former  in  the  Eleventh  Regi- 
ment of  New  Hampshire  Volunteers,  and  the  latter  permanently 
in  the  regular  army.  Dr.  Harriman,  soon  after  his  removal  from 


r~ 


BENJAMIN    K.  UAII.KY.  M.I).  C.KOKC.I:   F.  Am-.oTT.  M.I). 

AI.I'.F.KT  \V.  CLAKKIC.  M.I). 
J  AMI-IS   L.   HAKKIMAN.  M.I).  JOHN    M.  I'ACI-:.  M.I ). 

PHYSICIANS. 


The  Profession  of  Medicine.  125 

this  town,  became  assistant  surgeon  of  a  Massachusetts  war  regi- 
ment, and  Dr.  Clarke  had  rendered  similar  service  just  previous  to 
his  final  establishment  in  this  place.  Dr.  Moffett,  Dr.  G.  A. 
Martin,  and  Dr.  Eudy  came  from  service  in  the  ranks  to  the 
study  of  medicine.  The  military  spirit  seems  to  have  been  felt 
in  the  medical  profession,  as  in  other  classes  of  our  citizens.  It 
would,  no  doubt,  manifest  itself  to-day,  as  in  the  past,  for  the  com- 
mon good  and  the  common  defence. 

Littleton  has  been  the  abode  of  a  numerous  medical  fraternity 
in  recent  years.  Formerly  Waterford,  our  Connecticut  River 
neighbor,  had  more  settled  practitioners  than  this  town.  It  was 
convenient  for  our  people  to  call  their  doctors  from  over  the  river 
to  the  neighboring  farm-houses.  Dr.  Stephen  (?)  Cole  was  prob- 
ably the  first  physician  to  settle  in  Waterford.  Dr.  Freedom 
Dinsmore,  Dr.  Thomas  McDole,  Dr.  Moses  F.  Morrison,  Dr.  Abner 
Miles,  Dr.  Beniah  Sanborn,  Dr.  Newell,  Dr.  Cargill,  Dr.  Kelley, 
Dr.  Richard  Rowell,  and  perhaps  others,  might  be  recalled,  who 
practised  from  that  town  for  longer  or  shorter  periods,  and 
ministered  to  the  sick  in  this  place. 

The  old-time  leaders  of  the  profession  in  Caledonia  County 
were  Dr.  Alexander,  of  Danville,  Dr.  Jewett,  of  St.  Johnsbury,  Dr. 
Socrates  Tuttle  and  Dr.  William  Nelson,  of  Barnet,  and  Dr. 
Bugbee,  of  Waterford.  These  men  were  the  oracles  whose  verdict 
in  the  hard  cases  was  supposed  to  settle  the  question  of  life  or 
death.  A  native  of  Ashford,  Conn.,  and  a  graduate  of  Yale 
Medical  School,  Dr.  Bugbee  came  to  Waterford  in  1816,  and  con- 
tinued there  till  his  death  in  1881.  His  professional  skill  gave 
him  a  practice  over  a  large  region.  He  was  a  man  of  learning 
and  character.  At  times  he  encountered  strong  popular  disfavor 
for  his  fixed  and  somewhat  pronounced  adherence  to  his  princi- 
ples. He  was  one  of  the  old  Freemasons,  and  "  adhered."  This 
position  he  maintained  against  an  almost  universal  clamor,  which 
approached  very  near  to  persecution.  But  opposition,  no  matter 
how  strong  or  intolerant,  was  not  one  of  the  methods  of  moving 
him  from  a  position.  He  was  also  surgeon  of  his  militia  regiment. 
His  four  sons  became  regular  practitioners,  and  his  daughter 
became  the  wife  of  Dr.  Enoch  Blanchard,  of  Illinois,  who  was 
surgeon  of  the  Seventh  Vermont  war  regiment.  A  few  years 
since,  the  doctor  found  a  news  item,  paragraphed  by  Charles  R. 
Miller,  then  of  the  "  Springfield  Republican,"  and  indicating  how 
he  was  surrounded  by  the  atmosphere  of  medicine  in  his  later 
years,  in  this  wise:  "Dr.  Ralph  Bugbee,  Jr.,  of  Littleton,  had 
a  little  party  in  honor  of  his  fifty-second  birthday,  a  few  days  ago, 


126  History  of  Littleton. 

and  the  gathering  was  one  calculated  to  inspire  terror  in  the 
average  healthy  mind.  There  wore  his  three  brothers,  all  physi- 
cians,—  Dr.  Abel  Bugbce,  of  Derby  Line,  Vt.,  Dr.  Frank  Bugbee, 
of  Lancaster,  and  Dr.  Lafayette  Bugbee,  of  YVillimantic,  Conn. ; 
also,  his  son,  Dr.  (leorge  It.  Bugbee,  of  \Vhitctield.  And  the 
venerable  progenitor  of  all  these  doctors,  Dr.  Ralph  Bugbee,  Sr., 
of  Waterford,  Vt.,  gazed  on  his  posterity  with  a  heavy  heart, 
participating  meanwhile  but  mechanically  in  the  festivities,  and 
wondering  what  he  should  do  when  he  got  old  and  sick."  In  his 
sixty-five  years  of  practice  he  established  a  reputation  which 
made  him  as  well  known  in  Littleton  as  in  Waterford. 

Dalton  and  Bethlehem1  have  seldom  had  resident  physicians. 
At  Franconia,  Dr.  John  ('.  Colby,  Dr.  Daniel  K.  Weils,  Dr.  William 
B.  Moody,  Dr.  J.  A.  Morris.  Dr.  John  11.  Cogswell,  and  Dr.  11.  L. 
Johnson,  the  present  resident  practitioner,  have  been  acceptable 
physicians  at  successive  periods,  covering  many  years.  The 
physicians  of  Lisbon  and  Whitelield,  being  more  remote,  have  not, 
until  recent  years,  been  so  frequently  called,  or  so  well  known, 
as  those  who  resided  on  the  river,  near  the  western  borders  of 
the  town. 

The  medical  school  at  Hanover  has  brought  many  eminent 
medical  men  within  the  call  <>1  our  patients  for  consultations  and 
treatment.  Mu/./v,  I'easlee,  the  Crosbys,  <  Jile,  and  their  associ- 
ates have  often  given  our  people  the  benefit  of  their  great  medical 
and  surgical  skill  in  novel  and  difficult  cases.  We  now  call  the 
lirst  authority  in  the  profession  Irom  Huston,  bv  telegram,  in  le.-s 
time  than  Dr.  White  could  ha\e  been  brought  from  Newbnry  to 
Littleton  a  hundred  years  ago. 

Pharmacy  has  come  to  In-  a  separate  department  in  the  medical 
world.  Its  importance  to  our  protession  is  bevond  computation. 
In  recent  years,  those  engaged  in  its  duties  have  recogni/ed  the 
necessity  ot  excluding  Irom  the  ranks  of  its  emplovees  all  who 
have  not  been  found  specially  oualilied  by  si  net  examination. 
Their  general  associations  have  thus  nn-t  a  d-'inand  made  both 
by  the  members  ot  our  profession  and  the  mure  general  public, 
lli-re  the  bu>ine»ss  of  vending  dru-js  had  a  small  beginning,  some 
sixty  or  seventy  years  a-_r  >.  :n  S.juire  Bracken's  store,  in  which 
John  Farr  was  a  clerk.  Tin-  drills  and  meiiiciii'-s  then  constituted 
a  small  part  ot'  the  stuck  <«f  the  '•stai>lislini''nt. 

In  ls:')'J  Francis  Hod'_rmau  located  ;n  the  place,  and  within  a 
year  or  two  erected  a  i'Mildim;-  i»v  his  jewelry  business,  with 
which  he  joined  that  of  an  ai>"t  in-carv  :  to  him  Mr.  Brackett  sold 

1   Dr.  II.  A.  llililrtth  ha*  :'nr  MUM-  \  i-;ii>  U-ui  :;>  MICH  s>!  si!  j.nic'.ice  at  Ik-th'.ehem. 


The  Profession  of  Medicine.  127 

his  entire  stock  of  drugs  and  medicines.  He  carried  on  this  dual 
business,  gradually  increasing  it  and  improving  its  accommo- 
dations, for  more  than  thirty  years.  He  then,  in  the  time  of  the 
War  for  the  Union,  retired,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  sons. 
Upon  the  death  of  the  younger,  the  business  was  sold  to  Curtis 
Gates  &  Co.,  who  were  succeeded  by  Robinson  Brothers,  they 
by  Herbert  E.  Kenney,  and  he  by  the  present  proprietor,  F.  E. 
Green  &  Co.  The  Grafton  County  drug-store  was  established 
in  1853  by  George  K.  Paddleford,  in  the  building  now  owned  by 
the  Odd-Fellows,  on  Main  Street,  which  was  erected  for  his  use 
in  that  year.  Mr.  Paddleford  was  assisted  in  the  enterprise  by 
Dr.  Sabine,  who  volunteered  his  services.  S.  W.  Atwood  succeeded 
to  the  business  in  1854.  After  about  two  years  Hovey  &  Hall 
purchased  it,  and  in  a  short  time  Eben  L.  Hall  became  proprietor. 
The  advertisement  of  this  pharmacy  in  the  columns  of  the  u  White 
Mountain  Banner"  disappeared  in  the  spring  of  1858. 

Another  drug-store  was  established  in  the  Union  Block,  in 
1867,  by  Dr.  H.  L.  Watson.  He  was  succeeded  by  Albert 
Parker  &  Co. ;  this  firm  by  G.  &  G.  F.  Abbott,  and  they  by 
W.  F.  Robins,  the  present  proprietor.  Fred  B.  Hatch  &  Co.  estab- 
lished a  successful  pharmacy  in  Opera  Block  in  1883,  and  were 
succeeded  in  1894  by  Charles  F.  Davis.  These  three  establish- 
ments, by  healthful  competition  and  progressive  methods,  are 
giving  the  medical  profession  and  the  public  good  service  in  an 
important  and  exacting  calling. 

An  interesting  relic  of  the  drug  business,  as  it  was  in  its  early 
stages  in  our  vicinity,  was  found  among  the  papers  of  the  late  Dr. 
Bugbee,  Sr.,  of  Waterford.  It  is  an  advertisement  clearly  printed 
by  White  <k  Clark,  of  Wells  River,  Vt.,  dated  probably  about  18^5. 
The  head  lines  are  as  follows  :  — 


"MEDICINE. 
LUTHER  JEWETT, 

At  bis  shop  on  St.  Johnsbury  Plain,  keeps  for  sale  a  general  assort- 
ment of  medicines.  Physicians  and  families  supplied  with  genuine 
articles  cheap,  especially  for  ready  pay.  The  following  are  some  of 
the  articles." 

Then  follows  a  list  of  one  hundred  and  eighty  articles,  whose 
names  and  virtues  are  familiar  to  the  old  practitioners.  This  is 
the  list  of  pills  :  — 


128  History  of  Littleton. 

"  Relfes  Asthmatic  Family  Jewett's 

"        Aromatic  Hooper's  Thayer's 

';        Toothache  Anderson's  Sias' 

Lee's  Morrison's  Blue." 

In  the  old  families  the  terms  used  by  Luther  Jewett  in  his  list 
are  household  words,  and  they  have  very  little  of  the  mystery  that 
surrounds  the  voluminous  catalogues  of  modern  pharmacy. 

Dentistry  has  now  become  a  profession  independent  of  our 
own.  It  has  its  distinct  State  and  national  organizations  and  its 
colleges.  We  are  fortunate  in  obtaining  a  sketch  of  its  begin- 
nings in  this  town  from  one  of  its  earliest  practitioners,  Dr.  Silas 
A.  Sabine,  of  Claremont,  who  long  held  high  rank  as  a  dental 
surgeon.  In  a  recent  letter  he  says:  — 

••  When  I  was  in  the  practice  of  my  profession  at  Haverhill,  N.  H.. 
in  January,  1845,  I  was  constantly  receiving  invitations  from  some  of 
the  most  prominent  citizens  of  Littleton  to  visit  that  place  profes- 
sionally. Accordingly,  on  the  27th  of  February,  1845,  I  took  the  stage 
under  the  guidance  of  '  Steve  '  Hale,  who  landed  me  safe  at  the  Granite 
House,  kept  by  J.  L.  Gibb  and  Father  —  afterwards  by  numerous  pro- 
prietors —  where  I  continued  to  make  it  my  home  as  long  as  the  house 
was  kept  as  a  hotel,  afterwards  at  the  White  Mountain  House,  kept  by 
H.  L.  Tluiyer,  the  most  popular  landlord  in  the  State.  My  first  patient 
was  Cephas  Brackett.  At  the  time  of  my  first  visit  to  Littleton,  den- 
tistry was  comparatively  in  its  infancy.  In  a  place  so  remote  from 
cities,  work  was  done  in  a  very  rude  and  bungling  manner  by  itinerant 
dentists,  who  were  just  as  likely  to  be  tin-peddlers  —  meaning  no  dis- 
respect to  that  numerous  and  honorable  body  —  who  had  sold  out  their 
stock,  purchased  a  box  of  instruments,  and  were  on  their  way  home, 
practising  upon  the  teeth  of  their  too  willing  dupes  as  a  means  to  pay 
expenses.  The  first  years  of  my  being  at  Littleton,  the  best  work  com- 
ing under  my  observation  was  from  the  hands  of  Dr.  C.  M.  Tuttle,  and 
I  think  he  made  no  pretensions  to  artificial  work.  February  24,  1845, 
one  G.  W.  Williams  advertised  to  be  at  Cobleigh's  hotel  for  a  few  days  ; 
further  I  know  nothing  of  him,  or  of  any  one  else  prior.  In  December, 
1855,  Dr.  Cummings.  a  former  partner  of  mine,  with  Dr.  Smith,  opened 
an  otlice  in  the  Gile  building,  but  did  not  stay  long.  About  the  year 
1862  or  18G3  A.  A.  Hazeltine,  a  student  of  mine,  settled  in  Littleton  ; 
how  long  he  stayed,  I  cannot  state.  The  three  last  named  were  good 
dentists,  and,  I  think,  include  all  who  practised  at  Littleton  during  the 
time  I  visited  there,  viz.,  from  1845  to  1870.  My  impression  is,  now, 
that  I  was  the  first  to  do  artificial  work  with  artificial  gums,  and  the 
first  to  use  what  was  then  called  Letheon." 

Dr.  E.  G.  Cummings,  of  Concord,  adds  to  our  information.     He 
says :  '•  Dr.  W.  M.  Smith,  of   Claremont.  and  I  were  located  at 


The  Profession  of  Medicine.  129 

Lancaster,  and  used  to  run  down  and  stop  at  Littleton  a  few  days 
at  a  time,  but  lived  at  Lancaster.  I  think  this  was  in  1856,  1857, 
and  1858.  Dr.  Silas  A.  Sabine,  of  Claremont,  is  the  first  man 
whom  I  know  of  as  practising  at  Littleton."  Dr.  A.  A.  Hazeltine 
opened  an  office  in  1861,  and  was  the  first  permanent  resident 
practitioner  among  us.  He  remained  until  1867. 

Others  have  had  days  in  town  while  residing  elsewhere,  or  have 
located  with  sojourns  of  brief  duration.  We  recall,  as  belonging 
in  this  list,  Dr.  Switzer,  Dr.  Wood,  Dr.  Carey,  Dr.  G.  O.  Rogers 
(who  has  since  spent  ten  years  with  large  success  in  the  practice 
of  dentistry  in  China),  Dr.  Robinson,  Dr.  F.  P.  Patterson  (whose 
former  wife,  now  Mrs.  Eddy,  is  the  leading  apostle  of  the  so-called 
Christian  Science,  or  mind  cure).  For  a  time  Dr.  Patterson  had  as 
a  partner  Dr.  Carey,  who  remained  less  than  a  year.  He  removed 
to  Terre  Haute,  Ind.,  in  November,  1871.  Following  these  were, 
in  the  order  named,  Dr.  Hall,  Dr.  Bolles,  Dr.  Cooley,  Dr.  E.  B. 
Hoskins,  Dr.  Hickok,  and  Dr.  E.  C.  Gledhill,  a  skilful  practitioner 
now  in  Providence,  R.  I.  Our  space  does  not  permit  a  detailed 
mention  of  these. 

Dr.  Samuel  C.  Sawyer  and  Dr.  Millard  F.  Young,  who  are  now 
the  representatives  of  this  profession  here,  are  in  the  first  rank  in 
their  calling.  Nothing  would  be  gained  in  going  abroad  for 
dental  work  while  we  may  command  the  professional  services  of 
these  gentlemen. 

LOCAL  BOARDS  OF  HEALTH. 

As  early  as  1799  the  General  Court  authorized  the  inhabitants 
of  the  town  of  Portsmouth  to  establish  a  local  board  of  health. 
By  the  act  of  January  3,  1833,  this  power  was  extended  for  the 
benefit  of  all  the  towns  in  the  State.  We  are  not  informed  as  to 
how  generally  this  act  became  operative.  This  town  appointed  its 
first  board  in  1873,  and  has  maintained  it  to  the  present  time.  It 
has  always  contained  at  least  one  physician.  Its  work  has  been 
preventive  of  disease,  and  it  is  believed  that  what  has  been  accom- 
plished has  been  of  great  value  in  preserving  life  and  health  in 
our  community.  Prevention  receives  little  praise  as  compared 
with  what  is  accorded  for  conspicuous  cures  ;  but  the  old  maxim, 
"  an  ounce  of  prevention  is  worth  a  pound  of  cure,"  embodies  the 
plainest  statement  of  the  most  important  of  all  the  laws  of  health. 

The  establishment  of  a  State  Board  of  Health,  in  1881,  was  one 
of  the  most  wholesome  and  important  pieces  of  legislation  that 
can  be  found  in  our  State  history.  With  a  code  of  health  ordi- 
nances essential  to  the  perfection  of  the  system  of  which  the  town 


130  History  of  Littleton. 

boards  and  ordinances  were  only  branches,  a  long  stride  forward 
was  made  in  the  domain  of  State  medicine.  The  system  embodies 
two  ideas,  education  of  the  people  in  hygiene,  and  enforcement  of 
common-sense  rules  of  health,  as  embodied  in  law  or  sanctioned 
by  public  opinion.  The  State  board  has  made  its  influence  felt  in 
every  hamlet  and  in  almost  every  household.  The  gospel  of  clean- 
liness, as  next  to  godliness,  is  preached,  understood,  and  heeded 
as  never  before.  In  our  own  community  the  physicians  and  the 
people  are  more  watchful  of  the  sewage  and  kindred  breeding- 
places  of  disease  and  death.  We  have  been  warned  of  our  negli- 
gence in  these  matters,  and  the  State  board  has  pointed  with  the 
strong  hand  of  authority  to  the  condition  of  our  river  beds  and 
our  schoolhouses  as  they  were,  and  the  remedies  have  been 
effectually  applied. 

Among  the  solid  men  attracted  to  Littleton  when  business  was 
adjusted  to  conditions  of  peace  and  the  town  commenced  upon  a 
new  era  of  prosperity,  was  Porter  B.  Watson.  This  was  in  1867. 
His  oldest  son,  Irving  Allison  Watson,  was  a  sturdy  young  man  of 
nineteen  years.  He  obtained  his  early  education  at  the  common 
schools  and  at  the  old  Xewbury  Seminary.  He  studied  medicine 
with  Dr.  A.  B.  Crosby,  and  with  his  uncle,  Dr.  Henry  L.  Watson. 
He  attended  medical  lectures  at  Dartmouth  and  the  University  of 
Vermont,  taking  his  degree  of  M.D.  from  the  Vermont  school  in 
1871.  Immediately  he  located  in  practice  at  Groveton,  and  mod- 
estly and  laboriously  laid  the  foundation  for  his  future  career.  He 
was  ten  years  at  Groveton.  The  observing  men  in  the  State  and 
White  Mountain  medical  societies  gradually  came  to  know  his 
worth.  At  length  his  masterly  treatment  of  a  virulent  and  wide- 
spread reign  of  diphtheria  in  his  own  vicinity,  and  his  no  less  mas- 
terly investigation  and  discovery  of  the  cause,  and  his  presentation 
of  the  history  of  the  case,  with  his  views  on  the  necessity  of  radi- 
cal measures  in  the  department  of  practical  and  scientific  hygiene, 
brought  him  before  the  medical  world  as  a  man  of  ideas,  as  a  man 
of  action,  a  man  with  a  future. 

Upon  the  establishment  of  a  State  Board  of  Health,  his  medical 
brethren  looked  to  him  as  the  one  to  become  the  executive  mem- 
ber for  the  medical  profession,  and  his  many  personal  friends  of 
both  political  parties  urged  his  appointment. 

He  became  secretary  of  that  board,  and  a  little  later  (1883)  also 
Secretary  of  the  American  Public  Health  Association.  He  has 
left  his  mark  deep  in  the  health  organizations  of  the  country  and 
in  the  literature  of  the  subjects  with  which  those  associations  have 
specially  to  do,  and  his  work  is  but  just  begun. 


The  Profession  of  Medicine.  131 

He  was  a  member  of  the  board  of  experts  recommended  by  the 
National  Health  Association  to  plan  and  put  in  operation  a  sys- 
tem of  sanitation  for  the  State  of  Florida.  The  work  of  this 
board  in  ridding  Florida  of  yellow  fever  and  making  it  a  phe- 
nomenally healthful  commonwealth  at  all  seasons,  is  one  of  the 
triumphs  of  modern  sanitary  science. 

Dr.  Watson  is  a  prominent  member  of  international  health  as- 
sociations, and  his  fame  and  influence  have  long  since  passed 
beyond  the  boundaries  of  his  own  country. 

He  has  also  found  time  to  serve  in  the  Legislature,  to  assume 
the  duties  of  many  social  organizations,  to  make  his  mark  as  a 
surgeon  in  the  military  organizations  of  the  State,  by  enforcing  his 
views  of  military  hygiene,  and  to  assume  the  undertaking  of  a  his- 
tory of  the  medical  profession  in  the  State,  and  other  important 
historical  work.  His  wife,  Lena  A.  Farr,  was  of  Littleton,  and 
here  is  still  the  maternal  residence.  Here  he  is  always  welcomed 
by  a  host  of  friends,  who  are  glad  at  his  success  and  who  believe 
in  his  mission. 

The  White  Mountain  Medical  Society  was  first  organized  at 
White's  Inn,  at  Lancaster,  May  17,  1820.  Dr.  John  Willard  was 
made  moderator,  and  Dr.  William  Burns,  of  this  place,  secretary 
pro  tern.  The  association  procured  an  act  of  incorporation,  June 
23, 1821.  Dr.  Eliphalet  Lyman  became  the  first  permanent  presi- 
dent. The  society  has  maintained  an  uninterrupted  activity  in 
usefulness  to  the  present  time.  It  has  drawn  its  membership  from 
both  sides  of  the  Connecticut  River,  and  has  been  augmented  by 
the  recent  union  with  it  of  the  Caledonia  (Vt.)  and  Moosilauke 
(N.  H.)  societies.  Several  Littleton  practitioners  have  been  occu- 
pants of  its  presidency.  These  were :  Dr.  Burns,  1830  to  1834, 
1836,  1842,  1843,  1855,  and  1860;  Dr.  Adams  Moore,  1848  and 
1849;  Dr.  T.  T.  Cushman,  1865  and  1866  ;  Dr.  C.  M.  Tuttle,  1875 
and  1876,  and  Dr.  McGregor  in  1899.  Dr.  Tuttle  was  also  secre- 
tary for  six  years  from  1849.  Nearly  all  the  other  permanent 
residents  of  the  profession  here  have  labored  in  the  various  official 
positions  of  the  society,  in  gathering  material  for  its  reports,  in  its 
discussions,  in  its  social,  educational,  and  remedial  work.  The 
meetings  are  held  in  the  principal  towns  in  the  district  by  rota- 
tion. The  doctors  are  always  welcome  guests  in  the  occasional 
visitations  which  the  society  makes  at  Littleton. 

Only  five  of  our  local  practitioners  of  the  regular  school  have 
been  members  of  the  State  society.  "  I  suppose,"  says  Dr.  Watson, 
"the  reason  that  so  few  Littleton  physicians  have  become  members 
of  the  society  was  the  difficulty  in  attending  the  meetings,  cspe- 


132  History  of  Littleton. 

cially  prior  to  the  railroad  reaching  Littleton.  It  is  often  very 
difficult  for  a  physician  to  leave  his  patients  for  three  or  four 
days  at  a  time,  as  would  be  required  of  members  living  so  far 
away  from  Concord  as  Littleton."  Dr.  Sanger  has  been  promi- 
nent in  the  State  society  of  his  school,  having  held  the  presidency 
several  terms. 

Our  people  are  regularly  called  upon  to  contribute  to  the  sup- 
port of  that  numerous  class  of  practitioners  who  come  among  us 
claiming  special  gifts,  such  as  no  one  who  is  educated  for  the  pro- 
fession by  the  best  preceptors,  and  by  the  best  schools  which  the 
country  affords,  and  such  as  no  one  but  a  stranger  from  afar  is 
supposed  to  possess.  These  itinerants,  not  to  say  tramps,  find 
patronage  for  a  time  ;  but,  as  the  novelty  of  an  original  advertise- 
ment wears  off,  and  the  public  slowly  recognize  the  old  humbug  in 
a  new  guise,  they  are  gone  to  greener  fields,  and  a  new  fraud  comes 
upon  the  scene.  The  mystery  of  the  human  system  is  so  great, 
the  hope  of  cure  for  the  incurable  is  so  universal,  the  multitude  of 
imaginary  ills  is  so  vast,  that  quackery  in  medicine  will  doubtless 
prey  upon  credulity,  until  ignorance  and  superstition  are  banished 
from  men's  minds,  and  wisdom  bears  the  universal  sceptre.  We 
ought  to  know,  without  a  hesitating  doubt,  that  he  who  has  the 
great  art  of  healing  will  never  need  to  hawk  his  gifts  from  hamlet 
to  hamlet.  His  fame  will  bring  the  sick  to  him,  or  they  will  call 
him  to  them,  regardless  of  distance  or  of  price.  Such  a  physician 
will  not  be  a  tramp  or  a  mountebank.  He  will  stand  up  in  com- 
munities as  a  conspicuous  figure.  He  will  be  a  monument  of  his 
profession  in  some  permanent  location.  He  will  face  the  conse- 
quences of  his  acts,  and  will  abide  the  verdict  of  his  life-work 
among  the  people  who  have  known  him  as  a  man  as  well  as  a 
physician.  The  tramp  doctor,  on  the  other  hand,  is  gone  when 
disaster  results  to  the  simple  one  who  trusted  him.  In  his  suc- 
cessive places,  the  lesson  of  his  previous  deceptions  is  lost,  for 
what  those  like  him  have  done  is  forgotten  in  the  glare  of  novelty, 
and  the  hope  of  an  impending  miracle.  The  miracle  is  always 
paid  for,  but  never  delivered.  We  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  the 
mischief  of  believing  that  the  violation  of  nature's  law  can  obtain 
immunity  by  medical,  physical,  or  spiritual  magic  is  incalculable. 
There  is  no  wisdom  here  that  does  not  recognize  the  law  of  cause 
and  effect  in  the  workings  of  the  physical  system.  When  science 
and  skill,  disciplined  together  in  experience,  have  done  their  best 
for  humanity,  it  is  folly  to  seek  in  this  enlightened  age  for  a  sus- 
pension of  the  physical  laws  of  life  or  health. 

The  relations  of  the  clerical  and  medical  professions  in  Littleton 


The  Profession  of  Medicine.  133 

have  generally  been  harmonious.  Their  representatives  have  often 
been  called  to  minister  at  the  same  bedside,  and  have  joined  in 
the  effort  to  alleviate  human  suffering  and  comfort  human  sorrow. 
Each  came  in  the  town's  infancy,  equipped  in  accordance  with  the 
requirements  of  the  times,  for  the  prosecution  of  a  humane 
mission.  Each  now  beholds  a  marvellous  change  and  undoubted 
progress. 

Dr.  "Worcester  was  compelled,  by  the  state  of  his  health,  to 
abandon  his  theological  studies  and  reinforce  the  profession  of 
medicine.  His  contemporary  and  townsman,  the  Rev.  Harry 
Brickett,  then  a  resident  of  Littleton,  after  graduating  at  Dart- 
mouth in  1840,  prosecuted  a  medical  course  in  the  medical  school 
at  Hanover  until  he  was  substantially  fitted  for  the  practice,  but 
afterwards  became  a  minister  of  the  Congregationalist  order. 
These  cases  may  be  set  off  against  each  other. 

A  more  recent  pastor  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  the 
Rev.  George  Beebe,  was  a  graduate  of  the  New  York  University 
Medical  School  in  the  class  of  1864.  He  was  a  warrant  surgeon 
in  the  United  States  service  in  the  last  years  of  the  war  of  the 
rebellion.  He  entered  the  ministry  in  1867,  and  his  sermons  were 
frequently  tinctured  with  the  lore  and  experience  of  his  former 
profession.  The  "  White  Mountain  Echo  "  of  August  30,  1879, 
contains  an  abstract  of  a  pointed  sermon  by  Mr.  Beebe,  at  Bethle- 
hem, on  the  allied  gospels  of  health  and  prosperity,  under  the 
title  of  "  A  Prophetic  Discourse." 

Our  townsman,  the  Rev.  Charles  W.  Millen,  was  the  orator 
recently  at  the  Commencement  of  the  New  York  Eclectic  Medical 
College.  His  address,  which  was  published,  indicates  that  he 
might  well  have  squared  accounts  with  Dr.  Beebe,  as  did  Dr. 
Worcester  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Brickett,  in  maintaining  the  equi- 
librium of  the  professions.  Whatever  may  be  said  of  these 
exchanges  of  the  personnel  of  the  two  professions,  there  is  no 
question  that  a  mutual  benefit  must  accrue  from  a  liberal 
interchange  of  ideas. 

Epidemics  and  contagious  diseases  have  been  of  rare  occurrence 
in  our  history.  As  the  town  had  been  quite  sparsely  settled  until 
very  near  1798,  the  year  in  which  Jenner  announced  his  discovery, 
the  ravages  of  small-pox  among  the  inhabitants,  presumably,  would 
not  be  so  general  or  serious  as  to  make  its  local  features  a  subject 
of  record.  The  State  had  taken  such  legislative  action  as  was 
usual  at  that  period,  requiring  isolation,  providing  quarantine, 
authorizing  hospitals,  and  punishing  for  wilful  communication  of 
the  infection.  It  does  not  appear  that  there  was  ever  any  notable 


134  History  of  Littleton. 

spread  of  small-pox  in  this  town.  In  1807,  however,  it  prevailed 
to  some  extent,  and  a  pest-house  was  established  near  Leavitt's 
pond,  on  the  Charlton  place,  and  another  at  the  house  of  Joshua 
Lewis,  not  far  from  the  Waterford  bridge.  The  site  of  the  house 
is  a  part  of  the  land  of  Levi  B.  Dodge.  The  buildings  are  gone. 
Dr.  Ainsworth  was  one  of  those  who  were  attacked.  One  of  the 
isolated  patients  demonstrated  the  futility  of  that  method,  so  far 
as  he  was  personally  concerned,  by  leaving  his  place  of  confine- 
ment and  posting  himself  on  the  bridge  in  the  way  of  all  passers. 
Another  person  was  incarcerated  as  a  small-pox  victim,  but  his 
symptoms  developed  into  nothing  more  epidemic  than  the  itch. 
Vaccination  had  become  so  general  that  our  people  never  knew 
much  of  small-pox  in  its  ancient  virulence.  Indeed,  statistics  now 
show  that  its  fatality  is  not  ono  per  cent  of  that  from  diphtheria 
and  scarlatina.  The  peculiar  dread  of  small-pox  that  still  exists 
is  based  upon  conditions  which  prevailed  before  vaccination  was 
practised  ;  but  there  is  no  longer  any  reasonable  foundation 
for  it. 

Spotted  fever  (cerebro-spinal  meningitis)  was  first  observed  in 
this  country,  in  ISOt),  in  Medfield,  Mass.,  although  it  had  been 
known  in  Kuropc  in  l.~>0.~>,  where  it  prevailed  to  an  alarming 
extent.  In  April,  1807,  it  appeared  in  Connecticut,  and  con- 
tinued to  prevail  in  different  towns  in  the  State,  through  the 
years  1808  and  1800.  It  is  said  to  have  appeared  in  Deerh'eld, 
N.  II.,  as  early  as  1807,  but  did  not  prevail  as  an  epidemic 
throughout  the  State  until  two  or  three  years  later,  and  remained 
as  late  as  1S15  or  181(3.  In  180t»,  1810.  and  1811  it  prevailed 
quite  generally  throughout  Maine,  New  Hampshire,  Connecticut, 
New  York,  Pennsylvania,  and  Canada.  Its  march  was  very  erratic, 
as  may  be  seen  from  the  fact  that  the  disease  prevailed  in  Hath 
in  1811,  in  Walpole,  Bethlehem,  and  Littleton  in  1812,  in  Oilman- 
ton  and  Croydon  in  181o,  in  Boscawen  in  1814.  while  Warren 
was  not  reached  till  181"),  when  it  prevailed  in  that  place  with 
fearful  malignancy.  During  the  period  named,  it  prevailed  in  the 
State  in  other  localities  than  the  towns  above  mentioned,  but  these 
instances  are  given  to  show  the  peculiarities  of  its  progress. 

Scarlatina  is  a  malady  that  is  never  inactive.  In  1832  and  1842 
it  prevailed  with  very  serious  fatality.  It  has  reappeared  at  inter- 
vals in  the  entire  period  of  the  historv  of  the  town.  A  consider- 
able mortality  resulted  fmm  it  in  the  winter  and  spring  of  1874. 
Since  then  we  have  seen  but  little  of  it.  It  is  a  noteworthy  fact 
that  at  no  one  of  the  periods  of  its  severest  visitation  in  our 
midst  was  it  as  violent  or  fatal  as  in  other  towns  of  the  vicinitv. 


The  Profession  of  Medicine.  135 

Whether  this  amelioration  of  the  effects  of  this  affliction  was 
owing  to  methods  of  treatment  for  which  our  local  practitioners 
should  have  credit,  or  to  more  favorable  local  conditions,  we 
cannot  say.  Perhaps  it  was  attributable  in  a  measure  to  each  of 
these  influences.  The  disease  is  apparently  under  better  control 
than  formerly.  Nevertheless,  it  has,  and  deserves,  the  most 
serious  attention  of  the  best  intellect  and  acquirement  of  the 
profession,  for  we  have  abundant  reason  to  view  its  approach 
with  alarm. 

A  woman  who  returned  here  from  a  visit  abroad  in  1863  had 
contracted  diphtheria.  In  greeting  her  friends  she  communicated 
the  disease,  and  it  raged  with  fatal  effect  for  several  months. 
Many  deaths  resulted,  and  it  gave  the  medical  profession  the  most 
serious  test  they  had  encountered  since  the  advent  of  spotted 
fever  in  1812.  Its  character  was  very  malignant.  Young  and 
old  were  victims.  It  recurred  in  1869,  but  with  less  fatality. 
The  activity  of  sanitary  reforms  of  recent  years  is  undoubtedly 
making  itself  effective  in  undermining  the  strongholds  of  these 
so-called  epidemic  disorders.  The  putrid  sore  throat  of  former 
times  is  closely  allied  to  diphtheria.  The  accounts  of  its  ravages, 
as  given  by  Belknap,  the  historian,  and  our  own  experience, 
would  best  be  forgotten,  were  it  not  that  they  are  the  whip  and 
spur  that  must  drive  on  the  sanitary  reform,  which  is  as  yet 
only  in  the  first  stages  of  development,  and  which  science  and 
philanthropy  alike  demand. 

The  remarkable  scourge  of  erysipelas  had  a  beginning  here  in 
1842,  when  a  child  was  found  in  the  village  suffering  from  it, 
attended  by  marked  peculiarities.  Dr.  Moore  recognized  the  true 
nature  of  the  case,  and  gave  it  consideration  in  connection  with 
the  history  of  the  disease,  as  it  had  been  known  in  London.  The 
infection  was  unconsciously  conveyed  by  physicians  in  their  prac- 
tice and  otherwise,  and  an  alarming  fatality  followed.  This  was 
especially  the  case  with  women  in  childbirth.  The  epidemic 
became  general  in  Vermont,  and  a  fatal  termination  was  almost 
certain  with  the  special  class  of  cases  previously  mentioned.  In 
this  town  it  was  brought  under  control,  perhaps,  in  a  measure 
by  favorable  local  conditions.  As  this  became  known,  the  town 
attracted  many  women  from  Vermont  for  the  period  of  confine- 
ment. Many  lives  doubtless  were  saved  by  this  hejira.  The  town 
was,  for  this  reason,  regarded  as  a  sanitarium  forty  years  ago, — 
a  "  city  of  refuge  "  from  the  epidemic. 

What  at  one  time  promised  to  be  an  epidemic  of  typhoid  fever  ap- 
peared in  the  winter  of  1862-1863,  but  it  was  soon  brought  within 


136  History  of  Littleton. 

control.  In  the  last  twenty  years  there  have  been  some  thirty 
cases  of  this  disease  in  town. 

In  1851  dysentery,  peculiar  in  its  epidemic  or  infectious  form, 
was  communicated  at  Waterford  by  two  children  who  had  con- 
tracted it  while  on  a  visit  with  their  mother  in  Boston.  It  was 
violently  contagious,  and  fatal  to  almost  every  child  that  came 
in  contact  with  it.  It  was  communicated  at  funerals  and  in 
clothing.  It  was  a  violent  dysentery,  accompanied  by  a  remark- 
ably potent  element  of  contagion.  Nothing  of  the  like  character 
has  before,  or  since,  been  known  in  this  vicinity.  A  peculiar 
feature  was,  that  it  prevailed  in  the  winter  months. 

No  adequate  treatment  of  these  topics  can  be  given  in  this 
place.  It  is  a  subject  that  well  deserves  an  article  extended  and 
in  detail.  It  is,  however,  apparent  from  what  we  have  outlined 
of  this  branch  of  the  history  of  the  town,  that  its  exemption  from 
special  visitations  of  disease  is  phenomenal.  If  our  experience  has 
been  thus  fortunate  under  the  lax  methods  and  habits  of  the  past, 
we  may  hope  for  a  more  striking  immunity  under  the  regimen 
which  the  enlightened  science  of  the  future  will  enforce. 

The  review  of  the  periods  in  which  our  people  have  suffered 
special  visitations  of  disease  demonstrates  that  our  exemption,  if 
not  complete,  has  been  remarkable.  The  conclusion  is  justified 
that  our  climate  and  sanitary  conditions  are  very  favorable  to 
general  health  and  longevity.  The  streams  course  rapidly  over 
our  territory,  down  marked  declivities.  Nature,  therefore,  con- 
trols the  drainage,  and  scours  the  surface  of  our  hillsides  and 
valleys  with  frequent  and  drenching  rain-storms  and  mountain 
floods.  AVe  have  the  pure  air  of  the  highlands,  and  the  mountains 
break  the  violence  of  the  winds.  The  water  of  our  springs  is 
wholesome,  some  of  them  having  mineral  constituents  of  a  medici- 
nal character,  and  others  being  of  as  absolutely  simple  chemistry 
as  the  famous  Poland  spring.  The  registration  report  of  1001 
gives  the  number  of  births  as  78  ;  in  1902,  SO.  The  deaths 
were  79  in  1901  ;  in  1902,  SO.  In  view  of  the  conceded  efficiency 
with  which  the  data  have  been  gathered  here,  as  compared  with 
many  other  sections  of  the  State,  we  have  an  average  in  these 
important  statistics  which  is  very  favorable  to  the  health  condi- 
tions of  the  town.  A  careful  estimate  of  the  number  of  residents, 
who  are  more  than  seventy  years  of  age,  gives  150  in  that  class. 
One  feature  of  our  climate,  espeeiallv  favorable  to  small  children 
and  invalids,  is  that  the  nights  are  almost  invariably  cool  in  the 
midsummer  season.  Our  people  have  a  daily  relief  from  the 
strain  of  the  heated  term.  Other  elements  of  the  sanitarium 


The  Profession  of  Medicine.  137 

mark  the  town.  Its  advantages  are  becoming  known  abroad, 
and  its  attractions,  as  a  resort  for  health  and  recreation,  are 
recognized  by  increasing  numbers  of  summer  visitors.  We  can- 
not promise  immunity  here  from  the  ills  to  which  the  human 
system  is  everywhere  susceptible  ;  but  this  town  is  assuredly  one 
of  the  favored  spots. 

In  the  winter  of  1901-1902  an  epidemic  of  typhoid  fever  pre- 
vailed in  the  village.  The  best  expert  authority  on  the  subject 
located  the  cause  to  a  case  of  typhoid  at  Bethlehem,  the  theory 
being  that  the  germs  passed  with  escaping  sewerage  the  interven- 
ing lands,  thence  through  the  instrumentality  of  winter  freshets 
to  the  river.  Thus  the  river  became  contaminated,  and  a  violent 
phase  of  the  epidemic  resulted.  The  river  was  abandoned  as  a 
water  supply  the  following  autumn,  and  an  abundant  and  superior 
quantity  of  water  from  the  side  of  Mount  Garfield  has  been  sub- 
stituted. No  municipality  on  this  continent  has  to-day  a  more 
excellent  and  abundant  supply  of  pure  water  for  all  purposes  than 
has  Littleton. 


138  History  of  Littleton. 


XXXI. 

CRAFTSMEN. 

THE  first  settlers  were  people  accustomed  to  make  their 
own  tools,  build  their  cabins,  and  manufacture  the  rude 
implements  with  which  they  tilled  the  soil.  They  were  "  jacks  at 
all  trades,"  and  knew  nothing  of  competition  or  trades  unions 
or  trusts.  After  a  period  of  hardship  they  conquered  adverse 
conditions  and  lived  comfortably,  peacefully,  and  prosperously. 

At  least  three  of  the  early  settlers  are  known  to  have  given  the 
usual  seven  years  to  an  apprenticeship  and  to  acquiring  a  trade. 
Captain  Caswell  served  such  an  apprenticeship  to  a  tailor,  Capt. 
Peleg  Williams  to  a  shoemaker,  and  Asa  Lewis  to  a  millwright 
and  builder.  It  is  probable,  too,  that  Josiah  Xewhall  served  an 
apprenticeship  to  acquire  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith.  When  they 
came  to  this  town,  all,  with  the  exception  of  Deacon  Lewis,  were 
more  dependent  upon  the  cultivation  of  the  soil  than  upon  their 
trades  for  a  livelihood. 

Mr.  Lewis  built  the  Bowman  saw-mill  for  Solomon  Mann,  the 
mill  at  South  Littleton  for  Moses  Little,  and  rebuilt  the  Rankin 
mill.  He  also  erected  the  Bowman,  Curtis,  and  Dr.  Burns  dwell- 
ings, and  probably  others. 

James  Dow,  who  married  a  niece  of  Mrs.  Lewis,  acquired  the 
rudiments  of  the  carpenter's  trade  in  the  service  of  Deacon  Lewis, 
and  was  for  nearly  half  a  century  a  prominent  builder  in  town. 
Before  he  had  fully  mastered  the  peaceful  vocation  to  which  he 
was  to  devote  his  active  life,  he  enlisted  in  the  War  of  1812,  and 
served  as  a  musician  from  April,  1814,  to  March,  1815,  participat- 
ing in  the  battles  of  Chippewa,  Bridgewater,  and  Fort  Erie.  In 
the  last-named  contest  he  received  a  severe  wound  which  incapaci- 
tated him  for  further  service.  An  enthusiastic  soldier,  the  lively 
spirit  of  patriotism  kindled  on  these  fields  was  never  quenched, 
and  even  when  advancing-  age  had  retired  him  from  active  labor  it 
was  his  custom  on  each  Fourth  of  Julv  to  summon  to  his  side  two 


Craftsmen.  139 

grandsons  who  would  beat  the  drums  while  he  played  the  fife, 
and  parade  the  streets  to  the  music  of  "  Yankee  Doodle "  and 
other  patriotic  airs. 

Mr.  Dow  had  a  residence  and  shop  on  the  Mann's  Hill  road, 
now  Pleasant  Street,  as  early  as  1828.  Builders  in  those  days 
received  little  aid  from  machinery.  Their  raw  material  came  to 
them  in  the  shape  of  boards  and  planks  from  the  saw-mill ;  their 
frame  was  hewn  from  the  log;  the  finish  was  worked  out  with 
hand  planes ;  the  shingles,  and  sometimes  the  clapboards,  were 
made  in  the  woods  from  ancient  pines  that  had  been  prostrated  in 
some  mighty  storm,  and  were  cut  into  lengths  with  a  cross-cut 
saw,  split  with  a  cleaver,  and  worked  into  form  and  smoothed  with 
a  shave.  They  were  durable  articles,  and  would  often  last  for  a 
generation.  Window-sash,  doors,  and  all  but  plain  finish  were 
made  at  the  home  shop  during  the  winter,  none  but  the  best  of 
pine  being  used  for  this  work. 

About  the  time  Captain  Dow  returned  from  the  war,  Jonathan 
Lovejoy,  who  had  married  a  daughter  of  John  Nurse  some  years 
before,  came  here  from  Lyman,  where  he  had  resided  some  ten 
years,  and  worked  at  his  trade  as  a  carpenter  and  joiner,  and  was 
for  nearly  forty  years  the  principal  competitor  of  Mr.  Dow. 
These  men  were  not  architects.  Each  had  a  style  that  was  par- 
ticularly his  own,  and  from  it  they  seldom  varied.  Dr.  Burns 
found  pleasure,  in  his  drives  about  the  town,  in  pointing  out  to  his 
companion  the  buildings  constructed  by  eacli  of  these  craftsmen. 
Many  of  the  houses  they  built  are  still  standing,  but  those  erected 
in  the  village  have  been  so  changed  by  adornments  and  "  modern 
improvements"  that  even  Dr.  Burns,  could  he  revisit  the  scenes 
of  his  labors,  would  fail  to  recognize  in  them  the  marked  me- 
chanical peculiarities  of  the  men  who  supervised  their  construction. 

Jonathan  Lovejoy  was  at  one  time  a  considerable  figure  in  the 
political  movements  of  the  town.  He  was  one  of  the  original  mem- 
bers of  the  Liberty  party  and  active  in  its  behalf  ;  but  it  was  some 
years  before  the  small  number  of  the  malcontents,  as  they  were 
termed,  put  a  ticket  in  nomination. 

For  nearly  ninety  years  the  Dow  and  Lovejoy  families  have  had 
representatives  engaged  in  this  craft.  Mr.  Dow  had  but  two  sons, 
Luther  T.  and  James,  Jr.,  both  of  whom  were  connected  with  the 
trade  ;  the  younger,  who  still  lives,  having  followed  it  through  life. 
Of  his  ten  daughters  seven  lived  to  the  age  of  womanhood  and  mar- 
ried craftsmen.  Of  these  sons-in-law,  David  Page  Sanborn  and 
Franklin  1.  Gooch  were  tool-manufacturers,  Capt.  Elisha  Burnham, 
Capt.  Ellery  D.  Dunn,  and  Hezekiah  II.  Xoyes  were  carpenters 


140  History  of  Littleton. 

and  builders,  Albert  H.  Quimby  was  a  carriage-manufacturer,  and 
Thomas  R.  Nichols  a  painter. 

Captains  Burnham  and  Dunn  were  leaders  among  builders. 
Elisha  Burnham  resided  on  Union  Street,  where  his  son  Henry  B. 
now  lives.  He  was  a  man  of  high  character  and  in  early  life  an 
enthusiastic  member  of  the  militia,  in  which  he  rose  to  the  rank  of 
Captain,  commanding  a  company  in  the  Thirty-second  Regiment, 
and  afterward  the  Independent  Company  of  Light  Infantry.  His 
standing  with  his  townsmen  is  indicated  by  the  fact  that  in  1845 
the  minority  party  nominated  and  elected  him  to  the  Legislature. 

Ellery  D.  Dunn  was  for  fifty  years  the  most  prominent  builder 
in  this  section  of  the  State.  He  combined  a  considerable  knowl- 
edge of  architecture  with  a  natural  mechanical  adaptability  for 
the  business  and  was  a  skilful  and  rapid  workman.  He  had  as  a 
partner  for  many  years  William  H.  Chandler,  who  was  also  a  supe- 
rior workman.  The  firm  did  a  large  business  in  this  and  adjoining 
towns  and  gave  employment  to  a  number  of  skilled  workmen. 
After  Mr.  Chandler's  death  in  1882,  Cyrus  H.  Conant  came  here 
from  Tilton  and  entered  Captain  Dunn's  employ.  His  proficiency 
finally  led  to  his  becoming  a  partner  in  the  business.  The  firm 
built  a  large  addition  to  the  Hamilton  Hotel  in  Bermuda  and  did 
a  general  contract  business  in  its  line.  Nearly  all  the  buildings 
on  Main  Street  erected  between  1860  and  1890  were  constructed 
by  Captain  Dunn  and  his  several  partners.  When  Spokane,  Wash., 
became  the  Mecca  of  fortune-seekers  from  this  section,  Mr.  Conant 
journeyed  thither  in  1892,  and  that  city  has  since  been  his  home. 
Mr.  Conant  married  Joan,  daughter  of  Dennis  Murphy,  a  son  of 
the  Emerald  Isle,  who  possessed  a  large  allowance  of  the  humor- 
ous qualities  which  distinguish  the  people  of  that  country.  On 
first  coming  to  this  country  in  1849,  he  made  his  home  in  this 
town,  and  here  he  continued  to  reside  until  his  death  in  1896. 
During  this  long  period  he  was  one  of  the  characters  of  the  town, 
and  his  original  sayings  were  widely  circulated  and  some  of  them 
still  survive  in  local  slang. 

Jonathan  Lovejoy  had  a  son,  Jonathan  Johnson,  who  followed 
the  trade,  and  his  nephew  and  son-in-law,  who  was  of  the  same 
craft  and  was  his  partner  for  several  years,  after  his  death  con- 
tinued the  business.  The  name  of  this  family  is  associated  with 
the  west  end  of  Main  Street.  In  1834  Jonathan  Johnson  built 
the  house  now  standing  at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Meadow  Streets. 
The  old  house  standing  on  this  site,  now  the  ell  of  the  building, 
was  once  owned  by  Sylvester  Savage,  who  probably  built  it  about 
1812.  It  was  the  home  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hardv  during;  the 


Craftsmen.  141 

last  months  of  his  life.  Mr.  Lovejoy  also  built  the  house  next 
west  of  the  Isaac  Abbot  house  in  1839,  and  with  his  cousin 
Charles  H.  Lovejoy  in  1838  built  that  which  was  successively 
for  many  years  the  home  of  Jonathan,  Charles  H.,  and  Henry 
W.  Lovejoy. 

The  Lovejoys  were  given  to  intermarriages.  Simon,  the  father 
of  Jonathan  and  William  of  this  town,  married  his  cousin  Grace, 
daughter  of  Nathan  Lovejoy  of  Pepperell,  Mass.,  and  William 
Wallace  and  Charles  Henry,  sons  of  William,  married  daughters 
of  Jonathan,  while  another  William,  a  son  of  the  same  Jonathan, 
married  his  cousin  Nancy,  eldest  daughter  of  his  uncle  William. 

To  return  to  the  old-time  artisans  in  this  branch  of  the  trades. 
At  a  time  when  carpentry  and  joinery  were  distinct  occupations, 
Elisha  P.  Miner,  a  son  of  Isaac  and  grandson  of  Thomas  the 
pioneer,  followed  the  former  trade,  and  framed  many  of  the  houses 
in  town  that  were  built  between  1820  and  1860,  when  Mr.  Miner 
retired.  He  was  much  respected  for  his  probity.  His  son  Silas  A., 
but  recently  deceased  (1903),  followed  the  same  trade. 

About  1826  Levi  Sanborn  became  a  citizen  of  this  town,  coming 
from  Sanbornton  and  bringing  a  family  of  nine  children,  among 
them  David  Page  Sanborn,  subsequently  the  noted  tool-manufac- 
turer. Mr.  Sanborn  built  the  first  house  on  the  lot  afterward 
owned  by  John  Farr ;  it  was  destroyed  by  fire  soon  after  the  prop- 
erty had  been  purchased  by  Mr.  Farr,  and  his  eldest  daughter 
perished  in  the  flames.  The  brick  house  now  owned  by  Cyrus 
Young  occupies  the  site  of  the  building  which  was  burned.  Mr. 
Sanborn  died  in  1835.  Several  of  his  sons  and  all  the  husbands 
of  his  daughters  were  carpenters. 

Jonathan  Nurs  was  one  of  the  most  skilful  of  the  old-time 
carpenters,  and  framed  several  of  the  important  buildings  of  the 
town  besides  assisting  Mr.  Tenney,  who  was  the  overseer  in  fram- 
ing the  village  meeting-house,  and  Mr.  Ingalls,  who  built  the 
Woollen  Factory.  These  structures  were  supposed  to  require  the 
special  experience  of  builders  more  familiar  with  the  work  than 
were  any  of  those  at  home.  Accordingly  Mr.  Tenney,  from  one  of 
the  New  Hampshire  towns  in  the  Connecticut  valley,  and  Mr. 
Ingalls  from  one  of  the  hill  towns  of  Vermont,  probably  from 
Danville,  were  engaged  to  superintend  their  erection.  Mr.  Nurs 
built  the  old  factory  boarding-house  and  marked  the  frame  of 
Thayer's  Hotel,  though  Andrew  Scott  —  a  noted  carpenter  in  his 
day,  who  once  resided  in  town  but  at  that  time  lived  over  the  line 
in  Bethlehem  —  directed  the  work. 

Mr.  Nurs  built  and  lived  for  some  years  in  the  house,  recently 


142  History  of  Littleton. 

destroyed  by  fire,  that  stood  near  the  Palmer  Brook  bridge  on 
Union  Street.  His  work  was  not  confined  to  this  town.  He 
helped  build  the  Profile  House  and  other  houses  at  the  White 
Mountains  as  well  as  numerous  buildings  in  near-by  towns. 

Oliver  Xurs,  a  brother  of  Jonathan,  was  another  old-time 
carpenter  who  was  not  without  fame  as  a  builder  somewhat  more 
than  half  a  century  ago.  When  times  were  slack,  he  found  work 
by  building  on  his  own  account.  He  built  the  house  on  Main 
Street  beyond  the  cemetery,  once  the  residence  of  John  W. 
English  and  now  owned  by  Alphonso  Harriman  ;  the  original 
house  on  the  site  of  the  Mountain  Home  House,  and  others 
outside  the  village  precincts. 

Another  follower  of  this  craft  who  resided  in  the  town  in 
the  thirties  was  Frederick  Kilburn.  When  the  Rev.  Isaac  R. 
Worcester  was  settled  over  the  Congregational  Church  and  So- 
ciety, he  was  given  nearly  five  hundred  dollars  that  had  been 
raised  to  enable  his  brother  Evarts  to  build  a  parsonage,  and  he 
employed  Mr.  Kilburn  to  build  for  him  the  residence  on  the  north- 
east side  of  Union  Street,  near  the  Pike  Company's  works,  now 
owned  by  John  A.  Miller.  Mr.  Kilburn  had  the  reputation  of 
being  an  excellent  workman. 

In  the  years  prior  to  1850  the  modern  light  frame  of  sawed 
timber  was  unknown  in  this  section.  Pine  was  the  material 
used,  and  was  usually  cut  within  the  village  precinct.  The  timber 
used  in  the  frames  of  the  meeting-house  and  the  Brackett  store, 
now  known  as  Calhoun's  Block,  was  cut  in  the  village,  and  the 
fine  frame  of  the  Woollen  Factory  was  hewn  from  pine  cut  on 
land  that  extends  from  High  Street  to  Palmer  Mountain.  As  the 
ceilings  of  the  factory  and  store  were  to  be  used  unplastered.  the 
exposed  parts  of  all  the  timber  were  planed  and  were  without  a 
scar  from  the  hewer's  axe. 

In  the  early  part  of  this  period  few  buildings  were  painted,  and 
it  was  customary  to  leave  such  work  to  the  joiner.  Red  or  yellow 
was  the  prevailing  color  in  use,  but  sometimes  an  owner  more 
ambitious  than  his  neighbors  would  paint  his  house  white.  Then 
there  came  a  time,  about  1840,  when  all  the  painted  buildings  in 
the  village  with  the  exception  of  the  old  red  and  yellow  stores, 
the  house  at  the  corner  of  the  meadow  road,  which  wore  its  red 
coat  many  years  more,  and  one  or  two  dwellings  on  the  Mann's 
Hill  road,  were  white.  Another  notable  characteristic  of  that 
time  was  the  absence  of  piazzas.  As  late  as  1840  the  only 
dwellings  in  the  village  thus  adorned,  other  than  the  taverns, 
were  the  residences  of  Henrv  A.  Bellows  and  Dr.  William  Burns. 


Craftsmen.  143 

When,  in  1839,  Peter  Paddleford  built  the  house  now  the  resi- 
dence of  Mrs.  Charles  M.  Tuttle,  the  parlor  end,  on  both  its  north- 
erly and  southerly  sides,  had  piazzas.  From  this  time  they  grew 
in  favor,  and  when  William  Brackett  built  his  village  residence 
near  the  bridge,  it  was  nearly  surrounded  with  a  piazza  which 
has  remained  unchanged  to  this  day. 

The  early  frame  structures  were  low-posted  and  seldom  more 
than  one  story  in  height.  There  are  several  well-preserved 
examples  of  these  dwellings  still  to  be  seen,  —  among  them  the 
old  Bowman  house  in  the  rear  of  Opera  Block,  a  two-story  build- 
ing ;  the  Loren  Bowman  house,  which  stands  in  what  was  the 
Brackett  mill  yard  opposite  the  brick  house  where  Cyrus  Young 
resides.  This  Bowman  house  was  built  on  the  site  of  Dr.  Sanger's 
residence  in  1819  by  Noah  Farr,  who  gave  a  load  of  potatoes  for 
the  two-acre  lot  that  constituted  its  site.  Some  adornments 
have  been  added,  among  them  the  front  porch,  but  the  general 
character  of  the  house  is  unchanged.  On  its  original  site  it  was 
for  several  years  the  home  of  Col.  Timothy  A.  Edson,  and  then 
for  nearly  half  a  century  the  residence  of  Truman  Stevens.  The 
Brackett  place  on  the  meadow  road,  now  owned  by  the  Mclntires, 
and  the  Goodwin  and  Allen  houses  on  Mann's  Hill  are  also  well- 
preserved  types  of  the  architecture  of  the  period.  Many  others 
have  resisted  the  tooth  of  time  only  to  be  transformed  into 
"  modern  dwellings." 

The  builders  of  recent  times,  other  than  those  already  men- 
tioned, have  been  many,  and  among  the  most  prominent  were 
John  T.  and  Samuel  Freeland  Simpson,  who  did  business  under 
the  firm  name  of  Simpson  Brothers  from  1868  down  to  1890, 
when  the  firm  was  dissolved  by  the  departure  of  the  younger 
brother,  who  has  since  made  his  home  in  Lawrence,  Mass.  John  T. 
was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1861-1865,  as  a  member  of  a  Maine 
regiment  in  which  he  rose  to  the  rank  of  First  Lieutenant.  Since 
his  residence  here  he  has  been  prominent  in  Grand  Army  and  po- 
litical circles,  having  commanded  the  local  post  and  represented 
the  town  in  the  General  Court.  He  has  also  served  on  the  Board 
of  Selectmen  and  as  Commissioner  of  the  Village  District  two 
terms. 

John  D.  and  Charles  Bradon  Chandler,  who  have  been  resi- 
dents of  the  town  fifty  years,  belong  to  this  craft,  the  former  hav- 
ing built  many  dwellings  in  that  time. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  the  war  in  1865,  John  Carbonneau  came 
to  Littleton  from  Sherbrooke,  Canada.  He  was  accompanied  by 
some  of  his  sons  and  followed  by  others,  all  of  whom  were  car- 


144  History  of  Littleton. 

penters.  They  were  William  G.,  Napoleon,  Theophile,  and  John 
A.  This  family  were  among  the  first  to  build  at  the  west  end 
of  South  Street  and  on  Bridge  Street,  John  building  the  first 
house  on  Bridge  Street  south  of  the  railroad,  Napoleon  that  at 
the  corner  of  Bridge  and  South  Streets,  and  William  G.  two 
houses  on  the  left  side  of  South  Street. 

Another  excellent  workman,  who  came  from  Sherbrooke,  Canada, 
in  1876,  is  Charles  E.  Garand,  who  is  still  active  at  his  trade. 

Among  the  builders  at  this  time  (1903)  are  John  A.  Fogg  and 
his  brother,  Edgar  0.  The  last-named  has  a  shop  in  what  was 
formerly  Grange  Hall  on  Union  Street.  John  A.  was  for  some 

»/  o 

years  very  active,  doing  a  large  business,  but  has  within  a  few 
months  practically  retired. 

Riley  S.  and  Chester  Simpson  for  nearly  fifty  years  have  re- 
sided in  town,  and  during  most  of  that  time  have  worked  at  their 
trade  as  carpenters,  though  they  have  never  been  contractors. 

Jeremiah  B.  Copp  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  best  workmen  the 
town  has  had  as  a  carpenter,  using  the  word  in  the  sense  of  dis- 
tinguishing the  trade  of  framer  from  that  of  joiner  or  finisher  of 
a  building.  He  came  here  in  1860,  and  since  that  time  has  been 
employed  on  nearly  all  the  important  structures  erected  in  the 
town.  He  framed  the  High  School  building  that  was  blown  down 
before  it  had  been  boarded  by  the  storm  of  November,  1867. 
After  this  event  Charles  Nurse,  son  of  Jonathan,  was  given  the 
contract  to  remove  the  debris  and  complete  the  job.  Mr.  Nurse 
is  the  oldest  of  our  living  carpenters.  He  has  now  retired  after  a 
laborious  career  extending  over  more  than  fifty  years. 

Louis  Myott,  a  former  employee  of  Dunn  &  Chandler  and  then  of 
Cyrus  A.  Conant,  whom  he  succeeded  in  the  business,  is  a  skilful 
and  successful  workman. 

It  was  many  years  after  the  settlement  of  the  town  before  a 
mason  became  a  resident.  A  Mr.  King  was  the  first  mason  ;  he 
was  here  but  a  short  time.  But  Aaron  Kenney  lived  in  the  Crane 
neighborhood  in  Bethlehem,  and  was  a  master-hand  at  build- 
ing brick  ovens  and  chimneys,  and  could  lay  plaster  that  would 
stick  where  he  put  it  for  a  generation.  For  more  than  a  decade 
he  did  nearly  all  the  masonry  and  plastering  in  this  town  as  well 
as  that  of  his  residence.  The  building  of  the  Scythe  Factory 
and  saw-mill  at  the  hamlet  now  known  as  Apthorp  rendered  this 
an  inviting  field  for  all  the  crafts,  and  in  1836  Moses  Cleveland, 
"bricklayer  and  plasterer,"  came  from  Bath  and  located  here, 
where  he  bad  a  monopoly  in  his  trade  until  1850,  when  the 
erection  of  the  Methodist  meeting-house,  and  the  rebuilding  in 


Craftsmen.  145 

part  of  the  Congregational  meeting-house,  and  the  growth  of  the 
village  in  anticipation  of  the  coming  of  the  railroad,  required  all 
kinds  of  artisans,  and  created  a  demand  for  a  more  ornamental 
style  of  workmanship  than  Mr.  Cleveland  was  familiar  with  ;  so 
Samuel  Pollard  came  and  did  the  work  on  the  meeting-houses, 
Thayer's  Hotel,  and  most  of  the  private  residences  built  in  the 
next  six  years.  Mr.  Pollard  was  an  expert  workman,  and  was  the 
first  to  embellish  the  plasterer's  art  with  cornice  and  stucco  orna- 
mentation. He  subsequently,  about  1858,  removed  to  Dalton. 

The  successor  of  Mr.  Pollard  was  Chester  Fisk,  who  had  been 
a  resident  here  from  1852  but  had  not  entered  into  competition 
with  Mr.  Pollard  for  a  share  of  the  higher  class  of  work.  Mr. 
Fisk  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  best  masons  that  have  made  this 
town  their  home.  In  the  seventies  he  went  to  Manchester,  where 
he  died  some  years  ago. 

His  successor  was  Newton  S.  Cooley,  who  had  been  a  gallant 
sailor  in  the  navy  during  a  part  of  the  war.  He  was  an  excellent 
workman,  thoroughly  versed  in  all  its  branches,  and  a  skilled 
decorator  in  the  plastic  art  connected  with  this  craft.  Mr.  Cooley 
did  a  large  business  down  to  the  time  when  his  health  failed  and 
necessitated  his  retirement. 

Among  those  who  succeeded  Mr.  Cooley  were  James  Place,  re- 
cently deceased,  and  James  E.  Cheney,  John  McKelvey,  John 
Bean,  and  Joseph  White,  who  are  still  in  the  business. 

The  furniture  business  has,  in  a  way,  had  an  existence  here  for 
nearly  a  hundred  years.  The  old-time  cabinet-makers  manufac- 
tured for  a  market  that  extended  beyond  the  borders  of  the  town. 
Josiah  Hosmer,  the  landlord  of  the  Bowman  House,  and  the  builder 
of  the  Union,  or  Cobleigh,  stand,  was  a  cabinet-maker  by  trade, 
and  never  quite  abandoned  that  business  while  a  resident  here. 
The  Hazeltine  chair  business  was  started  in  1830,  and  soon  acquired 
a  reputation  for  substantial  and  handsomely  finished  work  that  ia 
still  remembered.  Enoch  Hazeltine  was  a  unique  character  ;  slight 
of  form,  light-complexioned,  with  an  intellectual  face  and  an  ab- 
stract air,  his  bearing  was  such  that  by  those  who  did  not  know  him 
he  was  regarded  as  queer.  He  was  a  man  of  strong  convictions  and 
much  given  to  thought.  An  abolitionist,  his  soul  was  centred  in 
the  work  of  that  party  to  the  exclusion  of  everything  else  except  an 
occasional  excursion  into  the  realms  of  what  is  now  styled  "  liberal 
Christianity,"  a  subject  that  sometimes  led  him  to  forget  for  a 
moment  the  chains  of  the  bondman.  His  habit  of  introspection 
led  to  many  curious  physical  results,  and  for  years  kept  him 
maimed  and  bandaged  in  consequence  of  a  misdirected  blow  or  a 

VOL.  II.  —  10 


146  History  of  Littleton. 

cut  from  a  tool  or  the  machinery  with  which  he  was  at  work.  In 
the  course  of  time  this  paring  process  deprived  him  of  all  the 
fingers  of  one  hand  except  a  stub,  which  he  used  with  strange 
effect  upon  his  listener  in  explaining  a  point  in  his  conversation. 
Nor  did  the  left  hand  escape  mutilation,  for  in  a  few  years  it  bore  a 
strong  family  resemblance  to  the  right.  These  periods  of  abstrac- 
tion were  not  confined  to  the  shop,  but  accompanied  him  every- 
where and  were  productive  of  many  ludicrous  scenes  and  accidents. 
This  propensity  may  have  kept  him  in  a  narrow  field  of  endeavor, 
but  it  held  him  true  to  the  goal  at  which  he  aimed  and  he  lived  to 
see  it  attained.  He  died  at  the  house  of  his  son  in  New  Bedford, 
Mass.,  in  1873.  Of  his  four  children,  but  one,  Andrew  A.,  was 
born  in  this  town  ;  the  eldest,  Frederick,  was  born  in  Danville, 
Vt.,  in  1815.  He  was  in  business  with  his  father  for  some  years, 
and  then  conducted  it  alone  or  in  company  with  his  brother  Charles 
until  his  death,  September  29, 1864.  II is  taking  off  was  the  result 
of  an  accident.  While  loading  a  piece  of  heavy  chair  machinery 
upon  a  wagon  at  the  railroad  depot,  lie  stepped  on  to  the  rear  of 
the  load  ;  the  added  weight  lifted  the  body  of  the  wagon  from  the 
forward  axletrec,  which  threw  him  to  the  ground,  and  his  life  was 
crushed  out  by  the  piece  of  machinery  which  fell  upon  him.  He 
was  an  intelligent,  industrious,  high-minded  citizen.  Charles  was 
eccentric  and  extreme  in  his  views,  resembling  his  father  in  these 
respects  but  not  in  his  actions.  He  removed  to  Massachusetts  after 
the  death  of  his  brother  Frederick,  and  this  closed  the  connection 
of  the  family  with  an  industry  of  the  town  that  had  prospered  for 
a  generation.  The  only  daughter  of  Enoch  Ilazeltine  married  John 
Smith  Roby,  a  son  of  Dr.  Joseph  Roby,  of  the  linn  of  lloby,  Curtis, 
<fc  Co.,  and  removed  to  Lancaster,  where  the  remainder  of  her  life 
was  passed.  The  youngest,  Andrew  Arthur,  became  a  dentist,  and 
was  the  first  member  of  the  profession  to  open  a  permanent  otlice 
here.  He  married  the  only  daughter  of  Asa  Weller,  and  removed 
to  New  Bedford,  Mass.,  where  he  died  on  the  first  day  of  January, 
1895.  Father  and  sons  were  skilful  mechanics,  and  men  who  did 
their  utmost  to  promote  the  welfare  of  the  community. 

Amos  Rowell,  who  for  many  years  had  a  shop  and  residence  on 
the  east  side  of  Pleasant  Street,  carried  on  the  business  of  a 
cabinet-maker  from  1*26  to  1S67.  He  was  an  unobtrusive  citixen, 
but  was  as  tenacious  of  opinion  as  was  Enoch  Ilazeltine,  in  whose 
political  opinions  he  shared:  in  fact,  he  became  an  abolitionist  a 
few  years  earlier  than  that  gentleman. 

Deacon  John  Merrill  was  born  in  Pembroke,  learned  the  trade 
of  a  cabinet-maker.,  and  came  to  Littleton  in  1832.  The  following 


Craftsmen.  147 

year  he  built  the  building  now  the  Cohashauke  Club  rooms  for  a 
shop,  and  there  did  business  until  1851,  when  he  sold  the  shop  and 
the  dwelling-house  he  had  built  in  1836,  now  the  residence  of 
Henry  F.  Green,  and  erected  a  new  shop  at  the  head  of  Saranac 
Street,  near  the  brick  store  and  the  dwelling  now  the  house  of  his 
son  Henry  Merrill.  The  deacon  had  conducted  an  undertaker's 
business,  and  a  few  years  after  moving  to  the  new  shop  abandoned 
the  furniture  line  to  give  his  attention  to  the  other. 

Thomas  White  was  another  cabinet-maker  of  those  days.  He 
came  here  in  1847,  and  bought  the  David  Page  Sanborn  place, 
near  the  Palmer  Brook,  now  the  residence  of  Henry  D.  Bishop, 
and  carried  on  business  until  his  death  in  1880. 

These  men,  with  the  exception  of  the  Hazeltines,  generally  con- 
fined their  work  to  orders,  though  there  were  dull  seasons  when 
their  time  was  employed  in  making  up  such  articles  as  were  con- 
sidered standard  and  in  frequent  demand.  Their  furniture  was 
strong  and  durable,  and  many  pieces  may  still  be  found  that  after 
the  lapse  of  more  than  seventy  years  are  as  sound  as  when  they 
came  from  the  maker's  shop. 

Of  the  blacksmiths,  Josiah  Newhall,  Anson  Wheeler,  and  Guy 
Ely  may  be  regarded  as  having  belonged  to  the  pioneer  period  of 
our  history,  and  their  story  has  been  told  at  some  length  in  con- 
nection with  the  events  of  their  time.  Among  the  early  workers 
in  iron  not  named  in  the  narrative  were  Laban  Tift,  who  had  a 
shop  at  West  Littleton,  near  the  Rankin  mill,  and  Barnard  H. 
Smith,  whose  shop  was  near  the  Pingree  place  at  the  north  part  of 
the  town.  Neither  of  these  made  this  trade  his  exclusive  busi- 
ness, but  was  a  farmer  as  well  as  blacksmith.  When  Newhall 
and  Wheeler  retired  from  business,  no  successor  kept  the  fires 
burning  at  their  forges,  and  slight  vestiges  of  their  shops  now 
remain.  Mr.  Ela  sold  his  shop  and  a  former  residence  on  the 
Mann's  Hill  road,  now  Pleasant  Street,  to  Levi  F.  Ranlet,  who 
located  here  in  1839,  and  soon  became  an  active  factor  in  the 
Methodist  Church  and  the  politics  of  the  Free-soil  party.  He 
carried  on  the  business  until  age  and  its  infirmities  compelled  his 
retirement. 

Freeman  Palmer,  a  member  of  the  pioneer  family  of  the  name, 
built  a  small  house  on  the  site  of  the  brick  residence  east  of  the 
Congregational  meeting-house  as  early  as  1824,  and  a  blacksmith's 
shop  east  of  his  dwelling.  Both  were  torn  down  by  William 
Hibbard  when  he  built  on  the  lots  in  1837.  Mr.  Palmer  was  a 
man  of  an  inventive  turn,  with  some  of  the  eccentricities  of  that 
talent.  He  devised  the  method  of  making  horse-shoe  nails  bv 


148  History  of  Littleton. 

machinery,  and  built  the  first  machine  for  that  purpose,  which  was 
ultimately  developed  into  that  now  in  use.  After  he  sold  to  Mr. 
Hibbard  he  built  the  house  at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Pleasant 
Streets  where  the  Boylston  Block  now  stands.  He  moved  to  Ohio 
in  1850. 

A  smith  who  came  here  earlier  than  Mr.  Ranlet  was  William 
Hibbard,  who,  born  in  Bath,  had  married  Miss  Learned,  grand- 
daughter of  Captain  Caswell  and  sister  of  Mrs.  Hinds.  He  came 
to  this  town  in  1830,  and  bought  the  lot  on  the  south  side  of  Main 
Street  on  what  has  since  been  known  as  Meeting-house  Hill.  He 
removed  the  buildings,  built  a  shop  in  1834,  and  a  substantial 
brick  residence  in  1837.  This  was  the  third  of  those  brick  build- 
ings erected  in  this  decade,  the  first  being  the  brick  store  in  1824, 
then  the  Cyrus  Young  residence  built  by  John  Farr  in  1836,  and 
Mr.  Hibbard's  residence.  These  were  the  only  brick  buildings  in 
the  village  until  1852,  when  Colonel  Russell  built  the  blacksmith 
shop  on  Brook  Street,  now  the  residence  of  Cornelius  Strain.  In 
1842  he  moved  to  Danville,  Yt,  and  subsequently  to  Glover.  He 
was  an  intelligent  citizen,  who  was  helpfully  interested  in  pro- 
moting the  public  welfare,  and  possessed  the  entire  confidence  of 
the  people. 

The  next  occupant  of  this  shop  was  Benjamin  B.  Jones,  who 
married  a  daughter  of  John  Bowman.  He  built  the  house  on 
Saranac  Street  directly  south  of  the  shop.  He  was  at  one  time  in 
partnership  with  Levi  F.  Ranlet.  Pie  moved  about  1845  to  Xew 
York  State  and  subsequently  to  Ohio.  For  about  fifteen  years 
from  the  time  it  was  left  by  Mr.  Jones  it  had  many  tenants,  none 
of  whom  remained  more  than  two  years.  When  the  drift  of  this 
business  went  away  from  it,  it  was  used  several  years  as  a  store- 
house and  was  finally  torn  down,  and  its  site  has  since  been  used 
as  a  garden. 

One  of  the  tenants  in  the  old  Hibbard  shop  was  Ebenezer 
Stevens,  a  blacksmith  by  trade  but  who  at  one  time  operated  the 
saw-mill  near  Wing  Road  long  known  by  his  name  as  Stevens' 
mill.  He  erected  the  first  blacksmith's  shop  on  Saranac  Street  in 
1849,  and  in  partnership  with  David  Bean  was  in  business  here  a 
little  more  than  two  years,  when  Mr.  Stevens  changed  the  old 
potashery  into  a  shop.  Mr.  Bean  continued  to  work  with  him 
until  a  cinder  from  the  anvil  penetrated  his  thigh,  inflicting'  a 
wound  which  caused  blood  poisoning  and  resulted  in  his  death  in 
August,  1854.  Mr.  Stevens  went  to  Maine  to  reside  in  1858. 

About  the  time  Mr.  Jones  left  the  shop  before  referred  to 
Lewis  L.  Merrill  built  the  stone  shop  and  worked  there  until  fail- 


Craftsmen.  149 

ing  health  compelled  him  in  1851  to  seek  less  laborious  work,  when 
he  exchanged  his  village  property  with  Dr.  Burns  for  the  farm  ad- 
joining the  old  meeting-house.  Since  his  time  the  shop  has  had 
many  tenants  ;  among  them,  Daniel  Patterson,  Ezra  and  Charles 
TV.  Keniston.  Charles  H.  Applebee,  the  present  owner,  has  occu 
pied  the  premises  since  1883. 

From  the  time  of  the  retirement  of  Levi  F.  Eanlet  the  old  Ely 
shop  passed  through  the  same  changeable  conditions  as  to  its 
possession  as  have  attended  all  others  when  expansion  brought 
its  varying  changes  in  village  growth.  The  brothers  William  and 
Collins  M.  Buchanan  held  a  lease  of  the  premises  for  a  few  years, 
and  George  Belknap  was  the  last  craftsman  to  use  it  for  its 
original  purpose.  It  then  passed  to  Benjamin  F.  Wells,  and  is 
now  used  by  Wells  &  Bingham,  undertakers. 

Truman  Stevens  was  born  in  Barnet,  Vt.,  and  learned  the 
trade  of  saddler  and  harness-maker  at  St.  Johnsbury  with  Captain 
Martin.  Before  entering  into  business  he  was  employed  by  the 
Fairbanks  Company,  then  just  starting  their  .scale  business,  and 
travelled  for  the  firm  as  a  salesman  two  or  three  years.  In  June, 
1824,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Malvina  A.  Carleton,  of  St. 
Johnsbury,  and  the  next  year  came  to  this  town,  which  was  ever 
after  his  home. 

It  is  not  certain,  but  it  is  quite  probable,  that  he  was  the  first  of 
his  trade  to  engage  in  business  in  this  town.  He  was  of  a  specu- 
lative turn  of  mind  and  a  keen  observer  of  men.  He  was  restless 
over  what  he  regarded  as  wasted  opportunities  to  improve  individ- 
ual fortunes  and  advance  the  interests  of  the  town  by  employing 
the  water  power  then  running  to  waste  in  manufacturing  enter- 
prises ;  but  he  failed  to  make  an  impression  on  his  townsmen  in 
this  cause.  When,  in  1828,  Henry  A.  Bellows  and  George  B.  Red- 
ington  located  here,  he  found  in  them  congenial  spirits  socially, 
politically,  and  in  the  desire  to  promote  business  enterprises.  In 
company  with  Major  Little,  jthey  were  interested  in  several  proj- 
ects, among  them  a  contract  to  introduce  the  Fairbanks  scale  into 
England  and  the  building  of  the  Woollen  Factory  in  1839.  In 
those  years  Mr.  Stevens  gave  more  of  his  time  to  these  affairs 
than  to  his  trade  as  a  harness-maker.  These  Littleton  men  failed 
to  accomplish  their  purpose  in  the  several  enterprises,  not  for 
want  of  merit  or  of  skilful  handling  on  their  part,  but  owing  to 
that  insuperable  obstacle  of  having  moved  in  advance  of  their 
time.  They  paid  the  penalty,  yet  lived  to  see  others  gather  the 
harvest  of  wealth  for  which  they  had  prepared  the  ground. 

When  these  business  schemes  had  borne  him  down  financially, 


150  History  of  Littleton. 

Mr.  Stevens  returned  to  his  bench,  industriously  pursued  his 
vocation  and  amassed  a  modest  competence.  He  was  averse  to 
discussing  the  enterprises  with  which  he  had  been  prominently 
connected  and  never  again  acted  the  part  of  a  promoter.  It  can 
be  said  of  Mr.  Stevens  and  his  associates  that  in  building  up  the 
several  manufacturing  concerns  with  which  they  were  connected 
they  hazarded  their  fortunes  and  assumed  obligations  that  in  the 
event  of  failure  were  likely  to  become  a  lasting  financial  burden. 

Mr.  Stevens  was  a  man  of  medium  height  and  frame,  with 
strong  yet  fine  features  and  ruddy  face.  In  manner  he  was  quiet, 
reserved,  and  dignified  ;  a  gentleman  of  what  is  commonly  termed 
the  "  old  school."  He  had  read  much,  and  his  knowledge  was  of 
a  quality  worth  possessing.  Mrs.  Stevens  was  a  handsome  and 
accomplished  woman,  and  her  house  was  at  one  time  the  centre 
of  the  social  and  intellectual  life  of  the  village. 

The  noted  abolitionist,  Natt  Allen,  entered  the  shop  of  Mr. 
Stevens  as  an  apprentice,  and  after  mastering  the  trade  did  business 
here  on  his  own  account  until  1844,  when  he  went  to  Lowell, 
Mass.1 

John  G.  B.  Stevens  located  in  town  and  opened  a  harness  shop 
in  1841.  He  was  a  brother  of  the  wife  of  Silas  Parker  and  a  man 
of  character.  Before  coming  here  he  had  been  a  deacon  of  the 
Congregational  Church,  and  was  quite  active  in  that  religious 
organization  during  his  brief  residence  here.  He  died  in  1843. 

A  marked  increase  in  this  particular  branch  of  business  began 
about  1850,  and  continued  for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  since  which 
time  it  has  maintained  its  manufacturing  and  commerical  impor- 
tance. The  rough  farms  of  the  early  settlers  and  their  immediate 
successors  could  not  be  tilled  with  horses,  and  until  about  1850 
every  farm  in  town  was  cultivated  by  the  use  of  oxen.  So  too 
the  team  work  in  lumbering  was  largely  done  with  oxen.  With 
farms  cleared  of  stumps  and  stones,  horses  were  substituted  for 
this  service  and  the  change  wrought  a  corresponding  increase  in  the 
harness  business.  The  enlarged  field  and  opportunity  came  to  the 
attention  of  Asa  Coburn,  then  of  Penacook,  and  in  1855  he 
rented  the  tenement  built  against  the  east  side  of  the  Yellow  Store, 
and  from  the  beginning  did  a  considerable  business.  He  subse- 
quently moved  into  Paddleford's  building,  but  during  the  last 
years  of  his  business  career  was  located  in  Union  Block.  Mr. 
Coburn's  sons  George  C.  and  Charles  R.  were  in  business  with  him 
at  different  times,  the  last  named  becoming  his  successor. 

1  Something  concerning  .Mr.  Allen  will  be  found  in  the  chapter  entitled  •' Anti- 
Slavery  "  in  Vol.  I.  of  this  work. 


Craftsmen.  151 

Asa  Coburn  soon  became  a  public  character  in  that  modest  way 
which  some  men  have  of  attracting  attention  without  seemingly 
desiring  to  win  popularity  or  to  hold  public  office.  He  never  im- 
pressed those  who  knew  him  as  a  man  of  strong  will  or  positive 
opinions  ;  in  general  conversation  he  was  apt  to  assent  to  the 
views  of  those  with  whom  he  conversed,  especially  when  they  were 
stated  with  an  air  of  conviction.  Yet  no  one  could  have  held 
more  firmly  to  political  opinions,  or  rather  to  party  associations, 
than  this  man  who  was  more  than  disposed  to  agree  with  you 
in  all  things  else.  For  nearly  fifty  years  he  was  an  omnivorous 
reader  of  the  organ  of  his  party  published  in  Boston,  and  to  him, 
at  least,  everything  printed  in  its  columns  was  law  and  gospel, 
and  in  time  he  came  to  be  an  indiscriminate  reflector  of  its  state- 
ments of  opinions,  facts,  and  fancies.  This  mental  trait  attracted 
to  his  shop  many  who  desired  to  keep  in  touch  with  the  drift  of 
political  events  without  personal  investigation,  and  it  soon  became 
the  headquarters  of  many  of  his  political  associates.  This  coterie 
in  1889  presented  his  claims  for  nomination  as  a  candidate  for 
Representative,  and,  failing  that,  he  was  placed  upon  his  party 
ticket  as  a  candidate  for  delegate  to  the  Constitutional  Convention 
and  elected. 

The  kindliness  and  amiability  that  were  his  most  characteristic 
traits  led  him  to  tender  his  services  to  the  afflicted,  and  for  many 
years,  until  the  undertaker  made  such  offices  a  part  of  his  busi- 
ness, Mr.  Coburn  was  relied  upon  to  attend  to  those  last  sad  duties 
which  humanity  imposes  of  preparing  the  dead  for  interment. 
This  was  a  call  he  never  declined  by  night  or  day.  He  was  one  of 
those  useful,  unobtrusive  citizens  whose  self-sacrifice  on  all  occa- 
sions came  to  be  expected  and  was  accepted  as  a  matter  of  course 
without  comment,  as  it  was  tendered  without  expectation  of  reward. 

When  James  H.  Smalley  left  the  service  of  the  White  Moun- 
tains Railroad,  where  he  had  served  as  fireman,  he  returned  to 
the  trade  of  harness-maker  which  he  had  learned  at  Wells  River, 
Vt.  He  carried  on  the  business  of  an  upholsterer  at  the  same 
time.  At  the  death  of  Truman  Stevens  being  in  his  employ  lie 
purchased  his  stock  in  trade  and  has  since  been  in  the  business 
on  his  own  account. 

The  only  other  contemporary  harness-maker  is  Lewis  Strong, 
who  has  been  located  here  since  1896.  He  occupies  the  shop  in 
Paddleford,  or  Odd  Fellows',  Block,  formerly  tenanted  by  Asa 
Coburn. 

A  craft  akin  to  art  is  that  of  producing  portraits  which  had  its 
origin  in  the  discovery  of  Daguerre,  who  was  the  pioneer  in  the 


152  History  of  Littleton. 

art  of  photography.  The  first  practitioners  of  the  art  in  the  town 
were  itinerants  who  in  their  travels  would  stop  here  for  a  few 
•weeks  or  as  long  as  the  patronage  was  satisfactory.  Their  studio 
was  built  somewhat  like  a  car,  and  was  set  on  wheels  and  drawn 
by  horses  from  place  to  place  as  the  exigencies  of  the  business 
required.  The  first  to  visit  this  town  came  about  1847  or  1848, 
and  found  a  temporary  site  in  the  street  opposite  the  Bellows 
store.  Nearly  every  season  thereafter  until  an  artist  became  a 
fixture,  the  itinerant's  car  was  to  be  found  opposite  one  of  the 
hotels.  Mr.  Sheppard,  of  Newbury,  Yt.,  an  accomplished  ainbro- 
typist,  was  the  most  frequent  of  these  visitors  in  the  fifties. 

Among  the  first,  and  probably  the  first,  of  these  craftsmen 
to  open  a  permanent  studio  here  was  0.  C.  Bolton,  who  in  1859 
had  rooms  fitted  up  for  his  business  in  the  attic  of  the  Gile  build- 
ing. Among  his  pupils  were  Edward  Kilburn  here,  and  John 
Smillie  at  Barnet,  Yt.,  who  in  turn  became  his  successors  at  this 
studio.  Mr.  Bolton  continued  here  a  few  years,  then  sold  to  Mr. 
Kilburn,  who  conducted  the  business  until  1868,  when  he  engaged 
in  the  stereoscopic-view  manufacture  in  the  building  known  as 
the  Dow  store  which  had  been  erected  for  that  purpose,  and  Mr. 
Smillie  purchased  the  business  that  had  been  conducted  at  the 
Gile  studio,  and  for  about  fifteen  years  continued  it, —  a  longer 
time  than  any  other  person  has  found  it  profitable  to  remain  in 
Ihis  line. 

In  1871  William  W.  Weller,  who  had  acquired  the  art,  had 
rooms  iii  Tilton's  Block.  He  did  not  remain  more  than  two 
years,  and  after  one  or  two  changes  the  rooms  were  taken  by 
George  II.  Aldrich.  Mr.  Aldrich  did  a  successful  business  and 
added  to  it  the  line  of  stereoscopic  views  previously  published 
by  F.  G.  Weller.  From  this  time  these  rooms  were  usually  oc- 
cupied by  a  photographer.  In  1882-1883  John  Ready,  an  artist 
in  colors  as  well  as  with  the  camera,  had  these  rooms.  Later 
he  went  to  northern  Xew  York,  where  he  has  made  a  name  for 
himself  as  an  artist  in  his  business. 

Among  the  pupils  who  acquired  the  rudiments  of  the  art  with 
Mr.  Aldrich  was  E.  F.  Hall,  who  in  July,  1883,  opened  a  studio  in 
rooms  over  L.  I).  Sanborn's  furniture  store.  He  remained  here 
until  1889,  when  he  purchased  a  studio  in  Buffalo,  X.  Y.,  where  he 
has  au  extensive  business  and  a  reputation  as  a  photographic 
artist  among  the  best  in  the  land. 

When  Mr.  Hall  retired,  his  studio  was  purchased  by  Charles 
F.  Binglmm.  who  was  not  familiar  with  the  business.  Jesse  B. 
Kitchen,  an  excellent  workman,  became  his  operator.  In  1891  Mr. 


Craftsmen.  153 

Bingham  sold  to  Marshall  D.  Cobleigh,  who  retained  the  services 
of  Mr.  Kitchen.  Prior  to  the  death  of  George  H.  Aldrich  Mr. 
Cobleigh  had  purchased  the  portrait  part  of  his  business.  While 
in  this  studio  Mr.  Cobleigh  pursued  the  study  of  the  law,  and  has 
since  his  admission  to  the  bar  been  in  successful  practice  of  the 
profession  at  Lebanon.  He  sold  the  business  here  to  James  H. 
Blake,  a  young  man  well  calculated  to  make  it  a  success. 

The  bakers,  though  an  ancient  craft,  were  a  long  time  in 
gaining  a  foothold  in  the  town.  Long  before  an  effort  was  made 
to  localize  the  trade  such  products  as  were  required  and  could 
not  be  baked  in  the  different  forms  of  domestic  ovens  were 
supplied  by  B.  K.  Smith,  of  Hanover.  Old  residents  will  remem- 
ber his  method  of  distributing  crackers,  which  were  about  the 
only  product  of  the  baker's  art  that  found  a  sale  in  this  market. 
A  long  wagon  with  high  slatted  sides  was  filled  with  a  dozen 
huge  baskets,  some  six  or  seven  feet  in  height,  braided  square, 
and  each  calculated  to  hold  about  eight  barrels  of  crackers. 
From  these  the  merchant's  supply  was  taken.  Crackers  were  not 
the  only  freight  this  wagon  carried.  Packed  away  in  a  box  and 
partly  under  the  seat  were  brown  paper  packages  of  stick  candy, 
sugar  hearts,  kisses,  lemon  drops,  peppermints ;  sometimes  one 
or  two  other  varieties  were  carried,  but  those  named  constituted 
the  stock  in  trade.  For  years  there  was  little  variety  in  form 
or  quality ;  there  was  a  time,  however,  when  the  round  sticks 
with  spiral  bands  of  bright  colors  were  replaced  with  a  flat  broad 
stick  with  the  colors  running  lengthwise.  At  every  store  the 
purveyor  found  a  purchaser  for  these  goods.  This  method  of 
distribution  was  continued  some  years  after  the  cars  ran  to  the 
town,  but  was  abandoned  in  the  early  sixties. 

The  first  attempt  to  establish  the  baker's  business  here  was 
made  by  Amos  Lovejoy  in  1868.  He  built  a  shop  for  that  pur- 
pose at  the  northwest  corner  of  Main  and  Auburn  Streets,  now 
the  residence  of  Ora  A.  Mooney,  and  filled  it  with  approved 
ovens  and  machinery.  He  ran  it  with  indifferent  results  for  a 
little  more  than  a  year,  when  he  sold  to  his  brother  Warren,  who 
increased  the  output  and  did  a  business  that  should  have  shown 
an  ample  financial  income  on  the  investment,  but  the  funds  passed 
through  too  many  hands  before  they  reached  the  proprietor,  and 
he  became  discouraged  and  sold  to  James  A.  Callahan,  who  coura- 
geously continued  the  business  for  two  years,  then  abandoned  it 
as  a  failure. 

In  1880  William  A.  Matthewson,  a  man  of  much  experience  in 
the  business,  rented  the  building  on  Main  Street  formerly  occu- 


154  History  of  Littleton. 

pied  by  the  Saranac  Glove  Company,  and  put  it  in  excellent  shape 
for  a  bakery.  This  enterprise  was  fairly  successful.  Its  proprie- 
tor was  not  only  a  fine  workman  but  a  man  of  more  than  ordi- 
nary business  ability.  But  he  had  an  opportunity  to  take  the 
large  and  well-established  business  of  his  father  at  Cambridge, 
Mass.,  and  this  led  to  closing  out  the  business  here.  He  was 
followed  at  the  same  shop  in  1884  by  John  Smillie,  who  operated 
the  plant  less  than  a  year.  It  was  once  afterward  run  for  a  few 
months,  when  it  was  dismantled. 

In  1894  Charles  Connor  opened  a  bakery  at  Xo.  2  Opera  Block, 
and  conducted  it  until  he  sold  to  Charles  S.  Morgan,  who  in  turn 
sold  his  interest  to  Jacknian  &  Clough  (H.  Ashley  Jackman  and 
Frank  L.  Clough).  In  1897  Mr.  Jackman  disposed  of  his  inter- 
est to  Charles  C.  Clough,  and  the  business  was  continued  by 
Clough  Brothers  until  it  was  purchased  by  Charles  H.  Merrill 
in  1899,  who  continued  it  until  1903,  when  he  removed  to  Berlin, 
where  he  is  now  in  the  same  business. 

When  Harrington  &  Co.  built  their  block  on  the  site  of  the  old 
Gile  building,  they  put  in  a  bakery  which  they  conduct  in  connec- 
tion with  their  grocery  business. 

Within  the  year  Edward  H.  Bilodeau  has  removed  his  plant 
from  Whitefield  to  this  town  and  is  now  established  in  the  build- 
ing formerly  known  as  the  Cottage  Hotel.  He  is  a  master  of  his 
craft  and  gives  every  part  of  the  business  his  personal  attention. 

The  marble  business,  especially  that  branch  of  it  connected  with 
monuments,  has  not  been  successful  here  until  within  a  recent 
period.  As  long  ago  as  1807  Robert  Jenkins,  of  Ilaverhill, 
located  a  branch  here,  but  the  venture  was  not  profitable  and  the 
plant  was  taken  to  Ilaverhill.  Another  endeavor  to  establish  the 
business  was  made  by  Nathaniel  W.  Cheney  about  1874  and  with 
a  measure  of  success,  but  it  did  not  become  a  fixture  in  our  list  of 
business  enterprises.  In  1880  Zelotes  Stevens  came  from  Concord 
and  set  up  an  establishment  which  has  prospered  from  the  first. 
In  1885  Hiram  0.  Stevens  purchased  an  interest  in  the  business, 
and  in  a  short  time  thereafter  his  son  Herbert  D.  took  over  the 
interest  of  Zelotes  Stevens,  and  the  firm  of  H.  0.  Stevens  it  Son 
has  continued  with  increasing  prosperity,  and  this  line  seems  at 
last  to  be  firmly  established  in  town. 

The  tanning  of  hides  was  one  of  the  primal  industries  of  every 
Xew  England  village.  This  industry  was  founded  in  this  town 
before  the  beginning  of  the  last  century  by  Peter  Bonney,  who  was 
a  prominent  citizen  for  many  years,  a  leader  in  business  and 
public  affairs.  In  1835  he  sold  to  Otis  Batchelder,  who  con- 


Craftsmen.  155 

ducted  a  successful  business  at  this  stand  for  more  than  thirty 
years.  Then  came  in  succession  Calvin  J.  Wallace,  Silas  and  Ira 
Parker,  before  the  property  passed  to  Royal  D.  Rounsevel,  who, 
though  not  a  craftsman,  carried  on  the  business  for  some  years, 
when,  like  most  old-time  industries,  it  was  driven  to  the  wall  by 
the  compelling  power  of  combinations. 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  each  of  these  tanners  was  in  his 
day  among  the  most  prominent  of  our  citizens.  No  roof  in  town 
sheltered  for  so  many  years  an  equal  number  of  men  who  may  be 
regarded  as  among  the  influential  citizens  of  Littleton.  Peter 
Bonney  received  all  the  offices  the  town  could  give  ;  Otis  Batchel- 
der  belonged  to  the  minority  party  when  the  Whigs  were  in  power, 
and  when  that  party  was  overthrown  by  the  Democrats  he  was 
found  in  the  ranks  of  the  defeated  battalion,  so  none  of  the  political 
honors  fell  to  his  lot.  Nevertheless  he  had  a  considerable  influ- 
ence, and  was  long  a  trial  justice  at  a  time  when  the  position  was 
deemed  one  of  honor.  Calvin  J.  Wallace  held  many  town  offices 
and  was  highly  respected  in  the  church,  in  business  circles,  and 
in  political  affairs.  The  Parkers  were  both  elected  to  repre- 
sent the  town  in  the  General  Court  and  were  for  years  among 
the  most  respected  of  our  citizens.  Mr.  Rounsevel  has  been  active 
in  business  and  politics,  and  was  a  delegate  to  the  Constitutional 
Convention  of  1889.  Nor  is  this  all.  Away  back  in  the  days  of 
Mr.  Bonney  he  had  as  an  apprentice  a  young  man  by  the  name  of 
Nathaniel  S.  Berry,  who  after  having  acquired  the  trade  removed 
from  town  and  subsequently  was  honored  by  his  fellow-citizens 
with  many  offices,  —  a  Representative,  several  times  a  Senator, 
Judge  of  Probate  for  this  County,  and  Governor  of  the  State  in  the 
time  of  the  War.  It  is  seldom  that  so  restricted  a  craft  has  pro- 
duced in  one  town  so  many  men  who  were  important  factors  in 
the  affairs  of  the  community. 


156  History  of  Littleton. 


XXXII. 

ECCLESIASTICAL    HISTORY. 

CONGREGATIONAL   CHURCH. 

^">HE  first  settlers  of  the  town,  with  rare  exceptions,  were 
religious  people.  Captain  Caswell  and  his  wife  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Baptist  Church  ;  Thomas  Miner  and  David  Hopkinson 
were  Congregationalists ;  the  Rankin  family,  including  David 
Webster,  were  Presbyterians,  as  was  David  Lindsey  ;  while  James 
Williams,  Ebenezer  Filigree,  Robert  Charlton,  Joseph  W.  Morse, 
and  the  Farr  family,  if  not  church  members  prior  to  1800,  became 
such  afterward  and  al \vays  treated  religious  matters  with  becom- 
ing reverence.  Among  these  pioneers  Capt.  Feleg  Williams  and 
the  Bemis  family  were  the  only  members  of  the  community  who 
were  disposed  to  regard  religious  questions  from  a  purely  worldly 
point  of  view.  As  the  population  became  more  numerous,  the 
percentage  of  irreligious  persons  increased,  and  a  wider  diversity 
of  opinion  in  regard  to  theological  questions  became  common. 
People  who  held  to  the  doctrines  taught  by  John  Wesley  and 
Hosea  Ballon  found  their  way  hither,  and  while  they  strenuously 
refused  to  act  with  the  Congregationalists  in  favor  of  appro- 
priating money  for  the  purpose  of  employing  a  minister  to  preach 
the  Gospel,  and  united  with  the  most  pronounced  irreligious  people 
in  this  matter,  they  were  none  the  less  among  the  most  devout 
citizens  of  the  town. 

The  history  of  the  contentions  in  regard  to  ''hiring  preaching" 
and  building  the  first  meeting-house,  have  been  related  in  the 
early  part  of  this  work  !  and  need  not  be  recounted.  It  is  enough 
for  our  present  purpose  to  state  that  the  record  of  the  proceedings 
in  town  meeting  showing  an  adverse  majority  in  these  matters 
in  no  way  proves  that  the  citizenship  of  those  days  was  less 
godly  or  less  inclined  to  discharge  all  its  religious  duties  than 
were  the  inhabitants  of  adjoining  or  neighboring  towns  that 
had  been  settled  under  somewhat  similar  conditions.  The  truth 
is  that  their  conduct  was  guided  more  by  a  want  of  respect 

1  Vol.  I.  pp.  232-249. 


Ecclesiastical  History.  157 

for  a  law  that  restricted  their  choice  of  a  religious  teacher  and 
preacher  to  a  denomination  that  taught  doctrines  which  they  re- 
garded as  erroneous,  than  by  a  want  of  reverence  for  religious  in- 
stitutions, or  lack  of  willingness  to  maintain  public  religious 
worship. 

It  may  be  regarded  as  strange  that  a  generation  should  pass 
before  a  church  was  organized.  But  diversity  of  opinion  was 
doubtless  a  bar  to  such  a  consummation.  The  church  member- 
ship was  not  large.  James  Rankin  early  after  his  coming  desired 
to  have  a  church  regularly  established,  but  it  was  a  Scotch 
Presbyterian  Church  that  he  would  found,  and  the  Congregation- 
alists  did  not  approve  his  proposition.  Then  when  Rev.  David 
Goodall  came  the  question  of  organization  was  again  raised,  but 
during  the  lifetime  of  Elder  Rankin,  without  result.  The  death 
of  the  Elder  in  the  early  summer  of  1803  left  the  way  clear  to  a 
union,  and  the  organization  of  a  Congregational  Church. 

The  first  church  was  established  by  the  Rev.  David  Goodall 
and  the  Rev.  Asa  Carpenter,  pastor  of  the  church  in  Waterford, 
Vt.,  March  3,  of  1803.  The  meeting  for  this  purpose  was  held 
at  the  home  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Goodall  at  West  Littleton,  now 
the  residence  of  Frank  C.  Albee.  Ten  persons,  residents  of  the 
town,  were  present  and  participated  in  the  proceedings  and  be- 
came members  of  the  newly  established  church.  The  records  of 
this  and  all  subsequent  meetings  down  to  1820,  were  kept  on 
loose  sheets  of  paper  and  long  since  disappeared.  Consequently 
the  membership,  at  the  time  of  organization,  cannot  be  accurately 
stated.  There  can  be  little,  if  any,  doubt,  however,  that  among 
those  who  became  members  at  that  meeting  were  :  Rev.  David 
Goodall  and  Mrs.  Goodall,  Andrew  Rankin,  Asa  Lewis  and  Mary 
Lewis  his  wife,  Nathaniel  Webster  and  his  wife  Miriam,  a  daughter 
of  Elder  James  Rankin.1  It  is  impossible  to  determine  the  identity 
of  the  remaining  members,  but  it  is  quite  probable  that  Dorothy, 
wife  of  Andrew  Rankin,  was  one  of  the  two.  Asa  Lewis  was 
chosen  deacon  of  the  newly  organized  church. 

During  the  next  seventeen  years  the  church  was  fairly  prosper- 
ous. When  we  consider  the  small  population  from  which  its 
membership  was  drawn,  and  the  many  difficulties  by  which  it  was 
environed;  the  enterprising  propagation  of  Methodism  and  other 

1  Solomon  Whiting  was  authority  for  the  above  list.  A  lad  of  twelve  years,  he 
was  present  at  the  house,  but  not  in  the  room  where  the  meeting  was  held.  He 
made  the  statement  in  1884,  when  he  was  burdened  with  the  weight  of  ninety-one 
years.  Though  physically  feeble,  his  memory  concerning  long  past  events  was 
remarkably  accurate.  He  also  stated  that  the  widow  of  Elder  James  Kankin  was 
present,  but  declined  to  join  with  the  others  in  the  organization. 


158  History  of  Littleton. 

comparatively  new  religious  doctrines  ;  the  want  for  several  years 
of  a  pastor,  a  meeting-house  or  other  stated  place  and  times  for 
worship. —  this  may  well  be  regarded  as  one  of  its  periods  of 
prosperity. 

Each  passing  year  saw  its  numbers  augmented,  and  the  char- 
acter of  its  accessions  in  these  years  was  of  a  high  order.  Among 
those  who  came  to  its  fold  were  Robert  Charlton,  a  man  of  attain- 
ments and  sturdy  virtues,  Guy  Ely,  for  many  years  one  of  the 
town's  foremost  citizens,  Xoah  Farr,  Gideon  Griggs,  David,  Barney, 
and  Luther  Hoskins,  Isaac  Miner,  Joseph  W.  Morse,  Jonathan  Par- 
ker, Solomon  Mann,  who  built  the  mills  at  "  Ammonoosuc  village," 
and  who  must  have  been  one  of  the  first  to  add  his  name  to  the  roll 
after  the  organization,  Sylvester  Savage,  Isaac  Stearns,  and  Luther 
Thompson,  a  brother-in-law  of  Deacon  Lewis.  The  wives  of 
nearly  all  the  members  mentioned,  it  is  hardly  necessary  to  state, 
were  also  of  its  membership.  In  this  period  also  Lyiiian  Hibbard 
was  one  of  the  most  active  and  intelligent  members.  It  was  his 
fortune  soon  afterward  to  be  the  first  member  of  the  church  to  be 
arraigned  at  its  bar,  and  to  suffer  the  penalty  of  excommunication. 
His  offence  was  heresy,  the  particular  form  of  which  the  record 
does  not  state,  but  it  would  doubtless  be  covered  by  the  term 
"agnostic,"  which  Huxley  applies  to  all  sorts  of  doubters. 

Having  no  meeting-house  until  1815,  services  were  held  in 
schoolhouses  ;  the  most  frequently  used  for  this  purpose  were 
those  near  the  residence  of  Priest  Gooclall  in  the  middle  district, 
that  a  few  steps  from  the  inn  of  Captain  James  Williams,  and 
the  one  in  District  Xo.  7  on  Mann's  Hill.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Goodall 
was  generally  the  preacher,  and  supplied  as  often  as  his  health 
would  permit ;  the  Rev.  Asa  Carpenter  also  occasionally  officiated 
in  the  years  immediately  following  the  formation  of  the  church. 
When  the  meeting-house  was  occupied,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Goodall  was 
engaged  as  supply  for  the  first  six  months,  and  during  a  greater 
part  of  the  time  thereafter  until  the  engagement  of  the  Rev.  X.  K. 
Hardy,  in  the  spring  of  1810.  The  new  minister  was  a  licentiate, 
a  man  of  singular  purity  and  sweetness  of  character  and  unselfish 
devotion  to  the  cause  to  which  he  gave  his  years  and  his  strength. 
His  home,  the  first  parsonage  in  town,  was  near,  and  north  of  the 
house  of  Jonathan  Parker,  on  the  farm  at  present  owned  by 
Frank  1.  Parker.  It  was  a  loir-cabin  with  two  rooms  and  a  loft,  and 
stood  on  the  bluff  above  the  windina'  flow  of  the  Parker  Brook. 
The  highway  as  it  then  ran  was  well  up  in  what  is  now  Mr. 
Parker's  pasture.  The  only  exisiting  trace  remaining  of  that 
parsonage  is  a  bit  of  a  stream  that  trickles  from  the  well  at  the 


Ecclesiastical  History.  159 

foot  of  the  bluff  which  supplied  the  minister's  family  with  water 
for  domestic  purposes.  It  is  now  nearly  filled  with  the  deposit  of 
years  of  neglect.  In  this  cabin  was  held  the  first  Sunday-school. 
After  a  year  the  pastor  moved  to  a  small  house  that  now  consti- 
tutes the  ell  part  of  the  residence  at  the  corner  formed  by  Meadow 
and  Main  Streets.  It  was  then  owned  by  Sylvester  Savage,  and 
here  the  Sunday-school  was  continued  by  Mrs.  Hardy.  Mr.  Hardy 
was  not  strong  when  lie  came  here,  and  it  is  probable  that  consump- 
tion had  even  then  fastened  upon  him.  At  all  events  the  rigor  of 
the  climate  and  his  arduous  parish  duties  completely  broke  his 
health,  and  in  1819  he  yielded  to  the  disease,  closing  a  life-work 
that  is  almost  forgotten  by  men,  but  its  influence  lingered  for 
many  years  among  the  people,  to  whom  he  was  greatly  endeared. 

The  first  entry  in  the  existing  records  is  dated  May  3, 1820,  and 
is  in  the  handwriting  of  the  Rev.  Drury  Fairbank,  who  succeeded 
Mr.  Hardy  as  pastor  of  the  church.  This  entry,  bearing  the  date 
of  the  28th  of  the  same  month,  throws  light  on  one  of  the  past 
transactions  of  the  church  that  is  somewhat  veiled  in  obscurity  : 
"Baptised  .  .  .  a  child  of  Deacon  Gideon  Griggs."  This  record 
is  conclusive  of  the  fact  that  Deacon  Griggs  held  the  office  prior 
to  the  coming  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fairbank.  We  know  that  Deacon 
Lewis  was  elected  at  the  meeting  called  to  organize  the  church. 
The  late  Martha  (Nurs)  Goodwin  stated  in  1885,  that  when  she  was 
a  girl,  Mr.  Lewis  was  a  deacon,  and  that  at  the  first  communion 
she  attended  in  the  old  meeting-house,  Andrew  Rankin  and  Gideon 
Griggs  were  the  deacons.  This  communion  service  was  probably 
in  1815,  or  certainly  not  later  than  1816.  She  was  born  in  1795, 
and  at  the  time  her  statement  was  made  was  of  sound  and  per- 
fect mind  and  memory. 

At  the  time  of  the  death  of  Deacon  Lewis  in  1815,  the  meeting- 
house had  but  recently  been  finished  and  the  pews  sold.  Is  it  not 
probable  that  when  the  church  filled  this  vacancy  caused  by  his 
death,  they  also  decided  to  elect  another  to  this  office,  and  that 
Andrew  Rankin  and  Gideon  Griggs  were  chosen  deacons  at  that 
time  ? 

In  the  spring  of  1820  the  Rev.  Drury  Fairbank  was  called  to 
the  pastorate,  and  returned  a  favorable  response,  and  on  the  3d  of 
May  he  was  formally  installed  as  pastor  over  the  church.  There 
is  no  known  account  in  existence  of  this  service,  the  only  cere- 
mony of  the  kind  performed  in  the  old  meeting-house,  and  the 
only  person  from  abroad  known  to  have  been  present  was  Rev. 
David  Sutherland,  of  Bath,  who  bore  a  part  in  the  service. 

The  advent  of  Drury  Fairbank  marks  a  new  era  in  the  ecclesi- 


160  History  of  Littleton. 

astical  history  of  the  town.  He  was  a  man  given  to  the  use  of 
the  pen,  and  kept  a  brief  but  clear  record  of  church  events  from 
the  time  of  his  installation  until  the  final  close  of  his  pastorate  in 
1886.  Soon  after  his  settlement  he  bought  the  farm  near  the 
meadow  cemetery  known  to  the  present  generation  as  the  Flan- 
ders place,  where  he  made  his  home  the  remainder  of  his  life. 

It  was  in  the  closing  years  of  his  pastorate  that  an  incident 
occurred  of  considerable  moment  to  the  church  and  to  the  town. 
The  growth  of  the  village  had  been  so  rapid  that  in  1828  the  geo- 
graphical centre  of  the  town  had  ceased  to  be  the  centre  of  popu- 
lation. The  regular  church  attendants  resident  in  or  near  the 
village  outnumbered  those  in  the  rest  of  the  town,  and  they 
naturally  sought  better  church  accommodations.  They  proposed  to 
build  a  meeting-house  in  the  village  and  have  the  church  worship 
there.  The  people  living  at  Rankin's  Mill  and  those  at  North 
Littleton  opposed  the  measure  with  vigor.  The  village  people 
were  not  strong  enough  to  stand  alone,  nor  were  the  church- 
going  people  from  other  sections  able  to  maintain  a  regular 
service  in  the  event  of  the  withdrawal  of  the  villagers.  The 
question  was  discussed  with  more  or  less  zeal  during  two  years, 
but  no  conclusion  was  reached  until  "Priest"  Fairbank  threw  the 
weight  of  his  influence  in  favor  of  the  proposed  change  of  location. 
It  is  evident  that  his  action  was  influenced  entirely  by  the 
changed  conditions  which  environed  the  church.  He  saw  with  the 
clear  judgment  of  an  unselfish  man  that  the  highest  welfare  of  the 
community  required  that  the  meeting-house  should  be  so  situated 
as  to  accommodate  the  greatest  number,  and  that  alone  was  suffi- 
cient to  lead  him  to  the  village  party.  The  suggestion  made  by 
Joseph  Robins  to  him  that  "  a  new  meeting-house  meant  a  new 
minister"  could  have  no  weight  with  a  man  of  Mr.  Fairbank's 
well-known  character.  A  man  who  had  given  thirty  years  of 
his  life  to  the  exacting  toil  of  the  ministry  for  the  mere  pittance 
of  two  or  three  hundred  dollars  a  year  was  not  open  to  the 
gross  persuasions  of  greed.  Time  and  decay,  too,  served  to 
hasten  the  inevitable  end.  The  meeting-house  at  the  centre  was 
sadly  in  want  of  repair,  and  the  majority  refused  to  appropriate 
money  for  the  purpose  of  putting  it  in  respectable  condition  as  a 
place  of  worship.  The  village  people  then  saw  that  their  hour  had 
come,  and  a  meeting  was  called  to  consider  the  question  of  build- 
ing a  meeting-house  at  the  village.  This  meeting  was  held  at  the 
schoolhouse  on  the  Mann's  Hill  road  on  Wednesday,  April  14, 
1830. 

It  was  organized  by  the  election  of  Dr.  William  Burns  as  mod- 


Ecclesiastical  History.  161 

erator  and  Aaron  Brackett  as  secretary.  A  vote  was  taken  as  to 
the  expediency  of  building  a  house  of  public  worship  in  or  near 
the  village,  and  it  was  voted  to  build  a  brick  house.  A  committee 
of  twelve  was  elected  to  decide  upon  a  location  and  draft  a  plan 
of  the  proposed  building.  The  committee  comprised  Elisha 
Hinds,  H.  A.  Bellows,  William  Berkley,  Joseph  Shute,Noah  Farr, 
William  Brackett,  Abijah  Allen,  Levi  Burt,  Simeon  Dodge,  Drury 
Fairbank,  Isaac  Abbott,  and  Josiah  Kilburn.  The  meeting  then 
adjourned  to  the  "  21st  inst.  at  three  P.  M.,"  at  which  -time  the 
committee  made  its  report,  selecting  as  a  location  a  "  spot  near 
Mr.  Hibbard's,  on  Esq.  Bonney's,"  the  price  to  be  $50.  The  com- 
mittee also  presented  a  plan  of  a  building  which  did  not  seem  to 
be  entirely  satisfactory,  as  the  meeting  voted  "  that  a  committee 
of  three  be  appointed  to  draft  the  best  plan  for  a  house,  taking 
into  view  the  present  plans  drawn  by  the  first  committee,  and 
establish  on  the  most  proper  place,  also  to  ascertain  the  probable 
difference  between  the  erection  of  a  brick  or  wood  house,  and  ascer- 
tain the  price  that  good  brick  can  be  obtained  for  and  report  at  our 
next  meeting."  The  committee  appointed  consisted  of  H.  A. 
Bellows,  James  Dow,  and  Sylvanus  Balch.  It  was  "  voted  that  Mr. 
Bonney  be  paid  within  three  weeks  from  this  day  for  the  land,"  and 
also  "  voted  that  this  meeting  stand  adjourned  to  Thursday  the 
29th  inst.,  at  the  new  meeting-house."  The  last  five  words  may  be 
regarded  as  an  attempt  at  humor,  as  no  plan  of  the  building  had 
yet  been  adopted  or  even  the  lot  purchased  ;  they  are  the  exact 
words  of  the  record,  however.  At  this  adjourned  meeting  the 
committee  reported  in  favor  of  building  of  wood,  and  their  report 
was  adopted.  They  also  presented  a  plan  which  was  accepted 
"  subject  to  such  alterations  as  may  be  thought  expedient  here- 
after." It  was  also  "  voted  to  choose  a  committee  of  seven  per- 
sons whose  duties  shall  be  to  draw  up  a  paper  describing  the 
doings  of  all  the  meetings,  the  place  selected,  the  general  plan  of 
the  meeting-house,  the  use  to  which  it  shall  be  appropriated  when 
erected,  and  all  the  other  things  that  may  be  expedient  and  proper 
to  give  a  sufficient  understanding  of  the  plan  to  be  pursued  in 
erecting  such  house,  to  present  such  paper  and  procure  subscrip- 
tions thereto,  and  also  whenever  in  the  opinion  of  said  committee 
sufficient  subscriptions  are  obtained,  to  proceed  in  the  erection  of 
said  house  in  such  manner  as  they  may  deem  expedient."  This 
committee  consisted  of  William  Brackett,  H.  A.  Bellows,  Simeon 
Dodge,  Adams  Moore,  Josiah  Kilburn,  Levi  Burt,  and  Noah  Fan-. 
The  above  committee  presented  the  following  proposals  for  build- 
ing the  meeting-house  and  call  for  subscriptions  :  - 

VOL.  II.  —  11 


162 


History  of  Littleton, 


"To  be  erected  upon  the  spot  before  designated  which  is  to  be  suit- 
ably prepared  for  that  purpose,  and  to  be  completed  as  soon  as  conven- 
ient, in  a  time  not  exceeding  one  year,  casualties  excepted,  to  be  formed 
generally  upon  the  following  plan  and  upon  the  fashion  adopted  at 
meeting  aforesaid,  subject  however  to  such  minor  alterations  as  may 
be  found  necessary  or  expedient  by  the  building  committee,  which  plan 
is  as  follows,  viz.  :  A  one  story  house  in  the  modern  style  with  the  gable 
end  to  the  road,  height  of  posts  eighteen  feet,  length  of  the  house  fifty- 
four  feet,  width  forty-five  feet,  roof  arched,  a  single  curved  gallery  for 
singers  across  the  front  end,  and  fifty-two  pews  or  slips,  materials  to 
be  of  wood  of  a  suitable  description,  put  together  and  finished  off  in  a 
good  workmanlike  manner,  and  the  outside  properl}'  painted  white,  the 
house  when  erected,  to  be  owned  and  occupied  as  a  place  of  publick 
worship  by  each  denomination  of  Christians  in  proportion  to  the  number 
of  slips  owned  by  each  denomination.  When  completed  the  expense  of 
building  to  be  ascertained  and  the  pews  appraised  by  the  building  com- 
mittee according  to  their  comparative  value  to  defra}'  the  expense  of 
building  and  the  choice  of  said  pews,  after  due  notice  given,  to  be  sold 
at  public  auction,  and  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  the  pews  to  be  divided 
among  the  subscribers  in  proportion  to  the  amount  of  their  several  sub- 
scriptions.1 Subscriptions  to  be  payable  one  half  in  cash,  the  other  half 

1  The  call  for  subscriptions  reads  as  follows  : 

We  the  subscribers  hereby  request  the  committee  chosen  as  aforesaid  for  the 
purpose  of  procuring  subscriptions  and  the  building  such  house  to  proceed  in  the 
erection  of  the  same  in  the  manner  set  fortli  in  the  proposals  aforesaid,  for  which  we 
bind  ourselves  severally  to  pay  to  said  committee  or  their  successors  the  several  sums 
annexed  to  our  names  respectively  in  the  manner  described  in  the  above  proposals. 

LITTLKTON,  May  31,  1830. 


Subscribers'  names. 

Dolls. 

Cents. 

Guy  Ely   one  half  in  lumber       

650.00 

Geo.  Little,  half  in  shingles,  half  in  lime      
Svlvanus  Balch,  half  cash,  half  lumber  &  lime     

50.00 

100.00 

])rury  Fairbank    ....          .                    , 

50.00 

Aaron  Bracket!     

75.00 

Henrv  A.  Bellows     

75.00 

\Vm    Burns            .          .                    

100.00 

Isaac  Abbott     

50.00 

Josiah  Kilburn,  half  in  lime  &  lumber    

40.00 

4000 

Adams  Moore  forty      .          .               . 

40.00 

Albert  Little     .... 

40.00 

Timothy  Green     

40.00 

Simeon  Dodge,  half  boards  &  half  work       

20.00 

Joseph  Shute,  five  dollars  in  January  and  five  in  neat  stock 
in  October  in  ItvJl      

Jonathan  Lovejov    ten  dollars  in  labor  '  

10.00 

Jonathan  Nurs,  two  dollars  in  labor    

2.00 

Wm.  Brackett       

50.00 

G.  B.  Kedington    

Abijah  Allen,  twenty  five  dollars  in  one  year  from  October 
next  &  five  thousand  merchantable  boards        

50.00 
5000 

Solomon  1*  itch  in  labor       

5.00 

Elisha  1'.  Miner  in  labor  at  the  common  price 

0.00 

S043.00 

Ecclesiastical  History.  163 

in  good  saleable  neat  stock,  grain,  or  suitable  material  for  building  to 
the  acceptance  of  the  building  committee,  at  a  fair  cash  price,  one  half 
of  the  money  by  the  first  of  October  next,  the  other  half  in  one  3  ear 
from  that  time,  the  stock  in  two  equal  payments  at  the  times  specified 
for  the  paj-ment  of  the  monej",  one  half  of  the  grain  in  Jan}',  next,  and 
the  material  for  building  delivered  upon  the  spot,  when  called  for  by 
the  building  committee." 

The  vote  of  the  meeting  that  authorized  the  building  of  the 
meeting-house  provided  that  it  should  be  constructed  within  a 
year,  "  casualties  excepted."  It  is  evident  that  the  committee 
failed  to  procure  at  once  what  they  regarded  as  a  sufficient  pledge 
in  money,  material,  or  labor,  to  warrant  them  in  proceeding  with 
the  erection  of  the  building.  This  want  of  funds  they  considered 
one  of  the  contemplated  "  casualties,"  and  the  frame  was  not 
raised  until  1832.  The  building  was  ready  for  occupancy  in  1833, 
and  was  dedicated  on  the  Fourth  of  July  of  that  year.  There 
was  a  belfry  on  the  front  end  of  the  building,  a  square,  box-like 
structure,  with  a  high  roof  running  to  a  point  and  surmounted  by 
a  short  pole  or  spire.  The  interior  of  the  church  was  arranged 
with  the  pulpit  at  the  southwest  end  as  at  present.  There  was 
but  one  entrance,  in  the  centre  of  the  front  end,  opening  into  a 
vestibule  which  ran  the  width  of  the  church,  except  as  it  gave 
room  for  stairs  running  into  the  singers'  gallery  over  it,  which  was 
about  ten  feet  deep.  There  were  fifty-two  pews  in  the  church, 
one  for  each  Sabbath  in  the  year,  and  each  pew-holder  was  entitled 
to  choose  the  denomination  which  should  occupy  the  pulpit  one 
Sunday  each  year  for  each  pew  he  owned. 

In  1835  Mr.  Fairbank,  much  broken  in  health  but  not  in  spirit, 
intimated  to  some  of  his  friends  that  it  would  perhaps  be  for  the 
best  interests  of  the  church  that  his  relations  as  its  pastor  should 
be  dissolved.  These  friends  regarded  the  proposition  with  dis- 
favor, and  it  was  not  until  another  year  that  a  council  was  called 
and  the  relations  of  pastor  and  people  were  dissolved. 

The  pastorate  of  Drury  Fairbank  was  of  longer  duration  than 
that  of  any  other  minister  who  has  been  settled  over  this  church 
save  that  of  Mr.  Milliken,  which  exceeded  it  by  nearly  two  years. 
In  the  last  year  that  the  old  meeting-house  was  occupied  for  relig- 
ious worship  there  was  a  great  spiritual  awakening,  and  thirty- 
one  persons  united  with  the  church.  Among  those  who  came 
into  its  fold  at  this  time  were  John  Farr,  Sylvanus  Balch,  and 
Ezra  Parker,  who  in  subsequent  years  were  among  its  strongest 
pillars. 

In  taking  final  leave   of  his   charge   Priest  Fairbank   made  a 


164  History  of  Littleton. 

brief  statement  embodying  a  review  of  his  work  among  this  people, 
which  he  spread  upon  the  church  records. 

"  The  following  facts,"  he  says,  "are  thought  to  deserve  a  place  in 
this  book.  On  the  16th  of  March,  1836,  Rev.  Drury  Fairbank  was  at 
his  own  request  dismissed  from  the  church  and  people  in  Littleton, 
having  been  their  pastor  nearly  sixteen  years  ;  and  on  the  following 
day,  to  wit,  on  the  17th  of  March,  1836,  Rev.  Evarts  Worcester  was 
ordained  over  the  same  church  and  people. 

"  When  Mr.  Fairbank  was  settled,  the  church  consisted  of  thirty -five 
members.  The  whole  number  added  while  he  was  pastor  was  sixty- 
nine.  "When  dismissed,  the  church  consisted  of  about  one  hundred. 
He  baptized  146  persons,  106  of  whom  were  children,  and  40  were 
adults. 

"  It  ma}'  be  recorded,  in  addition,  that  in  the  above  specified  time 
there  were  255  deaths  in  the  town,  more  than  half  of  whom  were 
under  fourteen  years  of  age." 

Drury  Fairbank1  was  noble  born.  The  clergy  may  continue  to 
be  true  to  the  inspired  volume  in  pressing  the  claims  of  the  new 
birth  ;  nevertheless  we  are  coming  to  appreciate  in  these  latter  days 
the  advantages  of  the  first  birth. 

In  the  record  of  the  Fairbank  family  printed  by  the  lion. 
Thaddeus  Fairbanks  in  188-5  we  read  that  the  father  of  Christopher 
Fairbank,  the  woollen-waste  dealer  at  Milreve,  Scotland,  used  to 
speak  of  his  "  Uncle  Jonathan  who  went  to  America." 

Jonathan  Fairbank  came  from  Somerby,  Yorkshire,  England, 
in  16-33,  and  settled  in  Dedham,  Mass.  Soon  after  John  and 
Richard  came  ;  the  latter  was  admitted  to  the  First  Church  in 
Boston  in  the  eighth  month  of  1033.  Richard  Fairbank  was 
appointed  first  postmaster  of  the  whole  colony.  The  records 
show  that  he  owned  the  land  where  Music  Hall,  Boston,  now 
stands  and  five  acres  adjoining  the  south  side  of  the  Common. 

Of  the  second  generation  we  mention  Jonas  Fairbank,  who  was 
fined  in  1652  tor  wearing  great  boots  before  he  was  worth  two 
hundred  pounds.  The  third  generation  furnishes  John.  Joseph, 
George,  Eleasur,  and  Jonathan  Fairbank,  the  first  physician  of 
Sherborn.  Among  those  of  the  fourth  generation  were  (leorge, 
Captain  Eleasur,  and  George  Fairbank.  who  married  Rachel  Drury, 
of  Framingham.  Hence  comes  the  Christian  name  of  the  man  of 
whom  we  write.  The  fifth  generation  chronicles  the  birth  of 
Drury  Fairbank.  October  13,  1T7-,  at  Holliston.  Mass.  His 

1  The  memoir  of  Mr.  Fairbank  was  prepared  for  this  work  by  Rev.  John  II. 
lli.fl'inan,  pastor  of  the  church  from  Ib'Jl  to  1S08. 


REV.  DRURY   FAIRHAXK. 


Ecclesiastical  History.  165 

father's  name  was  Drury  Fail-bank,  and  his  mother's  Deborah 
Leland. 

Were  we  to  follow  out  the  history  of  the  sixth,  seventh,  and 
eighth  generations  of  the  Fairbank  family,  we  should  come  upon 
names  well  known  and  illustrious  the  world  over.  We  should 
find  clergymen,  scholars,  and  men  of  industry,  philanthropists,  and 
benefactors  of  the  human  family. 

They  were  an  educated,  enterprising,  and  notedly  a  religious 
people. 

We  regret  that  we  are  not  able  to  furnish  a  chapter  on  the 
boy  Fairbank.  This  most  interesting  period  of  a  man's  life  is 
always  instructive.  Doubtless  he  rolled  hoops,  played  "  four-year- 
old  cat"  on  the  Common,  plagued  his  sisters,  and  lent  the 
neighboring  boys  a  hand  in  breaking  their  steers.  In  his  later 
boyhood  we  find  him  a  scholar ;  evidently  the  characteristic 
family  trait,  a  thirst  for  knowledge,  held  a  place  in  his  boyhood 
aspirations. 

At  twenty-five  years  of  age  he  is  a  graduate  of  that  famous 
institution,  Brown  University,  at  Providence,  R.  I.  Whether  or 
not  he  indulged  in  any  mischievous  or  semi-naughty  things  in 
college  the  records  do  not  show.  We  may  well  suppose,  first  of 
all,  that  he  was  there  to  store  his  mind  with  great  thoughts  for 
his  future  life  work. 

Mr.  Fairbank  is  described  as  tall,  large,  erect,  well  propor- 
tioned, and  in  later  years  as  having  white  hair  and  being  bald, 
which  was  formerly  supposed  to  be  a  mark  of  great  erudition, 
and  among  the  school  children  of  his  charge  he  was  considered 
as  stalwart  in  character  as  he  was  formidable  in  person. 

A  sister  of  Roby  Curtis  Town  related  the  following  incident : 
"  Curtis  came  home  from  school  at  noontime.  He  was  asked  to 
explain  his  untimely  appearance  at  the  family  fireside ;  he  arose 
to  the  occasion  by  saying,  '  Priest  Fairbank  is  coming  into  school 
this  afternoon  and  they  are  going  to  have  a  terrible  time,  so  I 
came  home.' " 

His  appearance  in  the  pulpit  is  thus  described  by  F.  W.  Giles, 
of  Topeka :  "If  you  could  see  the  tall  form  of  Drury  Fairbank 
standing  in  that  lofty  blue  pulpit  of  wonderful  architecture  in  the 
old  meeting-house  near  my  father's  residence,  as  in  childhood  I 
saw  him  in  cold  winter  days,  you  would  have  inspiration  to  a  more 
graphic  account  of  New  England  meeting-house  worship  than 
has  ever  been  published." 

Drury  Fairbank  studied  theology  with  the  famous  theolo- 
gian, Dr.  Emmons,  of  Franklin,  Mass.  In  the  month  of  May, 


166  History  of  Littleton. 

1800,  he  entered  upon  that  primeval  arrangement,  ordained  by 
God  in  his  great  goodness,  of  taking  to  himself  a  helpmeet  in 
the  person  and  name  of  Lucretia  Rockwood.  With  these  two 
all-important  decisions  (which  is  the  greater,  let  him  tell  that 
knoweth),  to  wit,  the  choice  of  an  occupation  and  the  selection 
of  a  wife,  we  find  Mr.  Fairbank  well  launched  and  sailing  out 
over  the  sea  of  life. 

Thus  equipped  for  his  chosen  calling,  he  received  and  ac- 
cepted a  call  to  the  Congregational  Church  at  Plymouth.  A 
wide  and  important  field  of  labor  opened  around  him.  Being 
one  of  the  shire  towns  of  the  county  and  the  seat  of  an  academy, 
no  ordinary  effort  was  required  to  meet  its  wants.  And  then,  as 
settled  by  the  town,  all  the  families  must  be  visited  —  by  a  regular 
afternoon  and  evening  visit.  The  demands  from  neighboring 
towns  upon  him  in  the  way  of  funerals,  weddings,  and  lectures 
were  many. 

He  was  ordained  at  Plymouth  January  8,  1800.  In  this  his 
first  field  he  was  comforted  with  the  reflection  that  he  had  not 
labored  in  vain,  nor  spent  his  strength  for  naught.  Souls  were 
gathered  into  the  fold  of  Christ,  and  good  seed  sown  which  in 
after  years  sprang  up  and  bore  fruit  to  the  praise  of  God  and  the 
enlargement  of  the  church.  Dismissed  from  the  church  March  18, 
1818,  he  spent  two  years  in  missionary  work  in  the  adjacent 
towns. 

He  was  installed  as  the  first  settled  pastor  of  Littleton  May  3, 
18*20.  On  coming  to  Littleton  he  found  himself  in  a  far  more 
destitute  region  than  was  that  about  Plymouth.  The  church  here 
was  small  and  able  to  support  him  but  part  of  the  time,  and  the 
neighboring  towns  all  around  were  entirely  destitute.  He  ex- 
tended his  labors  to  these  towns,  at  the  same  time  a-iving  consid- 

J  c_  O 

erable  time  to  the  management  of  his  farm,  —  an  effort  rendered 
necessary  by  the  limited  support  and  the  calls  of  a  numerous 
family.  He  made  serious  inroads  upon  his  already  impaired 
health. 

We  judge  that  Mr.  Fairbank  was  more  than  an  ordinary  man 
in  intellect.  Three  of  his  sermonic  efforts  at  least  are  in  print 
and  before  me.  —  one  bearing  the  date  of  April  9. 1804,  belonging 
to  the  archives  of  Dartmouth  College,  a  document  ancient  in 
looks  and  style,  its  text  intermingling  its/'s  and  s's  to  an  extent 
which  puzzles  the  modern  linguist  to  unravel.  Another  was 
printed  in  Concord  in  1807,  and  delivered  at  Plymouth  at  the 
baptism  by  immersion  of  Mrs.  Dorothy  Johnson.  This  sermon 
has  sixty-eight  hundred  and  forty  words.  Still  a  third  sermon 


Ecclesiastical  History.  167 

delivered  at  Plymouth  on  Fast  Day,  April  12,  1810.  This  docu- 
ment has  upwards  of  six  thousand  words,  the  reflections  alone 
under  five  heads  have  twenty-one  hundred  and  sixty  words. 
Think,  if  you  will,  of  a  modern  congregation  listening  to  a  ser- 
mon of  such  length,  with  the  coachman  at  the  door  waiting  for 
the  benediction  and  interluding  an  occasional  benediction  of 
his  own. 

We  introduce  here  a  concise  synopsis  of  the  oldest  literary  pro- 
duction of  Mr.  Fairbank,  delivered  on  Fast  Day,  1804.  Text :  Prov. 
xxiv.  21  :  "  My  son,  fear  thou  the  Lord  and  the  King:  and  meddle 
not  with  them  that  are  given  to  change."  The  first  sentence  is, 
"  The  proverbs  of  Solomon  are  worthy  of  our  attention  on  all 
occasions"  —  a  safe  statement  and  a  grand  introduction.  He 
proceeds,  "  Grant  me  then  your  candid  attention  while  I,  I.  Con- 
sider what  is  implied  in  fearing  the  Lord,  II.  Notice  the  respect 
due  to  rulers,  III.  Exhibit  the  unhappy  effects  connected  with 
being  too  familiar  with  them  given  to  change."  May  I  call  your 
attention  to  the  studied  euphony  of  the  three  verbs  in  the  three 
heads,  viz :  "  Consider,  Notice,  Exhibit."  In  I.  he  makes  a 
distinction  between  servile  and  holy  fear.  The  former  arises 
from  a  sense  of  iniquity,  the  latter  from  a  humble  sense  of  the 
greatness  and  excellence  of  God.  No.  II.  elaborates  the  respect 
due  to  rulers.  He  herein  urges  respect  to  the  "  powers  that  be." 
He  would  not,  however,  dissuade  his  hearers  from  examining  the 
official  conduct  of  rulers.  The  people  should  make  themselves 
thoroughly  acquainted  with  all  the  political  questions  that  are 
of  importance. 

Singularly  enough,  this  is  the  good  citizenship  idea  that  is  being 
urged  upon  the  young  men  and  women  of  this  generation.  (See 
the  late  articles  in  the  "  Golden  Rule  "  and  other  religious  papers.) 
Under  III.  comes  the  body  of  the  sermon.  He  speaks  now  of 
those  whose  volatile  minds  render  them  unprofitable  in  all  their 
ways.  The  preacher  now  gives  a  description  of  one  given  to 
change,  under  five  specifications:  A.  He  who  is  given  to  change 
is,  generally  speaking,  one  without  solid  sentiments.  B.  A 
changer  is  one  who  is  more  than  commonly  pleased  with  new 
things.  C.  Another  characteristic  of  changers  is,  they  are  often 
a  set  of  displeased,  disappointed  men.  D.  Another  characteristic 
of  changers  is,  they  are  often  seeking  some  place  of  profit  or  post 
of  honor.  E.  Another  characteristic  of  a  man  given  to  change  is, 
he  is  greatly  disposed  to  contrive  and  carry  on  his  schemes  in  the 
dark. 

Having  given  a  description  of  changers,  he  proceeds  to  exhibit 


168  History  of  Littleton. 

the  unhappy  consequences  of  being  connected  with  them  (see 
sermon,  page  17).  The  "improvement"  of  this  discourse  is 
summed  up  as  follows  :  — 

"  1st.  This  subject  prepares  the  way  for  us  to  view,  more  plainly, 
the  groat  and  awful  neglects  that  prevail  at  the  present  day,  by  it  we 
are  called  upon  to  fear  the  Lord,  but  how  few  regard  the  call.  How 
many  there  are  who  are  saying  '  who  is  the  Lord  that  we  should  obey 
his  voice? ' 

"  2nd.  Do  such  great  and  aggravating  sins  prevail?  then  there  is 
great  cause  for  public  humiliation,  fasting  and  prayer.  3d.  These 
things  being  true  we  need  not  wonder  why  so  dark  a  cloud  overspreads 
the  sky. 

"  4th.  Though  this  subject  is  very  proper  for  all  ages  and  descrip- 
tions of  men,  yet  it  more  practically  speaks  to  the  rising  generation. 
Oh  for  the  affection  of  Solomon  to  address  you,  young  friends,  on  this 
solemn  occasion. 

"  Great  and  interesting  events  now  interest  the  world.  That  fear 
which  is  due  to  a  Holy  God  is  not  paid  Him.  Licentious  publications 
go  on  unrestrained  ;  the  Blessed  Redeemer  and  the  religion  which  lie 
established  are  ridiculed.  Let  me  then  call  on  you  with  all  the  affec- 
tion and  eloquence  of  which  I  am  master  to  avoid  the  errors  of  the 
times.  It  is  now  for  you  to  walk  worthy  of  your  high  and  exalted 
station.  For  a  pure  religion  and  government  have  your  fathers  fought, 
and  now  it  devolves  on  you  to  keep  them  :  —  and  ()  that  I  were  capable 
of  making  you  feel  it,  —  Many  of  late  have  been  lulled  to  sleep  upon 
the  brink  of  their  own  ruin.  Take  heed  that  you  fall  not  into  the  same 
awful  slumbers." 

The  k>  Congregational  Journal,"  Concord,  X.  II.,  January  26, 
1853.  has  the  following:  — 

';  lie  was  an  Israelite  indeed,  in  whom  there  was  no  guile.  Open, 
frank,  social  in  his  disposition.  1'erspicuity.  brevity,  directness,  char- 
acterized his  sermons.  For  many  years  his  bodily  indisposition  was 
such  as  precluded  his  pulpit  labors.  Rut  when  his  health  at  all  altered 
lie  was  a  regular  attendant  on  the  ministry  of  his  three  successive  suc- 
cessors and  conducted  the  exercises  of  a  bible  class  of  aged  men. 
Thus  a  solemn  admonition  is  given  to  the  few  remaining  fathers  to 
improve  their  like  fragment  of  time  and  prepare  to  render  their 
account." 

The  fifty-three  years  of  his  ministerial  life  saw  many  and 
great  changes  in  the  ministry  and  churches.  None  of  the  present 
benevolent  organizations  existed  at  the  time  of  his  first  settle- 
ment, the  Home  Missionary  being  formed  two  years  after  and 
the  Bible  Society  two,  and  other  great  missionary  enterprises 


Ecclesiastical  History.  169 

later.  In  them  and  all  kindred  societies  he  felt  a  deep  interest, 
and  gave  them  such  support  as  his  circumstances  would  allow. 
The  General  Association  of  the  Congregational  Churches  of  New- 
Hampshire  was  organized  after  his  settlement,  in  whose  formation 
he  aided  and  whose  meetings  he  was  proverbially  constant  in 
attending. 

Prompt  and  active,  he  was  not  one  to  shrink  from  duty  or  labor, 
and  was  ever  ready  to  help  along  its  business  and  exercises  at 
the  sacrifice  of  personal  comfort. 

Mr.  Albee  C.  Allen,  of  Honeoye  Falls,  N.  Y.,  has  in  his  posses- 
sion an  old  journal  from  which  I  quote : 

"Aug.  28th,  1825.  Mr.  Fail-bank  preached  very  well.  Text  A.  M. 
Hosea  10: 12.  p.  M.  Zech.  1:  5.  Sept.  5th  Communion.  Mr.  Fairbanks 
has  been  very  faithful  to  Xians  all  clay.  Text  A.M.  1st  Cor.  5:8. 
Sabbath  19th  Mr.  Fairbank  much  engaged.  Text  A.  M.  Luke  15:14. 
p.  M.  P's  146:  6.  Communion  on  New  Years  da}'.  Preparatory  lecture 
Friday  previous.  Mr.  Fairbank  more  engaged  than  usual.  Fast  Day 
April  6th.  June  llth  1826.  Meeting  in  the  village  to-day.  After 
meeting  the  Sabbath  school  was  commenced,  15  to  20  in  attendance." 

Mr.  Allen  says:  "About  this  time  Mr.  Fairbank  purchased  a 
number  of  testaments  and  at  the  close  of  morning  service  invited 
all  to  stay  and  study  the  scriptures  during  the  intermission.  A 
few  stayed,  mostly  women."  He  thought  himself  too  old  to  go 
to  Sunday-school.  In  this  respect  he  likens  himself  to  many  a 
foolish  boy  of  the  present  age.  He  speaks  of  Mr.  Fairbank  as 
"our  good  old  minister."  The  institution  of  this  Sunday-school, 
which  was  without  doubt  the  first  Sunday-school  ever  held  in 
Littleton,  was  organized  at  the  meeting-house  on  the  hill.1  The 
weekly  prayer  meeting  was  held  at  the  minister's  house  on  the 
Meadows.  Mr.  Fairbank's  promptness  and  fidelity  in  attending 
to  his  duties  seem  to  have  extended  even  to  his  animals.  Mr. 
Allen  tells  this  story  which  illustrates  the  point:  "  The  minister's 
horse  ran  in  the  road,  and  one  Sunday  morning  failed  to  appear, 
and  after  looking  for  him  as  long  as  be  could  the  minister  walked 
to  the  meeting  house  on  the  hill,  and  when  the  meeting  was  out 
the  horse  was  found  standing  in  his  accustomed  place  at  the 
hitching-post  without  saddle  or  bridle."  In  this  late  letter  from 
Mr.  Allen  he  remarks  that  "  as  a  citizen  Mr.  Fairbank  was  very 
much  beloved,  almost  revered." 

In  a  letter  from  Topeka,  December  17,  1804,  Mr.  F.  W.  Giles 
has  this  :  — 

1  This  is  an  error.     Mrs.  Hardy  presided  over  the  first  Sunday-school  held  in  town. 


170  History  of  Littleton. 

"In  writing  the  biography  of  that  splendid  old  gentleman  Drury 
Fail-bank  I  want  you  should  accept  my  testimony  on  a  few  points  as 
follows :  1st.  He  was  a  keen  student  of  character,  seeming  to  read  the 
thoughts  and  inmost  purposes  from  expression  of  countenance. 
2nd.  He  was  remarkably  free  from  religious  bigotry  and  intolerance. 
Wherever  there  was  a  sincere  disciple  of  Jesus  Christ  there  was  one 
cherished  in  the  true  spirit  of  the  Xian  brotherhood." 

A  writer  in  the  "  Granite  Monthly  "  of  September,  1894,  says : 

"Priest  Fairbank  was  a  character.  His  theology  was  of  the  most 
pronounced  type,  and  it  was  doubtless  owing  to  this  influence  that  the 
church  for  some  years  was  styled  !>}•  the  irreverent  'The  Iron  Works.' 
Priest  Fairbank  is  reported  to  have  been  a  nois}'  preacher.  At  any  rate, 
an  old  worthy  of  the  town  one  day  met  the  parson  and  gravely  informed 
him  that  his  [the  parishioner's]  wife  thought  Priest  Fairbank  one  of  the 
best  men  in  the  world,  'and  so  do  I,'  he  added,  '  but  I  'd  rather  hear  a 
new  saw-mill  than  listen  to  you  preach.'  " 

In  1820,  at  the  time  of  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Fairbank,  the 
church  numbered  thirty-five  members.  The  present  membership 
is  274.1 

Rev.  J.  E.  Robins,  of  Keene,  informed  the  writer  of  the  follow- 
ing incident.  The  grandfather  of  Mr.  Robins  owned  two  pews  in 
the  old  church  on  the  hill.  He  was  thoroughly  opposed  to  remov- 
ing the  church  and  services  over  to  the  village.  Mr.  Fairbank 
was  in  favor  of  the  proposed  plan,  whereupon  Mr.  Robins  said  to 
Priest  Fairbank,  '•  You  ought  to  oppose  this  movement.  If  you 
get  a  new  church,  they  will  get  a  new  minister."  Mr.  Robins  was 
a  prophet.  Mr.  Fairbank  remained  pastor  of  the  new  church  but 
a  short  time.  A  terrible  warning  then  or  now  to  ministers  hold- 
ing progressive  ideas,  either  with  reference  to  church  edifices, 
temperance,  social  reform,  or  any  positive  idea.  A  clergyman 
if  he  would  not  be  approached  by  his  deacons  with  the  question, 
"  How  would  you  enjoy  a  frontier  church  or  a  trip  abroad  ?"  must 
be  innocent  of  everything  save  piety  in  solid  contents. 

In  his  financial  affairs  he  must  have  been  very  successful, 
considering  his  limited  salary  and  his  large  and  growing  family. 
It  would  seem  that  he  owned  his  excellent  and  most  productive 
farm  without  encumbrance  until  near  the  time  of  his  decease. 
Here,  too,  his  example  might  be  considered  worthy  of  the  imita- 
tion of  the  clergy  of  later  times. 

Six  children  were  born  to  Drury  Fairbank :  John  Milton, 
Amanda,  Mary,  Timothy  Rockwood,  Lucretia,  and  Drury.  Of 
these  descendants  the  writer  has  no  certain  knowledge.  One 

i  1896. 


Ecclesiastical  History.  171 

great-grandchild,  Milo  A.  Jewett,  has  recently  distinguished  him- 
self in  his  outspoken  position  against  the  Turkish  outrages  in 
Armenia,  he  being  the  present  United  States  Consul  at  Sivas, 
Turkey,  and  the  successor  in  that  office  of  his  brother,  Henry 
M.  Jewett. 

Mr.  Fairbank  was  one  of  the  oldest  ministers  in  the  State  at  the 
time  of  his  decease,  and  belonged  to  a  class  that  had  nearly  passed 
away.  He  died  at  his  residence  on  the  Meadows,  at  Littleton, 
January  11,  1853,  at  the  ripe  age  of  fourscore  years. 

"Much  beloved,  almost  revered"  would  have  been  a  fitting 
epitaph  to  have  placed  upon  his  tombstone. 

Without  boasting  he  may  well  have  said,  as  he  passed  to  the 
church  of  the  redeemed,  "  0  God,  thou  hast  taught  me  from  my 
youth  :  and  hitherto  have  I  declared  thy  wondrous  works.  ...  I 
have  showed  thy  strength  unto  this  generation,  and  thy  power  to 
every  one  that  is  to  come." 

As  oft  as  we  shall  look  upon  his  face  1  in  this  group  of  God- 
fearing men,  shall  we  not  say,  Thy  power,  0  God,  is  more  manifest 
and  more  attractive  to  us  through  the  life  of  Drury  Fairbank  ? 

"  Lives  of  great  men  all  remind  us 
We  can  make  our  lives  sublime." 

Mr.  Fairbank  continued  to  act  as  recording  officer  of  the 
church  until  May,  1837,  and  his  last  entry  notes  the  admission 
of  "  Edmund  Carleton,  Jun.,  Esq.,  and  Mrs.  Mary  K.  C.  Carleton, 
wife  of  Edmund  Carleton,"  to  the  church,  by  letters  from  the 
church  at  Haverhill. 

Soon  after  Mr.  Fairbank  made  known  his  purpose  to  retire  from 
the  active  ministry,  action  was  taken  with  a  view  of  filling  the 
impending  vacancy.  The  records  of  the  church  are  silent  in  re- 
gard to  its  part  in  the  transaction  ;  but  those  of  the  society  show 
that  at  a  meeting  held  on  the  10th  day  of  February,  1836,  it  was 
"  voted  to  choose  a  committee  of  seven  to  be  authorized  to  give  an 
invitation  to  Mr.  Evarts  Worcester  to  settle  in  the  ministry  in  this 
place  at  a  salary  of  five  hundred  dollars  a  year."  The  committee 
consisted  of  Aaron  Brackett,  Edmund  Carleton,  Jr.,  Adams  Moore, 
Timothy  Gile,  William  Brackett,  Abijah  Allen,  and  Isaac  Parker. 
On  the  24th  of  February,  at  an  adjourned  meeting,  the  committee 
reported  that  it  had  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  Worcester  accept- 
ing the  call  to  the  pastorate,  and  "  letters  were  sent  to  the  churches 
in  the  vicinity,  and  the  Council  convened  on  Wednesday  the  16th 
of  March,  which  after  due  deliberation  dissolved  the  connection 

1  This  memoir  was  read  as  an  address  on  the  occasion  of  the  presentation  of  por- 
traits of  the  ministers  of  the  church  to  be  placed  in  the  chapel. 


172  History  of  Littleton. 

then  existing  between  the  Rev.  Drury  Fairhank  and  the  church 
and  society,  and  recommended  Mr.  Evarts  Worcester  as  a  suitable 
person  to  take  the  charge  of  the  Religious  interests  of  this  people ; 
therefore  on  Thursday,  March  the  17th,  1836,  he  was  regularly 
ordained  as  the  Pastor  of  the  First  Congregational  Society  in 
Littleton." 

Mr.  Worcester  had  supplied  the  pulpit  as  a  candidate  on  several 
occasions,  and  his  matter  and  manner  had  strongly  commended 
him  to  the  people.  He  at  once  took  pastoral  charge  of  the 
church,  and  to  all  appearance  was  in  the  enjoyment  of  better 
health  than  for  some  months  preceding.  In  May  he  was  married 
to  a  daughter  of  Professor  Shurtleff  of  Dartmouth  College.  In  his 
very  brief  pastorate  he  greatly  endeared  himself  to  the  members 
of  his  congregation,  and  his  memory  was  held  sacred  by  all  who 
came  within  the  influence  of  his  lovable  personality.  His  brother, 
John  H.  Worcester,  has  written  sketches  of  Evarts  and  Isaac  R. 
Worcester,  both  of  whom  were  pastors  of  the  church  in  this  town, 
and  which  are  given  here,  as  they  embody  a  just  and  discriminating 
estimate  of  the  character  of  each. 

Rev.  Evarts  Worcester,  son  of  Rev.  Leonard  and  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Worcester,  was  born  at  Peacham.  Vt..  March  24,  1807.  On  the 
father's  side  he  was  grandson  of  Noah  Worcester,  Esq.,  of  Hollis, 
X.  II. ;  on  the  mother's  side,  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Hopkins,  D.D., 
of  Hadley.  Mass. 

In  his  boyhood  and  until  nineteen  years  of  age  he  worked  on 
his  father's  farm,  attending  school  at  the  academy  in  his  native 
town  only  at  such  times  as  his  services  were  not  wanted  on  the 
farm.  In  this  way  he  fitted  for  college,  entering  at  Dartmouth 
with  the  class  which  graduated  in  1830,  being  at  the  time  of  his 
admission  in  his  twentieth  year.  He  was  at  that  time  tall  of 
stature,  of  unusual  physical  strength  and  endurance,  and  of  great 
earnestness  of  character.  Through  life,  indeed,  he  seems  to  have 
acted  on  the  maxim,  '•  Whatsoever  thy  hand  fmdeth  to  do  do  it 
with  thy  might." 

Being  thus  earnest  of  purpose  and  of  much  more  than  ordinary 
intellectual  ability,  and  beginning  the  study  of  Latin  somewhat 
late  in  life,  he  was  put  in  the  academy,  first  in  the  one  class,  then 
in  a  more  advanced,  until  lie  passed  all  his  fellow  students,  and 
finally  constituted  a  class  by  himself.  In  college,  as  the  records 
of  the  faculty  show,  he  stood  at  the  head  of  his  class.  But  he  was 
too  strenuous  in  effort  for  his  health,  and  symptoms  of  the  inherited 
disease  of  his  family  began  to  show  themselves  about  the  time  of 
his  Graduation. 


Ecclesiastical  History.  173 

He  had  taught  district  schools  before  and  during  his  college 
course,  and  always  with  distinguished  success,  and  after  gradu- 
ating, in  the  fall  of  1830,  he  took  charge  of  the  academy  in  his 
native  town.  Here,  notwithstanding  the  symptoms  of  lung  trouble 
already  referred  to,  he  threw  himself  into  his  work  with  the  same 
strenuous  energy  which  had  always  characterized  him,  working  in 
his  chemical  laboratory  after  his  six  hours  in  school,  often  till 
ten  o'clock,  sometimes  till  later,  then  walking  a  mile  to  his  father's 
house,  and  after  supper  preparing  for  the  school  duties  of  the 
morrow. 

Of  such  a  course  there  could  be  but  one  result.  He  won  un- 
usual success  and  popularity,  but  his  health,  impaired  at  the  be- 
ginning, broke  down  utterly,  and  he  was  obliged  to  leave  his 
school  the  following  spring,  and  take  a  long  journey  on  horse- 
back, to  Washington  and  elsewhere,  to  recruit.  With  health 
much  improved  he  returned  to  his  school  in  the  fall,  but  for  one 
term  only,  having  accepted  before  its  close  an  appointment  as 
tutor  in  his  Alma  Mater.  In  this  position  he  continued  till  the 
commencement  in  1833,  when  he  resigned.  This  closed  his  career, 
essentially,  as  a  teacher,  though  he  was  afterward,  while  resident 
at  Hanover,  employed  to  teach  some  special  branch  occasionally 
in  the  college. 

Having  resigned  his  tutorship,  he  gave  himself  at  once  to  pre- 
paring for  his  already  chosen  profession,  the  Christian  ministry. 
During  his  college  course  Mr.  Worcester  had  become  sceptical 
on  the  subject  of  experimental  religion,  being  led  to  this  partly 
by  his  philosophical  studies,  but  still  more  by  the  lives  of  certain 
professors  of  religion  in  college,  who  did  not  seem  to  him  to  be 
governed  by  any  higher  principles  than  others  of  their  fellow 
students.  On  the  other  hand,  he  was  led  to  the  faith  of  his  fathers 
by  worthy  examples,  especially  by  that  of  a  sister  who  died  during 
his  college  course,  of  whom  he  was  constrained  to  confess  that 
she  was  possessed  of  that  to  which  he  was  himself  a  stranger. 
In  this  state  of  mental  conflict  he  continued  till  the  summer  of 
1831.  In  that  season  there  was  a  somewhat  remarkable  revival 
of  religion  in  his  native  town.  Returning  from  the  horseback 
journey  to  which  reference  has  already  been  made,  and  seeing 
farmers  leave  their  scythes  in  the  unfinished  swath  and  their 
unraked  hay  in  the  field  that  they  might  go  for  worship  to  the 
house  of  God,  he  felt,  as  he  confessed,  that  here  was  a  power  at 
work  which  his  philosophy  could  not  account  for.  He  became 
himself  a  convert,  and  united  with  the  church  in  Peacham  the 
following  December.  From  this  time  his  life  was  that  of  an 


174  History  of  Littleton. 

earnest  and  consistent  Christian,  and  before  the  close  of  his  tutor- 
ship he  had  determined  on  studying  for  the  Christian  ministry. 

His  first  purpose  was  to  go  to  Andover,  after  a  little  preliminary 
study  of  Hebrew,  but  the  state  of  his  health  and  his  finances  com- 
pelled him  to  abandon  this  purpose  and  to  content  himself  with 
such  preparation  as  he  could  make  by  a  more  private  course  of 
study.  His  time  was  spent  partly  at  Hanover,  partly  at  his 
father's  house  at  Peacham,  and  partly  in  travelling  for  his  health 
on  an  agency  for  Dartmouth  College,  until  he  began  preaching  at 
Littleton.  Meantime  he  was  repeatedly  solicited  to  accept  profes- 
sorships in  Western  colleges,  but  after  serious  consideration  he 
declined  them  all,  intent  on  his  purpose  to  preach  the  gospel. 

Going  from  Peacham  to  Hanover  in  March,  1835,  he  found  the 
evangelist  Rev.  Mr.  Burchard  preaching  across  the  river  at  Nor- 
wich. Mr.  Burchard  soon  after  commenced  preaching  at  Hanover. 
The  pastor  of  the  church  at  Hanover  being  in  feeble  health  was 
obliged  to  be  absent  much  of  the  time,  and  Mr.  Worcester  was  urged 
to  remain  and  assist  in  such  labors  as  otherwise  the  pastor  would 
have  performed.  He  did  so,  and  rendered  important  services  to 
the  church  at  Hanover.  In  May  he  was  invited  to  supply  the 
pulpit  at  Littleton  for  some  months.  This  application  he  at  first 
declined,  but  later  reconsidered  and  accepted.  The  result  was  that 
early  in  1836  he  was  invited  to  become  the  pastor;  and  feeling 
that,  in  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  the  people  at  that  time,  no 
other  could  meet  their  wants  so  well  as  himself,  he  accepted,  was 
ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  in 
Littleton  March  IT,  1836. 

But  his  career  as  pastor  was  destined  to  be  brief.  On  the  10th 
of  the  following  May  he  was  married  to  Anne  P.,  daughter  of 
Roswcll  Sliurtleff,  D.D.,  of  Dartmouth  College,  and  before  the 
month  was  through  his  labors  were  ended. 

Mr.  Worcester  was  fond  of  music.  While  yet  at  work  on  the 
home  farm,  his  father  had  bought  for  him.  at  his  solicitation,  a 
clarionet,  and  many  a  summer  evening,  when  the  day's  work  was 
over,  he  would  sit  on  the  ridgepole  of  his  father's  house,  fronting 
the  east,  and,  while  thus  enjoying  the  magnificent  prospect  before 
him,  would  make  the  neighborhood  ring  with  the  notes  of  his  new 
instrument.  Entering  on  the  work  of  the  pastorate  with  that 
intense  earnestness  which  always  characterized  him  in  whatever 
he  undertook,  and  finding  the  church  choir,  as  he  thought,  in  need 
of  training,  he  must  needs  add  that  also  to  his  other  duties.  After 
an  evening  spent  with  the  choir,  partly  in  singing  with  them  and 
partly  in  playing  on  his  clarionet,  he  was  taken  with  profuse 


Ecclesiastical  History.  175 

bleeding  at  the  lungs.  It  was  about  a  week  after  his  marriage. 
He  recovered  sufficiently  to  be  removed  to  his  father's  house  in 
Peacham,  where  he  lingered  through  the  summer,  giving  an  im- 
pressive lesson  of  Christian  resignation,  patience,  and  cheerful- 
ness in  his  illness,  and  on  the  21st  of  October  his  earthly  life  was 
ended. 

Not  many  testimonials  to  Mr.  Worcester's  character  as  a  man 
and  to  his  merits  as  a  preacher  and  pastor  can  be  obtained  so 
long  after  his  decease,  but  a  few  are  given  below.  Rev.  Harry 
Brickett  says  that:  — 

"  Some  time  in  the  year  1835  Evarts  "Worcester,  A.M.,  not  then 
ordained,  was  called  to  the  pastorate  of  the  First  Congregational 
Church  in  Littleton,  N.  H.  I  was  preparing  to  enter  Dartmouth 
College  at  the  beginning  of  the  college  year  1836,  and  recited  to 
Mr.  Worcester  in  Greek,  this  giving  me  a  very  pleasant  acquaint- 
ance with  him  as  a  teacher.  He  came  to  the  church  in  Littleton 
when  it  was  in  great  need  of  an  efficient  pastor,  and  by  his  earnest- 
ness as  a  preacher  and  fidelity  in  pastoral  work  drew  around  him- 
self a  large  number  of  earnest  workers.  He  was  a  man  of  winning 
manners  but  of  great  plainness  and  directness  of  speech.  He 
used  words  to  convey  his  meaning,  not  to  hide  it.  He  was  a  man 
of  decided  evangelical  views,  and  as  at  the  time  some  of  his  con- 
gregation were  Unitarians,  his  plain,  ungarnished  statements  of 
the  doctrines  of  grace  were  unpalatable.  So  far  as  my  memory 
goes,  Mr.  Worcester  was  highly  esteemed  as  a  man  and  respected 
for  his  high  literary  attainments  and  deep  scholarship,  while  some 
of  the  doctrines  he  preached  were  disliked.  Looking  back  through 
little  less  than  half  a  century,  I  can  recall  him  plainly  as  he  ap- 
peared to  me,  then  a  youth,  in  the  pulpit.  He  was  tall,  of  very 
spare  form,  with  light  hair,  and  bright  blue  eyes  that  sometimes 
gleamed  and  emitted  flashes  of  light. 

"  He  held  the  close  and  undivided  attention  of  his  congregation. 
In  choice  of  subjects  he  selected  such  as  while  to  an  extent  doc- 
trinal yet  bore  directly  upon  the  practical.  He  rarely  chose  a 
text  that  did  not  in  some  way  show  the  way  out  of  sin  into  holi- 
ness. If  I  remember  rightly,  he  had  a  strictly  logical  mind,— 
logical  rather  than  rhetorical.  He  rarely  indulged  in  flights  of 
fancy,  sometimes  evidently  restraining  himself  and  keeping  in- 
tentionally on  solid  ground.  He  was  remarkable,  so  it  seemed 
to  me,  for-  continuity  of  thought,  and  easily  led  his  hearers  to 
follow  him  to  safe  conclusions.  As  a  rule  he  did  not  so  much 
attempt  to  excite  the  feelings  as  to  convince  the  judgment  and 
reason,  and  thereby  persuade  his  hearers.  His  manner  was  un- 


176  History  of  Littleton. 

affectedly  solemn,  his  style  of  sermon  plain,  concise,  energetic, 
and  sparkling  with  thought.  He  was  in  the  habit,  when  I  knew 
him,  of  preaching  a  sermon  in  the  forenoon  written  in  full ;  in  the 
afternoon  an  extemporaneous  sermon,  with  sometimes  a  few  brief 
notes.  His  extemporaneous  sermons  were  very  acceptable,  for 
he  never  hesitated  for  the  right  word  to  come.  There  was  nothing 
declamatory  in  his  manner  of  speaking  or  reading  from  a  manu- 
script. He  made  no  attempts  at  oratory;  he  charmed  and  led  his 
hearers  by  plain,  simple,  connected  truths  woven  into  a  chain 
which  could  not  easily  be  broken.  It  was  a  sad  blow  to  Little- 
ton when  their  pastor  was  stricken  down  by  hemorrhage  of  the 
lungs." 

A  letter  from  John  Merrill,  dated  Littleton,  April  6,  1885, 
encloses  the  following  testimony  of  John  Farr  :  — 

"  John  Farr  says  in  regard  to  Evarts  Worcester,  that  he  possessed 
those  faculties  of  mind  and  heart  that  attached  his  friends  to  him  with 
a  remarkable  tenacity,  no  one  having  stronger  friends  who  would  stand 
b}~  him  on  all  occasions.  There  is  nothing  that  reflects  his  character 
more  accurately  than  what  was  said  of  him  by  Dr.  Lord  in  a  sermon 
preached  here  some  time  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Worcester,  that  •  when 
he  had  canvassed  a  subject  and  had  come  to  a  conclusion  as  to  the 
right  or  wrong  involved  therein,  he  had  no  further  inquiries  to  make. 
His  course  was  settled.'  This  was  eminently  true  of  him.  A  firm 
adherence  to  the  truth,  the  right,  on  all  occasions  was  one  of  his 
characteristics.  My  attachment  to  him  was  very  strong,  stronger  than 
to  any  other  man.  which  caused  me  to  name  a  son  for  him.  Evarts 
Worcester  Farr.  born  in  l.s-lU.  He  died  in  1880  and  was  a  member  of 
Congress  at  the  time." 

Mr.  Merrill  writes;  ••  We  have  but  about  three  or  four  members 
who  were  here  when  your  brother  was  with  us.  Mr.  John  Farr 
has  written  his  recollections,  which  will  cover  all  that  can  be 
had,  unless  it  be  what  Mr.  Farr  calls  the  'Dog  Sermon.''1  In 
reference  to  this.  Mr.  Merrill  writes  as  follows:  — 

••'  When  your  brother  came  here  I  have  the  impression  that  he  sup- 
posed he  was  to  be  the  sole  pastor  and  teacher,  but  before  long  the 
Unitarian  element  started  up  and  obtained  the  house  for  one  half  of 
the  time,  and  that  brought  out  the  said  sermon.  The  idea  was  a'nout 
this.  A  fanner  with  a  lot  of  boys  had  decided  to  have  a  dog.  but  they 
soon  found  they  were  divided.  The  one  part  wanted  the  good  old  watch- 
dog order,  the  other  wanted  a  nice  little  white  dog  that  would  n't  hurt 
anybody." 

The  application  of  the  story  to  the  local  theological  controversy 
of  the  time  is  obvious. 


Ecclesiastical  History.  177 

At  the  time  of  the  death  of  the  Rev.  Evarts  Worcester  the 
finances  of  the  society  were  in  a  prosperous  condition.  The  sub- 
scriptions to  the  salary  fund  were  sufficient  for  its  payment.  The 
first  organized  movement  for  the  choice  of  his  successor  was  held 
by  the  society  August  1,  1836,  when  action  was  taken  providing 
for  the  payment  of  the  salary  due  the  late  Mr.  Worcester,  and 
instructing  the  executive  committee  to  take  measures  to  secure 
a  preacher.  It  appears  that  soon  after  the  Rev.  William  With- 
ington  became  acting  pastor,  and  probably  remained  with  the 
church  until  the  following  March,  as  at  a  meeting  of  the  society 
on  the  8th  of  February,  1837,  it  was  voted  "to  choose  a  com- 
mittee to  obtain  subscriptions  to  pay  Rev.  William  Withington  for 
preaching  from  the  time  he  commenced  to  the  first  day  of  March 
next,"  and  at  an  adjourned  meeting  held  a  week  after,  a  com- 
mittee was  appointed  "  to  obtain  subscriptions  for  the  support  of 
preaching  for  the  year  ensuing." 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Withington  was  from  Massachusetts,  a  Harvard 
graduate,  and  a  man  of  considerable  culture.  Much  of  his  sub- 
sequent life  was  passed  near  Boston,  and  he  at  one  time  held  a 
pastorate  in  Illinois. 

After  the  termination  of  Mr.  Wellington's  contract  several 
ministers  came  to  the  church  on  trial,  but  the  congregation  with 
unanimity  approved  the  choice  that  was  finally  made  in  the  selec- 
tion of  the  Rev.  Isaac  R.,  a  brother  of  the  recent  pastor,  Evarts 
Worcester,  who  had  occupied  the  pulpit  most  of  the  time  during 
the  summer. 

Rev.  Isaac  R.  Worcester  was  the  successor  of  his  lamented 
brother  in  the  pastorate.  He  was  installed  on  the  27th  of 
September,  1837.  He  too,  like  each  of  his  predecessors,  was  not 
a  man  of  sound  bodily  health.  It  seems  that  each  of  his  father's 
children  had  to  combat  that  dread  disease,  consumption.  During 
his  pastorate,  beside  this  ever-present  cloud,  he  had  to  meet  the 
storm  created  bv  Edmund  Carlcton  and  other  anti-slavcrv  a<nta- 

*  »/         o 

tors,  which  was  marked  by  the  Allen-Brown  episode.  This  contro- 
versy continued  through  his  ministration,  and  on  his  part  was 
conducted  with  admirable  judgment.1 

Another  element  of  strife  in  his  time  grew  out  of  the  action 
of  the  Unitarian  minority  of  pew-holders,  who,  acting  within  their 
rights,  secured  the  assent  of  a  number  of  indifferent  pew-owners 
to  use  the  building  for  their  allotted  time  under  the  conditions 
prescribed  in  the  agreement  of  the  subscribers  to  the  fund  for 

1  This  controversy  is  not  discussed  in  this  connection,  as   it  has  been   treated     a 
some  length  in  the  chapter  entitled  "  Anti-Slavery,"  in  Vol  I.  pp.  370-380. 
VOL.  n.  — 12 


178  History  of  Littleton. 

building  the  house.  This  action  gave  a  denomination  with  an 
ownership  of  about  one  tenth  the  use  of  the  church  nearly 
half  of  the  time.  While  this  arrangement  was  clearly  within 
the  letter  of  the  law,  it  was  claimed  to  be  a  violation  of  its  spirit, 
and  much  ill-feeling  was  created.  At  the  close  of  the  year  a  large 
share  of  the  non-sectarian  pew-holders  refused  to  renew  the  as- 
signment, and  matters  soon  assumed  their  normal  condition. 

The  period  covered  by  the  pastorate  of  Isaac  R.  Worcester 
was  stormy,  but  he  was  a  man  of-  strong  and  lovable  character, 
and  possessed  sufficient  tact  to  guide  the  church  safely  through 
difficulties  that  would  have  wrecked  it  under  the  command  of 
a  less  wise  and  resolute  leader. 

Rev.  Isaac  Redington  Worcester,1  son  of  Rev.  Leonard  and 
Elizabeth  (Hopkins)  Worcester,  was  born  at  Peacham,  Yt.,  October 
30,  1808.  He  attended  in  his  early  boyhood  the  common  school 
and  later  the  academy  in  his  native  to\vn,  but  had  no  other  advan- 
tages of  public  education,  ill  health,  especially  in  the  form  of 
severe  headache,  frequent  at  all  seasons  and  constant  in  warm 
weather,  compelling  him  to  forego  the  advantages  of  a  collegiate 
education.  Early  in  the  year  1826,  being  then  seventeen  years 
of  age,  he  entered  as  clerk  a  store  in  his  native  town,  thinking  to 
prepare  himself  for  a  business  life  ;  and  in  the  fall  of  the  same 
year  entered,  in  the  same  capacity,  the  drug  store  of  Mr.  Seaver, 
of  Walpole,  N.  H.  While  there  his  attention  was  naturally 
directed  to  the  study  of  medicine,  which  he  resolved  to  pursue, 
and,  with  that  in  view,  returned  to  Peacham  at  the  end  of  his 
year  and  began  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Josiah  Shedd.  He 
attended  medical  lectures  at  Dartmouth  College,  and  received  his 
degree  of  M.D.  from  that  college  in  the  fall  of  1831. 

He.  as  well  as  his  brother  Evarts,  was  a  subject  of  the  revival 
in  his  native  town  the  same  year,  and,  with  that  brother  and  many 
others,  united  with  the  Congregational  Church  in  Peacham  in 
December,  1831. 

In  October,  1834,  being  then  a  resident  in  Leicester,  Mass.,  Dr. 
Worcester,  in  compliance  with  the  desire  of  the  secretaries  of  the 
American  Board,  went  to  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Andover, 
with  a  view  to  joining  the  mission  to  the  Xestorians  in  Persia, 
attending  chiefly,  while  there,  the  lectures  of  Dr.  Woods,  Professor 
of  Theology.  His  purpose  of  going  on  a  foreign  mission  was 
subsequently  abandoned,  but  lie  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the 
Caledonia  association  at  Danville.  Yt,  August  5,  1835. 

On  the  death,  in  the  same  month,  of  his  older  brother.  Leonard, 

1  This  memoir  is  from  the  pen  of  his  brother,  Rev.  J.  II.  "\Yorcester. 


Ri-:v.  KKASMUS  I.  CAKPKNTEK. 


l\i:\.  CIIAKI.KS  K.  Mi  u,  IK  MX. 


Ri-:v.  ISAAC  R.  WOKCKMTIK. 


CONGREGATIONAL    PASTORS. 


Ecclesiastical  History.  179 

leaving  no  family,  Mr.  Worcester  went  to  Newark,  N.  J.,  to  settle 
the  estate.  His  brother  had  been  principal  of  the  Young  Ladies' 
Newark  Academy,  and,  at  the  request  of  the  trustees,  Mr.  Worcester 
took,  for  the  time  being,  his  brother's  place  and  continued  the 
school  till  the  spring  of  1837.  Meanwhile  he  was  married, 
November  16,  1835,  to  Mary  S.  Sargent,  daughter  of  Col.  Henry 
Sargent,  of  Leicester,  Mass.,  who  proved  in  all  respects  a  help- 
meet of  most  unusual  merit. 

In  April,  1837,  Mr.  Worcester  began  preaching  at  Littleton,  and 
was  ordained  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  September  27 
of  the  same  year. 

During  his  pastorate  at  Littleton  occurred  the  Graves-Cilley 
duel,  which  led  Mr.  Worcester  to  preach  a  Fast  Day  sermon 
from  the  text,  "  The  leaders  of  this  people  cause  them  to  err," 
which  was  published  by  request.  Its  leading  topic  was  the  per- 
nicious influence  of  such  outrageous  violation  of  the  laws  of 
God  and  man  by  the  law-makers  of  the  nation. 

During  this  pastorate  occurred  also  disturbing  features  of  the 
anti-slavery  excitement,  which  ran  so  high  at  last  that  certain 
persons  felt  it  their  duty  to  interrupt  the  regular  course  of  public 
worship  by  interjecting,  unbidden,  anti-slavery  harangues,  and 
so  persistent  were  they  in  this  that  it  became  necessary  to  enforce 
against  them  the  laws  of  the  State  against  the  disturbers  of 
public  worship. 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  a  letter  of  Mrs.  Worcester, 
giving  some  information  concerning  the  times  :  — 

"  Mr.  Carleton,  a  lawyer  of  Littleton  and  a  member  of  our  church, 
was  a  very  warm  friend  of  Mr.  Worcester,  but  he  was  in  sympathy 
with  these  men  on  the  anti-slavery  question  ;  but  when  Mr.  Allen  was 
in  jail  he  sent  a  note  to  the  pulpit  on  Sunday  asking  that  pntyer  be 
offered  for  him  and  his  family,  '  suffering  from  persecution,'  etc.  I 
presume  many  thought  he  would  not  read  it,  but  he  did,  and  prayed 
most  fervently  for  him  without  casting  an}-  reflection  on  him.  lie  was 
much  commended  for  his  wisdom  and  discretion." 

But  it  was  not  wisdom  and  discretion  only.  It  was  the  out- 
come of  that  sincere  respect  which  Mr.  Worcester  ever  felt  and 
manifested  for  the  opinions  and  feelings  of  those  who  honestly 
differed  with  him.  This  was  a  chief  secret  of  the  hold  he  had 
upon  the  esteem  and  affections  of  his  people,  and,  as  will  be  seen 
farther  on,  of  those  afterwards  connected  with  him  in  the  man- 
agement of  the  affairs  of  the  American  Board. 

That  Mr.  Worcester  was  himself  a  strong  anti-slaverv  man  is 


180  History  of  Littleton. 

sufficiently  evident  from  the  following  extract  from  the  sermon 
above  alluded  to.  published  in  1838  before  the  rise  of  the  more 
special  anti-slavery  excitement.  Its  being  a  Fast  Day  sermon  ren- 
dered such  allusion  to  other  national  sins  not  inappropriate :  — 

"  And.  my  friends,  is  there  not  another  class  of  our  fellow  beings 
whose  wrongs  have  been  yet  far  greater  than  those  of  the  poor  Indian, 
and  whose  sufferings  have  all  been  witnessed  by  a.  righteous  God  ; 
whose  agonizing  cries  and  groans  have  all  been  heard  by  Him,  —  a  class 
of  our  fellow  beings  toward  whom  our  injustice  and  cruelt}'  have  been, 
all  things  considered,  nearly  if  not  quite  unparalleled  in  the  whole 
history  of  the  world?  Oh.  my  hearers,  when  we  look  upon  the  millions 
of  poor  Africans  who  have  been  so  long  deprived  of  all  the  rights  of 
men,  — so  long  subjected  to  the  most  cruel  bondage,  and  in  many 
cases  surely  to  the  most  inhuman  treatment  in  this  land  of  Christian 
light  and  this  land  of  boasted  liberty,  —  have  we  not  the  most  abundant 
cause  to  tremble  for  our  country  when  we  reflect  that  there  is  a  God 
of  justice?" 

But,  notwithstanding  the  strength  of  his  anti-slavery  feelings, 
the  measures  of  the  abolitionists  were  at  times  so  inconsiderate  — 
witness  the  interruption  of  public  worship  above  referred  to  —  and 
their  denunciations,  not  only  of  all  slaveholders  alike,  but  of  all 
ministers  and  others  who  could  not  approve  their  methods,  so 
wanting,  as  it  seemed  to  them,  in  Christian  charity  and  in  strict 
regard  to  truth,  that  neither  Mr.  Worcester  nor  his  aged  lather, 
who  during  the  last  years  of  his  ministry  resided  with  him.  could 
consistently  with  their  views  of  duty  unite  with  them,  lu  this 
Mr.  Worcester  seems  to  have  been  sustained  by  his  people,  whose 
respect  and  affection  he  does  not  seem  to  have  forfeited  by  his 
steadfast  adherence  to  his  own  views  of  what  \vas  right  in  this 
matter. 

After  preaching'  three  years  Mr.  Worcester's  health  failed. 
The  family  disease,  consumption,  seemed  about  to  demand  an- 
other victim.  To  avert  this  issue  he  spent  the  winter  of  1*40- 
1*41  at  and  near  Augusta,  Ga.  Before  going  South  he  had 
requested  dismission,  but  the  request  was  not  granted,  his  people 
still  hoping  for  his  recovery.  Returning  in  the  spring  of  1841  with 
health  improved  but  by  no  means  fully  restored,  and  his  people 
being  still  reluctant  to  part  with  him,  it  was  arranged  that  he 
should  spend  a  year  on  a  farm  to  try  the  effect  of  an  outdoor  life, 
but  still  continuing  his  pastorate  and  preaching  one  sermon  a 
week  only,  and  that  not  new.  This  was  continued  until  October, 
184:1.  when,  his  health  being  still  insufficient  for  the  duties  of 
the  pastorate,  he  accepted  the  office  of  secretary  of  the  \  crmuiit 


Ecclesiastical  History.  181 

Domestic  Missionary  Society,  and  removed  to  Montpelier,  Vt.    He 
was  formally  dismissed  December  18  of  the  same  year. 

Mr.  Worcester  continued  to  discharge  with  much  acceptance 
the  duties  of  his  new  office,  under  the  influence  of  his  new  mode 
of  life  gradually  improving,  until  September,  1846,  when  he  ac- 
cepted the  appointment  of  district  secretary  of  the  American 
Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions  for  Massachusetts, 
and  removed  to  Leicester  in  that  State,  and  in  1849  to  Auburn- 
dale,  in  Newton,  near  Boston,  a  place  not  then  thought  worthy  of 
a  post-office. 

This  last  removal  was  in  part  to  meet  the  wishes  of  the 
secretaries  of  the  board,  who  desired  to  have  him  near  at  hand 
to  render  assistance  at  the  missionary  rooms  as  occasion  might 
arise.  His  time  was,  however,  mainly  devoted  to  the  duties  of 
his  agency  till  the  fall  of  1856,  when,  in  the  absence  of  Secretary 
Treat  to  visit  the  foreign  missionary  stations  of  the  board,  he  was 
put  in  charge  of  the  "Missionary  Herald,"  of  which  he  was  the 
following  year  appointed  editor,  an  office  which  he  held  with 
slight  intermission  till  his  final  resignation  at  the  age  of  seventy, 
at  the  close  of  1878. 

Mr.  Worcester  was  also  appointed  acting  foreign  secretary  of 
the  board  to  supply  the  place  of  Secretary  Clark  in  his  absence  in 
1861  to  visit  foreign  mission  stations,  and  on  Mr.  Clark's  return 
was  appointed  assistant  foreign  secretary,  to  which  office,  as  well 
as  that  of  editor  of  the  "  Missionary  Herald,"  he  was  annually 
re-elected  till  his  final  resignation  in  1878. 

The  editor  of  the  "Missionary  Herald"  being  necessarily  kept 
in  close  acquaintance  with  all  the  missions  of  the  board,  it  had 
been  customary  to  expect  his  attendance  at  the  meetings  of  the 
prudential  committee,  and  Mr.  Worcester  had  been  accustomed 
to  attend  in  this  capacity  the  meetings  of  this  committee  and  to 
take  part  in  its  deliberations  for  many  years.  In  1878,  in  view  of 
his  expected  retirement  from  the  editorship,  the  committee,  un- 
Avilling  to  be  deprived  of  his  counsels,  recommended  his  appoint- 
ment by  the  board  as  a  member  of  the  prudential  committee,  and 
he  was  so  appointed,  and  held  this  position  until  the  failure  of  his 
health  in  1882  compelled  him  to  decline  a  re-election. 

In  March,  1882,  being  then  with  his  son-in-law,  Professor 
D'Ooge,  in  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  Mr.  Worcester  had  an  attack  of 
congestion  of  the  brain.  From  this  he  never  fully  recovered,  but 
was  restored  so  far  that  he  enjoyed  riding  about  the  country, 
enjoyed  his  friends  and  was  enjoyed  by  them,  enjoyed  books  and 
religious  conversation  and  contemplation.  He  was  stricken  down 


182  History  of  Littleton. 

again  in  the  spring  of  1802,  lingered  through  the  summer  till 
October  23,  when  he  passed  away,  being  within  a  week  of  eighty- 
five  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Worcester  had  five  children,  of  whom  the  oldest  and  the 
youngest  only  survive  him.  The  former'  is  the  wife  of  Rev. 
George  X.  Clark,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  late  secretary  of  the  American 
Board ;  the  latter  is  the  wife  of  Martin  Luther  D'Ooge,  LL.D., 
Professor  of  Greek  in  the  University  of  Michigan. 

During  the  whole  course  of  his  life  Mr.  Worcester  would  seem 
to  have  secured  in  an  unusual  degree  the  respect,  confidence,  and 
affection  of  those  with  whom  and  for  whom  he  labored.  In  his 
boyhood  in  his  native  town  he  was  noted  as  a  hard-working,  faith- 
ful, trusty  boy,  and  was  ever  highly  esteemed.  But  it  is  especially 
of  his  life  and  labors  since  he  entered  the  ministry  that  we  are 
able  to  produce  testimonials  of  the  esteem  in  which  he  was  held 
and  of  the  value  of  his  labors. 

Of  his  pastorate  at  Littleton  the  late  John  Farr  wrote  in  1885 : 

i;  For  myself  I  can  truly  say  that  I  know  of  no  man  living,  or  that 
has  passed  away,  that  has  a  stronger  hold  on  my  esteem  and  love  : 
and  he  had  the  esteem  and  affection,  not  only  of  his  own  church  and 
society,  but  of  the  people  of  the  town  to  an  unusual  degree,  and  they 
all  regretted  that  his  health  was  such  as  to  require  him  to  sever  his 
pastorate  here  ;  for  he  was  catholic  in  spirit,  sound  in  doctrine,  earnest 
and  thorough  in  all  his  duties,  an  able  preacher,  and  his  talents  were 
altogether  above  the  average  of  his  ministerial  brethren." 

Of  his  services  as  secretary  of  the  Vermont  Domestic  Mis- 
sionary Society  Rev.  J.  II.  Woodward,  late  of  Milton,  Vt.,  writes 
in 


"  The  only  capacity  in  which  I  knew  Mr.  Worcester  personally  was 
as  agent  and  secretary  of  our  board  of  missions,  and  I  always  felt  that 
he  was  a  model  man  in  that  position.  .  .  .  As  I  call  up  my  memories 
and  impressions  of  the  man.  there  was  nothing  weak  or  fanciful  about 
him.  but.  as  was  said  of  Paul,  his  words  were  weighty.  In  short, 
looking  at  him  in  all  his  bearings  on  the  strong  and  feeble  churches 
of  Vermont.  I  think  it  verv  questionable  whether  this  State,  favored  as 
it  has  been  in  this  respect,  has  ever  had  his  superior  in  the  conduct  of 
its  missions." 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Stevens,  late  of  Westminster.  Vt..  writing  also  in 
the  same  year,  in  a  letter  quite  too  long  to  be  quoted  in  lull 
here,  says  :  — 

••  My  recollections  are  that  the  society  was  at  a  low  ebb  when  he 
became  its  secretarv.  I  recall  this  remark  in  one  of  his  addresses. 


Ecclesiastical  History.  183 

He  had  been  asked  by  one  of  the  pastors  of  the  State  if  he  expected  to 
raise  enough  to  pay  his  salary.  .  .  .  How  long  he  was  in  the  work  I 
do  not  know,  but  I  know  that  the  society  has  had  a  large  place  in.  the 
estimation  of  the  churches  ever  since." 

Of  his  services  as  agent  of  the  American  Board,  Mr.  C.  C. 
Chase,  of  Lowell,  Mass.,  writes  also  in  1885  :  — 

"  His  public  addresses  before  our  people  of  High  Street  Church  were 
distinguished  for  candor,  earnestness,  precision,  and  force.  He  stood 
completely  behind  his  subject  and  never  seemed  to  think  of  himself, 
but  spoke  as  one  who  profoundly  believed  that  his  message  was  one  of 
serious  and  solemn  importance,  and  demanded  the  immediate,  earnest, 
and  devout  attention  of  every  Christian  man.  He  was  eminently  a 
wise,  prudent,  and  fit  representative  of  the  American  Board,  doing 
honor  to  his  commission,  and  leaving  behind  him  a  deep  respect  for 
the  board  and  its  noble  work." 

That  in  his  connection  with  the  American  Board  Mr.  Worcester 
had  in  an  unusual  degree  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the 
secretaries  and  prudential  committee  is  evident  from  what  has 
already  been  stated.  It  was  very  strongly  expressed  in  a  minute 
adopted  by  the  prudential  committee  on  occasion  of  his  letter 
declining  re-election  as  a  member  of  that  body.  Secretary  Alden, 
in  a  note  communicating  the  minute  to  Mr.  Worcester,  says: 
"  This  is  a  very  cold  and  inadequate  way  of  expressing  our  sense 
of  an  irreparable  loss." 

The  resolution  referred  to  is  as  follows  :  — 

"  In  view  of  the  letter  dated  the  llth  inst.  of  Rev.  I.  R.  Worcester, 
declining  re-election  as  a  member  of  this  body,  the  Prudential  Com- 
mittee would  record  their  special  regret  that  the  state  of  his  health 
renders  such  a  step  necessary.  We  recall  with  great  satisfaction  his 
former  labors  as  District  Secretary  of  the  American  Board,  his  editorial 
labors  of  twenty  years  in  connection  with  the  'Missionary  Herald,'  and 
his  services  of  four  years  as  a  member  of  this  committee.  During  the 
two  periods  last  named,  amounting  in  all  to  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  cen- 
tury, Mr.  Worcester's  presence  in  our  meetings  has  been  of  the  highest 
value  \)\  virtue  of  the  extent  and  accurac}'  of  his  acquaintance  with  the 
Missions  of  the  Board  and  his  calmness  and  wisdom  in  counsel.  We 
would  also  record  our  deep  personal  respect  and  attachment  to  him  as  a 
Christian  man  and  an  associate  under  responsibilities  which  the  God  of 
Missions  has  placed  upon  us." 

This  resolution  was  passed  September  18, 1882,  and  at  a  special 
meeting  two  days  afterward  the  members  of  the  committee  present 
requested  the  privilege,  as  an  expression  of  their  own  personal 


184  History  of  Littleton. 

respect  and  affection,  of  affixing  their  own  names  to  the  minute 
adopted  in  relation  to  Mr.  Worcester,  and,  the  other  officers  of 
the  board  making  a  similar  request,  the  minute  was  signed 
by  the  members  of  the  prudential  committee,  the  secretaries 
of  the  board,  the  treasurer,  and  the  editor  of  the  "  Missionary 
Herald." 

Secretary  Clark  informs  the  writer  of  this  sketch  that  "  when- 
ever any  important  question  was  up  in  the  prudential  committee 
they  always  waited  with  much  deference  to  hear  what  Mr. 
Worcester  would  say,  and  some  of  the  strongest  men  would 
almost  always  say  '  I  agree  with  Mr.  Worcester,'  so  that  it  be- 
came a  byword." 

The  following  by  Eev.  A.  C.  Thompson,  D.D.,  for  many  years 
a  member  of  the  prudential  committee  of  the  board,  will  fittingly 
close  this  sketch. 

In  the  year  1846  Mr.  Worcester  became  district  secretary  for 
Massachusetts  of  the  American  Board  of  Missions.  His  service 
in  that  capacity  was  conducted  with  industry  and  wisdom.  His 
power  in  the  pulpit  lay  in  the  firmness  of  his  convictions,  the 
mingled  earnestness  and  sobriety  of  his  views,  the  absence  of  all 
exaggeration,  all  sophistries  and  subtleties,  all  harshness  and 
egotism.  Rhetorical  artifices  were  unknown  to  him.  He  did  not 
aim  at  a  highly  imaginative  presentation,  but  to  set  forth  funda- 
mental principles  and  unimpeachable  facts,  and  thus  to  instruct 
and  to  carry  with  him  the  judgment  and  conscience  of  all  who 
listened,  lie  was  one  whom  any  congregation  would  like  to  hear 
again  and  again  on  the  same  subject. 

In  editing  the  "  Missionary  Herald  "  Mr.  Worcester  exhibited 
naturally  the  same  qualities  as  in  his  agency  just  spoken  of. 
There  was  no  bustle,  no  dogmatism,  no  sentimentalism,  but 
dignity,  accuracy,  discrimination,  and  a  happy  faculty  of  never 
saying  the  wrong  thing.  Caution  was  always  apparent,  but  it  did 
not  degenerate  into  timidity.  The  habitual  reader  would  not  be 
constantly  reminded  of  the  editor  or  any  idiosyncrasies,  but 
would  have  his  attention  fastened  upon  the  method  and  progress 
of  the  great  work,  represented  by  that  maga/.ine,  at  home  and 
abroad. 

In  1878  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  prudential  committee 
of  the  board.  The  two  positions  previously  occupied  served 
eminently  to  qualify  him  for  this.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  few  men 
have  had  a  seat  at  the  weekly  council  table  in  the  Missionary 
rooms,  whose  opinions  were  safer  than  those  of  Mr.  Worcester. 
His  manner  was  unusually  quiet  and  unpretentious.  Although 


Ecclesiastical  History.  185 

familiar  with  the  details  of  business  at  home  and  with  the  course 
of  things  in  the  different  missions  and  stations,  he  never  obtruded 
his  opinions  with  anything  like  an  air  of  self-conceit  or  superior 
knowledge.  His  modesty,  his  balance  of  faculties,  and  repose  of 
character  kept  him  from  rash  judgments,  from  temerity,  and  from 
obstinacy.  He  was  firm  yet  tolerant  of  the  opinion  of  others, 
however  widely  they  might  differ  with  him.  No  one  could  say 
he  was  not  fair-minded  and  open  to  correction.  There  is  a 
Portuguese  proverb :  "  The  wise  man  changes  his  opinion  often, 
the  fool  never."  Mr.  Worcester,  while  not  given  to  change,  was 
always  free  from  wilful  persistency.  His  discernment  and  judi- 
cial calmness  were  in  complete  contrast  with  the  infirmity  of 
many  minds  which  see  no  difference  of  degree  in  the  weight  of 
evidence.  Eccentricities  he  had  none  ;  impracticable  projects  were 
never  suggested  by  him.  If  not  a  hero,  he  had  no  quixotism.  He 
knew  how  to  let  windmills  alone.  Success  did  not  intoxicate  him, 
nor  did  trifles  discourage  him.  A  biographer  of  Dr.  Isaac  Barrow 
expresses  regret  that  he  could  hear  of  no  enemy  and  no  calumny 
from  which  to  vindicate  him.  The  biographer  of  Isaac  Worcester 
is  likely  to  labor  under  a  similar  embarrassment. 

Few  men  have  been  more  beloved  by  the  church  or  respected 
by  the  community  than  was  the  Rev.  Mr.  Worcester.  While  re- 
siding here  he  built  the  residence  on  the  Apthorp  road  owned  by 
the  late  John  A.  Miller  ;  the  contractor  for  the  work  was  Freder- 
ick Kilburn.  Mr.  Worcester  had  several  acres  of  land  ;  much  of 
this  he  cleared,  and  passed  much  of  his  time  in  its  cultivation, 
thinking  an  outdoor  life  necessary  to  the  maintenance  of  his 
health. 

The  Christian  character  and  teaching  of  the  Worcester  brothers 
left  an  impression  in  the  community  that  wrought  for  good 
through  more  than  two  generations,  and  there  are  those  still  liv- 
ing who  in  their  youth  knew  the  brothers  and  to  this  day  recall 
their  memory  with  loving  reverence  and  assert  that  their  example 
has  influenced  them  throughout  their  lives  and  made  them  better 
men  and  better  citizens. 

The  Worcester  brothers  had  more  than  one  generation  of 
scholars  and  Congregational  ministers  among  their  ancestry  who 
preached  the  Word  at  a  time  when  what  is  now  regarded  as  the 
severe  doctrines  of  Calvin  and  Jonathan  Edwards  were  taught 
and  enforced  by  the  church  in  all  their  strength.  With  hardly 
a  variation  these  doctrines  had  constituted  a  part  of  the  inheri- 
tance of  the  sons,  and  they  lived  up  to  them  with  righteous  rigor. 
Their  father,  the  Rev.  Leonard  Worcester,  lived  with  his  son 


186  History  of  Littleton. 

Isaac  in  this  town  some  three  years,  and  frequently  occupied  the 
pulpit  when  the  son  was  ill. 

"  He  was  the  sou  of  Noah  and  Lydia  (Taylor)  Worcester,  born  Jan- 
uary 1,  1767.  Mr.  Worcester  went  to  Worcester,  Mass.,  in  his  youth, 
and  served  an  apprenticeship  to  the  printer's  trade  in  the  office  of 
Isaiah  Thomas,  Esq.,  a  distinguished  printer  and  publisher  of  that 
time.  After  reaching  the  age  of  majority,  he  was  for  several  years 
editor,  printer,  and  publisher  of  the  newspaper  called  the  'Massachu- 
setts Spy.'  In  1795,  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight,  he  was  chosen  deacon 
of  the  first  church  in  Worcester,  of  which  Rev.  Dr.  Austin  was  pastor, 
and  without  any  regular  or  systematic  course  of  theological  studies  he 
was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Mendou  Association,  March  12,  1799, 
and  was  ordained  as  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  and  societ\- 
in  Peacham,  Vt. ,  October  30,  1799.  He  discharged  the  duties  of  his 
pastorate  with  much  acceptance  for  thirty-eight  years,  till  1837,  when 
he  left  Peacham  on  account  of  impaired  health.  He  afterwards  resided 
in  Littleton,  and  St.  Johnsbury,  Vt.,  where  he  died,  Ma}"  28,  1846, 
aged  seventy-nine. 

'•Publications  of  Mr.  Worcester,  'Letters  to  Rev.  Dr.  Bancroft,  on 
the  doctrine  of  Election,'  1794;  Oration  on  the  -Death  of  Washing- 
ton/ 1800  ;  '  Fast  Day  Sermon,'  1802  ;  also  sermons  on  the  following 
subjects:  -The  Highway  and  Way:'  ;  On  the  Atonement;'  'On 
Prayer  ; '  '  On  the  Determination  of  God  : '  '  On  the  Trinity  ; '  '  Men 
their  Worst  Enemies  ;  '  '  The  Christian  desirous  to  be  with  Christ ;  '  '  A 
Defence  of  the  Confession  of  Eaith  of  the  Church  at  Peacham  ; '  at  the 
'  Ordination  '  of  Rev.  Elnathan  Gridley  and  Rev.  Samuel  A.  Worcester, 
as  missionaries.  1825;  'On  the  Alton  Outrage.'  1837:  •  At  the  close 
of  his  Ministry.'  1839.  Besides  the  above  publications,  Mr.  Worcester 
was  a  frequent  contributor  to  several  of  the  religious  periodicals  of  the 
time.  He  received  the  honorary  degree  of  A.M..  from  Middlebury 
College  in  1804,  and  from  Dartmouth  College  in  1827. 5>1 

After  the  departure  of  Mr.  Worcester  in  1841.  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Bean  was  stated  supply  for  some  months.  During  the  inter- 
regnum the  Rev.  Drury  Fairbank  also  occasionally  occupied  the 
old  pulpit,  and  then  Mr.  Burchard  and  the  Rev.  E.  I.  Carpenter  be- 
came candidates  for  settlement,  and  the  choice  fell  to  the  latter, 
who  was  ordained  and  installed  over  the  church  December  13, 
1842. 

It  may  well  be  believed  that  under  the  circumstances  prevailing 
from  1803  to  1841  the  growth  of  the  church  had  been  slow.  It 
was  now  to  receive  a  new  impulse  through  the  labors  of  a  man 
who  possessed  a  sound  body  as  well  as  mental  strength  and  spirit- 
ual grace,  and  who  for  fifteen  years  was  to  give  of  this  abundance 
1  Sprague's  American  Pulpit,  vol.  ii.,  pp.  455.  456. 


Ecclesiastical  History.  187 

to  the  promotion  of  the  religious,  moral,  and  educational  advance- 
ment of  this  community. 

Erasmus  Irvin  Carpenter  was  of  the  well-known  family  of  that 
name  which  for  more  than  a  century  has  been  prominent  in 
Vermont.  He  was  the  son  of  Jonah  and  Hannah  Carpenter,  and 
was  horn  in  that  part  of  Waterford  adjoining  Barnet  and  St.  Johns- 
bury  April  29,  1808.  He  attended  the  public  school  in  his  native 
district  and  Peacham  Academy,  and  was  graduated  from  the  Uni- 
versity of  Vermont  with  the  class  of  1837.  He  entered  college 
with  a  mind  well  matured,  and  at  once  assumed  a  position  among 
the  first  scholars  of  his  class  and  maintained  it  to  the  day  of  his 
graduation.  His  mind  was  of  a  philosophical  cast,  and  he  espe- 
cially excelled  in  mathematics  and  those  branches  requiring  clear- 
ness and  strength  in  the  reasoning  faculty.  Leaving  the  university, 
he  passed  a  year  at  Andover  Theological  Seminary,  and  in  June, 
1842,  came  to  Littleton  and  supplied  the  pulpit  as  a  candidate 
until  his  ordination  in  the  following  December.  Here  he  entered 
upon  his  chosen  work  with  all  the  ardor  and  strength  of  his 
nature.  He  was  not  emotional,  and  possessed  none  of  the  merely 
showy  qualities  that  sometimes  have  greater  attraction  in  the 
ministerial  office  than  the  more  substantial  and  useful  attributes 
which  rendered  his  pastorate  notable  for  achievement,  not  only 
for  winning  souls  to  Christ,  but  in  the  upbuilding  among  its 
membership  of  the  highest  order  of  Christian  character.  His 
sermons  were  void  of  ornament  and  not  calculated  at  first  to 
win  the  attention  of  the  indifferent  listener,  but  their  logical 
arrangement,  clearness  of  thought,  and  elevation  of  sentiment 
always  commanded  the  close  consideration  of  thoughtful  listeners, 
and  in  the  course  of  time  his  lucid  presentation  of  his  subject 
drew  to  the  church  service  a  class  of  people  who  were  not  in 
sympathy  with  his  theological  views  nor,  it  may  be  said,  with 
his  political  principles,  which  he  did  not  hesitate  to  express  from 
the  pulpit  in  the  serious  days  of  the  Kansas-Nebraska  excitement. 
Those  who  sat  under  his  ministrations  left  the  church  with  abun- 
dant food  for  thought.  His  pastorate  was  eminently  successful 
from  every  point  of  view.  In  the  time  more  than  sixty  persons 
united  with  the  church,  either  by  profession  of  faith  or  by  letter, 
and  the  average  attendance  on  public  worship  was  largely  increased. 
Some  of  this  was  undoubtedly  due  to  the  additions  to  our  popula- 
tion, but  at  that  time  another  denomination,  the  Methodist,  had 
built  their  house  of  worship  and  drawn  to  it  a  large  number  of 
worshippers,  so  that  on  the  whole  it  is  evident  that  the  interest 
in  religious  matters  had  received  unusual  stimulation  in  these 


188  History  of  Littleton. 

years.  But  the  most  significant  result  of  his  labors  within  the 
church  was  the  marked  elevation  of  the  spiritual  character  of  its 
membership.  Probably  at  no  time  in  its  history  has  there  been 
more  perfect  harmony  or  less  manifestation  of  worldly  spirit  among 
its  members  than  prevailed  during  this  pastorate.  He  was  patient 
with  those  who  failed  to  observe  the  law.  but  continuous  neglect 
after  what  he  regarded  as  a  sufficient  admonition  was  visited  with 
the  extreme  penalty,  and  early  in  his  ministry  four  persons  were 
expelled  from  the  church  "  for  want  of  interest  in  religion  and  a 
sad  indifference  to  their  church  relations;"  but  subsequently  the 
church  was  not  called  upon  to  administer  this  extreme  penalty,  and 
seldom  had  to  call  any  of  its  members  to  account  for  minor  in- 
fractions of  its  rules.  Mr.  Carpenter  was  a  regular  but  not  over- 
frequent  visitor  at  the  homes  of  those  who  attended  his  church. 
and  was  a  sympathetic  and  helpful  adviser  in  times  of  grief  and 
adversity,  as  well  as  a  wise  counsellor  in  scriptural  and  theological 
matters.  His  conversation  was  indicative  of  the  dominant  note 
in  his  character;  it  was  serious,  practical,  and  helpful.  These 
qualities  shone  forth  in  every  act  of  his  life.  Neither  in  conver- 
sation nor  in  act  could  he  be  flippant,  showy,  or  inconsiderate  : 
spiritual  uplifting  was  the  object  at  which  he  aimed  in  his  inter- 
course with  his  fellow-beings,  and  the  work  he  accomplished  in 
this  respect  bore  abundant  testimony  to  his  success. 

As  a  citizen  he  was  interested  to  an  exceptional  degree,  for  one 
burdened  with  so  many  professional  duties,  in  promoting  the  wel- 
fare of  the  community.  For  much  of  the  time  during  his  resilience 
here  he  was  a  member  of  'the  superintending  school  committee. 
To  this  honorable  and  useful  position  he  was  appointed  at  the  first 
opportunity  after  he  became  a  citizen,  which  was  in  April.  1S43, 
and  he  served  continuously  to  1851.  He  then  was  relieved  for  a 
single  year,  to  resume  the  work  in  1852.  when  he  began  a  service  of 
three  years,  making  eleven  years  in  all.  It  was  the  custom  then  to 
appoint  three  persons  to  this  office,  and  Mr.  Carpenter  usually  had 
Dr.  Adams  Moore  and  either  Dr.  William  Burns.  John  M.  Charltun. 
or  John  Sargent  as  colleagues.  Mr.  Carpenter  generally  acted  as 
chairman  of  the  committee,  and  it  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  his 
influence  and  achievement  in  behalf  of  education  was  greater  than 
lias  been  rendered  by  any  other  citizen.  He  came  to  this  service 
at  a  time  when  there  was  little  interest  manifested  in  the  cause. 
and  entered  into  it  with  the  same  tireless  devotion  he  brought  to 
every  work  that  engaged  his  attention,  and  discharged  its  duties 
with  a  zeal  that  awakened  teachers  and  pupils  to  do  their  best. 
A\  ith  him  an  examination  was  no  mere  perfunctory  task.  At  the 


Ecclesiastical  History.  189 

beginning  of  a  term  lie  learned  the  exact  situation,  and  followed 
the  work  with  frequent  visits  to  the  end,  until  the  school  system 
of  the  town  was  equal  to  the  best  of  that  period.  He  was  often 
called  by  the  faculty  of  Dartmouth  College  to  receive  its  "  rusti- 
cated "  students  for  instruction,  and  at  one  time  had  a  class  of 
four,  among  whose  members  was  Thaddeus  Stevens,  Jr. 

In  the  time  of  this  pastorate,  about  1851,  the  community  ex- 
perienced an  acute  but  permanently  serious  attack  of  the  epidemic 
of  spiritualism.  Many  prominent  individuals  were  impressed  if 
not  convinced  by  the  mysteries  of  this  peculiar  combination  of 
fact  and  phantom,  and  the  established  churches  were  for  a  time 
distracted  by  it. 

On  the  14th  of  December,  1856,  Mr.  Carpenter  tendered  his 
resignation  as  pastor  over  the  church  and  society.  His  letter  was 
an  unwelcome  communication,  and  efforts  were  made  to  persuade 
him  to  withdraw  it.  Under  all  the  circumstances  he  considered 
it  best,  especially  for  the  church,  that  there  should  be  a  change 
in  its  pastor,  and  the  matter  was  brought  before  a  meeting  of  the 
church  on  the  27th  of  the  same  month,  when  the  letter  was  duly 
considered  and  the  following  resolution  adopted  :  — 

"  Resolved,  unanimously,  that  we  regret  that  our  pastor,  Rev.  E.  I. 
Carpenter,  has  asked  to  be  dismissed  from  his  pastoral  charge  over  this 
church  and  society,  but  do  not,  under  the  circumstances  of  the  case,  feel 
that  we  ought  to  make  any  opposition  to  the  desire  expressed  by  him 
if  a  mutual  council  should  think  it  advisable  to  grant  it." 

Deacon  John  Merrill,  Deacon  Marshall  D.  Cobleigh,  and  Edmund 
Carleton  were  appointed  a  committee  to  arrange  with  the  pastor 
for  calling  a  mutual  council,  which  assembled  "January  6,  1857. 
The  churches  represented  were  :  Bethlehem,  by  Rev.  Thos.  Hall, 
acting  pastor,  Phineas  Allen,  delegate;  Waterford,  Vt.,  Rev.  F. 
Warriner,  pastor,  A.  Goss,  delegate  ;  Wells  River,  Vt.,  Rev. 
S.  M.  Plimpton,  pastor ;  Second  Church  of  St.  Johnsbury,  Vt., 
Rev.  W.  B.  Bond,  pastor,  Deacon  S.  G.  Brackett,  delegate.  Rev. 
Mr.  Hall  acted  as  moderator  and  Rev.  Mr.  Bond  as  scribe.  After 
due  consideration  of  the  statements  presented,  the  council  reported 
in  substance  "  that  it  was  expedient  that  the  pastoral  relations 
existing  between  Brother  Carpenter  and  this  church  and  society  be 
dissolved,  and  that  it  hereby  is  dissolved.''  The  council  also  ex- 
pressed its  regret  that  Mr.  Carpenter  should  leave  this  iield,  where 
he  had  been  "  so  favorably  known  and  so  highly  approved,"  and 
its  sympathy  with  the  church  and  society  in  the  dissolution  of  the 
ties  that  had  so  long  existed  between  them  and  their  pastor. 


190  History  of  Littleton. 

Mr.  Carpenter  at  once  removed  to  Barre,  Tt.,  and  became  pastor 
of  the  Congregational  Church  there,  where  he  remained  ten  years. 
For  two  years,  1867-69,  he  was  acting  pastor  at  Berlin,  Art. ; 
then  agent  of  the  Vermont  Bible  Society  until  1874,  residing  at 
White  River  Junction.  His  death  occurred  at  Swanzeyin  Febru- 
ary, 1877. 

The  wife  of  Mr.  Carpenter  was  Harriet,  daughter  of  Col. 
Zenas  and  Grace  W.  Stevens,  of  Belchertown,  Mass.,  who  died  at 
Swanzey  in  October,  1876.  They  had  three  children,  all  of  whom 
were  born  in  this  town.  The  eldest,  Harriet  Elvira,  is  an  instruc- 
tor in  a  college  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.  Irwin  resides  in  Boston, 
and  Marv  Frances  is  the  wife  of  Alfred  Paschall,  editor  and 
publisher  of  a  newspaper  at  Doylestown,  Pa. 

In  personal  appearance  Mr.  Carpenter  was  rather  tall  and  slim, 
with  a  stoop  that  indicated  studious  habits.  His  complexion  was 
dark:  his  hair  black,  thin,  and  straight;  his  face  long  and  serious. 
In  manner  he  just  verged  on  cordiality,  but  never  quite  reached 
it.  While  he  resided  in  this  town  he  was  constantly  striving  for 
the  betterment  of  the  religious,  social,  and  educational  condition 
of  the  people,  and  while  he  felt  that  his  efforts  had  borne  but  little 
fruit,  others,  more  familiar  with  preceding  and  subsequent  con- 
ditions, considered  his  achievements  in  these  respects  abundant, 
and  that  his  influence  endured  many  years  after  his  departure. 

It  was  three  years  before  the  vacancy  created  by  Mr.  Carpen- 
ter's resignation  was  filled.  In  March  and  April,  1857,  Abraham 
Burnham,  a  student  at  Andover  Theological  Seminary,  supplied 
the  pulpit  for  six  Sundays.  Then,  all  through  the  summer  and 
autumn.  Franklin  Tilton  each  Sabbath  read  a  sermon  from  the 
published  volumes  of  Spurgeon  or  Beecher.  In  December  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Coburn  supplied,  and  in  February,  1858,  the  Rev.  Carey  Rus- 
sell tilled  the  pulpit  until  March,  when  he  was  engaged  as  acting 
pastor  for  a  year.  At  that  time  Mr.  Russell  was  fifty-six  years  of 
age,  and  continuous  ill  health  had  made  him  appear  much  older 
than  his  years.  lie  possessed  great  resolution  and  devotion  to  his 
calling,  and  discharged  with  commendable  success  the  duties  that 
fell  to  his  lot  under  trying  circumstances.  In  his  early  ministry 
he  had  been  distinguished  for  success  in  winning  souls  to  Christ. 
It  is  related  that  in  his  first  parish,  in  Hartland,  Vt.,  there  were 
but  one  or  two  females  above  the  age  of  ten  who  were  not  hope- 
iully  pious.  Through  his  subsequent  ministry  be  continued  to 
meet  with  the  same  uncommon  success.  To  see  this  stricken 
man  laboring  through  the  week  with  the  y.eal  of  a  youth  who  had 
a  position  to  win.  and  cheerfully  fulfilling  all  pastoral  duties, 


Ecclesiastical  History.  191 

was  a  rare  exhibition  of  the  power  which  a  strong  and  devoted 
spirit  can  exercise  over  an  enfeebled  frame.  At  the  close  of  his 
year  of  service  he  retired  to  Norwich,  Vt.,  near  the  scene  of  his 
first  pastorate,  where  he  passed  to  his  final  reward  in  1864. 

Through  the  summer  of  1859  Prof.  John  Newton  Putnam  of 
Dartmouth  College,  one  of  the  finest  scholars  and  pulpit  orators 
of  the  land,  supplied  the  pulpit.  His  preaching  attracted  large 
numbers,  some  coming  from  other  towns  to  listen  to  his  eloquent 
and  convincing  exposition  of  the  Scriptures. 

In  the  following  December,  after  having  filled  the  pulpit  several 
Sabbaths,  a  call  was  extended  to  the  Rev.  W.  A.  Smith  to  become 
pastor  of  the  church  ;  quite  unexpectedly  Mr.  Smith  declined  the 
invitation,  and  the  Rev.  Charles  E.  Milliken  was  called  in  April, 
1860,  and  an  account  of  his  pastorate  of  over  eighteen  years,  the 
longest  in  the  history  of  the  church,  has  been  prepared  by  one  1 
familiar  with  his  life,  and  by  reason  of  his  family  relations,  his 
church  associations,  and  personal  sympathy,  well  fitted  to  write 
concerning  it  with  sympathy  and  intelligence. 

The  fifth  pastor  regularly  installed  over  the  Congregational 
Church  of  Littleton  was  Rev.  Charles  Edward  Milliken.  He  was 
born  at  Fitzwilliam,  N.  H.,  February  5,  1880,  to  Cyrus  and  Mary 
Smith  Milliken,  the  sixth  of  a  family  of  seven  children,  four  sons 
and  three  daughters;  all  living  except  Harriet,  who,  it  will  be 
remembered,  died  at  the  home  of  Mr.  Milliken  in  this  place 
March  3,  1867. 

Both  parents  were  Christian  people  and  members  of  the  First 
Congregational  Church  at  Keene,  of  which  Dr.  Z.  S.  Barstow  was 
for  a  long  time  pastor.  No  doubt  the  training  received  in  a 
Christian  home  had  much  to  do  with  the  young  man's  choice  of 
a  profession  for  life.  It  is  very  rarely  that  a  Christian  minister 
comes  from  a  home  where  one  or  both  parents  are  not  believers 
in  the  Christian  religion. 

As  soon  as  Mr.  Milliken  felt  assured  that  he  was  indeed  a 
disciple  of  Christ,  he  decided  to  become  a  minister  of  His  church 
and  a  teacher  of  His  doctrine  to  men.  A  few  months  after 
this  important  step  in  his  life,  he  united  with  the  church  of  his 
parents.  He  was  now  twenty-one  years  of  age.  To  become  an 
acceptable  and  strong  preacher  preparation  was  necessary,  and 
the  question  was  where  he  should  go  to  school.  His  pastor  had 
been  a  trustee  of  Meridcn  Academy,  and  probably  guided  this 
member  of  his  church,  thirsting  for  knowledge,  in  that  direction. 
To  Mcriden  he  went,  and  graduated  at  Kimball  Union  Academy 

1  Deacon  Charles  L.  Clay. 


192  History  of  Littleton. 

in  1853.  Dr.  Cyrus  Richards,  a  man  dear  to  the  memory  of  many 
connected  heretofore  and  now  with  this  school,  was  principal. 
This  pupil,  the  subject  of  our  sketch,  says  of  him :  "  As  a  teacher 
he  was  careful,  painstaking,  and  accurate.  His  influence  over  me 
was  general  rather  than  particular.  How  to  be  a  student  was  one 
thing  I  learned  of  him."  We  must  all  admit  that  it  is  one  of  the 
most  important  things  to  be  learned. 

Mr.  Milliken  entered  Dartmouth  College  in  the  fall  of  the  year 
he  graduated  from  Kimball  Union  Academy  ;  he  took  the  regular 
classical  course,  and  graduated  in  1857.  In  his  class  were  E.  F. 
Noyes,  a  governor  of  Ohio  and  minister  to  France;  S.  E.  Pingree, 
a  governor  of  Vermont;  Rev.  William  B.  Wright,  D.D.,  many 
years  pastor  of  Berkeley  Street  Church  in  Boston  ;  Hon.  James  B. 
Richardson,  of  Boston,  and  Judge  J.  C.  Hale,  of  Ohio.  From 
Dartmouth  Mr.  Milliken  went  to  Andover  to  take  a  theological 
course,  and  was  graduated  in  June,  1860.  Many  of  his  class- 
mates have  attained  commanding  distinction,  among  them  Rev. 
J.  Q.  Bittinger,  of  Haverhill,  one  of  the  ablest  of  thinkers;  Dr. 
Simeon  Gilbert,  of  '-The  Advance;"  President  L.  Clark  Seelye, 
of  Smith  College :  Henry  M.  Alden,  for  many  years  editor  of 
"  Harper's  Magazine,"  and  Peter  McVickor,  President  of  Wash- 
burn  College. 

Some  inquiries  had  been  made  as  to  Andover  graduates  by 
some  one  connected  with  the  church,  so  that  it  was  understood 
that  Mr.  Milliken  was  available,  and  he  came  to  Littleton  to 
supply  during  his  spring  vacation.  How  many  Sabbaths  he  spent 
with  the  people  at  that  time  the  writer  does  not  know,  but  that 
he  filled  the  pulpit  with  acceptance  to  them,  we  infer  from  the 
following  records  of  the  church  :  '•  May  9,  I860,  voted  to  choose 
a  committee  to  unite  with  a  committee  of  the  society  to  give  Mr. 
Charles  E.  Milliken  a  call  to  become  our  pastor.  Chose  John 
Farr,  Sylvanus  Balch,  and  William  Bailey,  Committee." 

The  letter  to  Mr.  Milliken  was  as  follows :  — 

EEV.  CHARLES  E.  MILLIKEX: 

DEAR  SIR. — The  Fir.st  Congregational  Church  in  Littleton.  Xew 
Hampshire,  and  the  society  connected  therewith,  have  respectively  this 
day  voted  unanimously  to  request  you  to  settle  over  them  as  their 
pastor  and  spiritual  guide,  and  chose  the  undersigned  as  their  respec- 
tive committees  to  extend  their  mutual  requests  to  you. 

The  society  aforesaid  authorize  their  committee  to  offer  you,  as  a 
compensation  for  pastoral  services,  a  yearly  salary  of  eight  hundred 
dollars,  with  the  understanding-  that  in  case  you  accept  our  invitation, 


Ecclesiastical  History.  193 

that  yon,  until  such  time  as  will  be  suitable  that  }"ou  should  be  ordained 
and  installed,  supply  our  pulpit  by  others  all  or  such  portions  of  the 
time  as  you  may  be  able  to  do  so,  the  same  as  if  you  preached  yourself, 
the  society  paying  for  the  time  they  are  supplied  at  the  above  rate. 

Hoping  that  the  indications  of  Providence  may  be  such  that  you  may 
feel  inclined  to  accept  of  our  invitation,  which  we  most  cordially  extend 
to  3'ou,  and  that  the  result  may  prove  mutually  profitable  and  tend  to 
advance  the  spiritual  interests  of  this  church  and  people  and  promote 
vital  godliness  among  us,  and  that  we  may  be  able  to  aid  you  with  our 
counsels  and  prayers  and  that  He  who  doeth  all  things  will  add  His 
blessing  thereto. 

Please  accept  of  our  personal  assurances  of  affectionate  regard  and 
desire  whether  you  labor  here  or  elsewhere  that  you  may  not  labor  in 
vain  nor  spend  your  strength  for  nought. 

Very  truly  }'ours, 

JOHN  FARR,  SYLVANOS  BALCH,  WILLIAM  BAILEY, 

Committee  of  the  Church. 

JOHN  MERRILL,   MARQUIS  L.  GOULD,  FRANKLIN  TILTON, 

Committee  of  the  Society. 
LITTLETON,  May  9,  1860. 

These  names,  so  familiar,  were  those  of  men  who  at  this  time 
were  bearing  the  burden  and  heat  of  the  day  in  the  church  and  the 
active  life  of  Littleton,  all  of  whom,  except  William  Bailey,  have 
ceased  from  their  labors  and  been  gathered  to  their  fathers. 

Mr.  Milliken's  answer  was  as  follows  :  — 

ANDOVER,  MASS.,  May  22d,  1860. 

To    THE    COMMITTEE    OF    THE    CONGREGATIONAL     CHURCH     AXD     SOCIETY     IN 
LITTLETON,   N.  H. : 

DEAR  BROTHERS,  —  Your  communication  containing  the  requests  of 
the  church  and  society  you  represent  that  I  should  lk  settle  over  them 
as  their  pastor  and  spiritual  guide,"  has  been  duly  and  prayerfully  con- 
sidered. The  station  to  which  }'ou  invite  me  is  one  of  great  responsi- 
bility, and  deeply  do  I  feel  my  unfitness  for  it.  Trusting,  however,  that 
God,  who  hath  called  me  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  will  grant  me 
guidance  and  strength  to  fulfil  it,  I  accept  the  call  thus  extended  and 
agree  to  become  your  pastor.  I  desire  to  receive  your  continued 
prayers  and  your  heart}"  co-operation  in  whatever  endeavors  I  mav  put 
forth  that  there  may  be  a  mutual  effort  of  pastor  and  people  for  the 
advancement  of  Christ's  kingdom,  all  of  which  is  needed  to  constitute 
a  happy  and  successful  pastoral  relation.  In  this  acceptance  I  deem  it 
proper  to  put  in  writing  the  following  conditions  :  first,  that  the  salary, 
which  in  amount  I  regard  sufficient,  shall  be  paid  quarterly  in  instal- 
ments ;  second!}-,  that  I  shall  be  at  liberty  to  take  a  vacation  of  three 

VOL.  II. 13 


194  History  of  Littleton. 

or  four  Sabbaths,  as  I  find  it  necessaiy,  at  such  portions  of  the  year  as 
will  be  most  convenient  to  myself  without  diminution  of  salary,  agree- 
ing to  do  what  I  can  at  such  times  by  way  of  exchanges  and  otherwise 
as  will  be  for  the  welfare  of  the  people. 

Please  accept  my  thanks  for  the  cordial  manner  I  have  everywhere 
been  personally  received  among  you,  and  for  the  very  friendly  greet- 
ings of  your  church  and  society. 

Hoping  that  the  relations  thus  formed  ma}-  prove  mutually  profitable, 
may  tend  to  my  own  growth  in  grace  and  to  the  spiritual  advancement 
of  church  and  people  in  Littleton,  I  remain, 

Very  truly  3'ours,, 

C.  E.   MlLLIKEN. 

JOHN  FARR,  JOHN  MERRILL,  AND  OTHERS  OF  THE  COMMITTEE. 


Mr.  Millikcn  entered  at  once  upon  his  duties,  supplying  the 
pulpit  in  various  ways  during  the  summer,  and  actually  beginning 
his  ministry  in  September.  He  was  ordained  and  installed  by  a 
council  September  27,  18GO. 

The  council  consisted  of  Rev.  Z.  S.  Barstow,  D.D.,  Keenc  ;  Rev. 
J.  Eastman,  Danville,  Vt. ;  Rev.  J.  D.  Emerson,  Haverhill ;  Rev.  S. 
Page,  delegate;  Rev.  S.  M.  Plympton,  Wells  River,  Vt. ;  Rev. 
William  S.  Scwell,  Lnnenburg,  Vt. ;  Rev.  E.  I.  Carpenter,  Barre  ; 
Deacon  Willard  King,  delegate;  Rev.  F.  II.  Johnson,  Bethlehem  : 
F.  Winch,  delegate  ;  C.  B.  Allen,  Lancaster ;  Rev.  H.  W.  Burton, 
Xewbury,  Vt.;  L.  D.  Hazen,  delegate.  Dr.  Barstow  was  chosen 
moderator,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Burton,  scribe.  The  candidate  was 
examined  "  in  regard  to  his  church  membership,  his  license  to 
preach  the  Gospel,  his  Christian  experience,  his  motives  in  enter- 
ing the  ministry,  and  his  doctrinal  views."  His  examination 
being  regarded  satisfactory,  it  was  voted  to  proceed  with  the 
exercises  of  the  ordination  and  installation  as  follows :  Convoca- 
tion, Rev.  M.  Brunnell  ;  reading  the  Scripture,  Rev.  F.  H.  Johnson  ; 
prayer,  Rev.  William  Sewcll  ;  sermon,  Rev.  Z.  S.  Barstow,  D.D.  ; 
ordaining  prayer,  Rev.  J.  Eastman  ;  charge  to  the  pastor.  Rev. 
II.  X.  Burton;  fellowship  of  the  church,  Rev.  J.  D.  Emerson; 
address  to  the  people,  Rev.  E.  1.  Carpenter;  closing  prayer,  Rev. 
S.  M.  Plympton;  benediction,  the  pastor,  Rev.  C.  E.  Milliken. 

The  new  pastor  took  rooms  with  Mr.  Franklin  Tilton.  The 
deacons  of  the  church  were  .John  Merrill,  Marshall  D.  Cobleigh, 
and  Allen  Day.  Deacon  John  Merrill  was  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday-school,  as  he  had  been  for  many  years.  The  choir,  who 
sat  in  the  singing-seats  in  the  high  gallery  at  the  end  of  the 
church  opposite  the  minister,  were  Wesley  Alexander,  leader; 


Ecclesiastical  History.  195 

bass,  Major  Aaron  Brackett  and  Franklin  Tilton  ;  soprano,  Lonella 
Gould  and  others;  alto,  Emily  E.  Gould  and  others. 

Mr.  Milliken  was  something  of  a  singer  himself,  and  could  also 
play  a  cabinet  organ,  so  that  when  occasion  demanded  he  could 
be  preacher,  chorister,  and  organist  at  the  same  service.  Indeed, 
it  did  occasionally  occur  that  when  he  had  read  the  hymn,  he 
stepped  down  to  the  small  organ,  played  it,  and  led  the  singing. 

The  work  to  be  done  by  the  pastor  was  not  easy  ;  it  was  to  be 
incessant,  difficult,  as  religious  work  had  ever  been  in  the  town  ; 
but  in  the  church  were  some  good  helpers  who  stayed  up  the  hands 
of  their  pastor  ;  some  men  and  women  who  were  indeed  spiritually 
minded  and  who  were  encouraged  by  seeing  a  little  gain  year  by 
year.  No  doubt  Mr.  Milliken  soon  learned  the  temper  of  the 
people,  and  with  much  wisdom  entered  upon  his  work  with  no 
other  desire  than  to  do  his  Master's  will  and  be  a  benefit  to 
the  whole  community.  Zealous  and  enthusiastic  with  this  his 
first  settlement,  he  relied  upon  vigorous  and  steady  rather  than 
spasmodic  effort.  From  the  first  he  endeavored  so  to  walk 
and  live  among  the  people  that  his  daily  life  should  be  a  daily 
sermon,  ever  drawing  men  to  more  holy  living.  He  brought  to 
the  people  a  personality  all  his  own.  He  was  not  "  all  things 
to  all  men,"  and  held  aloof  from  what  he  thought  was  not  con- 
ducive to  the  furtherance  of  the  great  work  in  which  he  was 
engaged. 

Though  the  anti-slavery  agitation  had  passed  its  climax,  and 
the  resultant  Civil  War  was  on,  attempts  were  made  here  and  there 
throughout  the  North  to  define  or  coerce  opinion.  Littleton  had 
been,  as  the  town  continued  to  be  for  years  after,  the  stronghold 
of  Jacksonian  democracy  in  Northern  New  Hampshire.  Many 
members  of  the  parish  and  of  the  church,  and  at  least  one  of  the 
officers  of  the  latter,  had  been  Democrats  politically  "from  their 
youth  up."  To  have  committed  the  church  to  the  then  advanced 
doctrines  of  Phillips  and  Garrison  would  have  divided  it,  no 
doubt.  While  it  is  remembered  that  considerable  discussion  and 
some  feeling  were  aroused  as  to  the  matter  of  slavery  on  the  part 
of  the  church,  there  are  but  three  items  of  record  on  the  church 
books.  This  is  the  first :  — 

"  At  a  weekly  meeting  of  the  First  Congregational  Church  of  Little- 
ton, N.  II.,  holclen  at  their  vestry  in  the  afternoon  of  Friday,  20th  day 
of  Jane,  A.  D.  1802,  Mary  Carleton  made  request  of  said  church  through 
her  father  to  be  informed  what  was  the  position  of  said  church  relative 
to  the  subject  of  slaveiy.  At  the  same  time  and  in  the  same  manner 
she  communicated  to  the  church  the  fact  that  for  a  considerable  length 


196  History  of  Littleton, 

of  time  she  would  have  been  pleased  to  unite  with  the  church  provided 
it  had  not  declined  to  exclude  from  its  communion  slaveholders  and 
those  who  fellowshiped  with  slaveholders.  Whereupon  John  Farr, 
Esq.,  William  Bailey.  Esq..  and  Deacon  Marshall  D.  Cobleigh  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  ascertain  and  report  upon  the  subject  at  the 
next  Friday  meeting  of  the  church." 

The  second  item  is  the  report  of  this  committee,  which  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  history,  and  partakes  of  the  nature  of  a  state- 
ment. The  hand  and  the  mind  of  the  chairman  of  the  committee, 
then  in  his  prime,  are  seen  through  it  all. 

The  report  was  not  satisfactory  to  the  anti-slavery  people  and 
served  to  alienate  rather  than  conciliate  them,  as  we  judge  from 
the  third  item  of  record,  as  follows  :  — 

A  statement  read  before  the  church  on  December  31,  1809.  and  by 
vote  of  the  church  here  recorded. 

Whereas  on  the  27th  day  of  June.  1862.  the  subscribers  in  connec- 
tion with  the  late  Deacon  Marshall  D.  Cobleigh  having  been  on  a  pre- 
vious day  appointed  a  committee  of  the  First  Congregational  Church 
to  ascertain  and  report  what  was  the  position  of  said  church  relative 
to  the  subject  of  slavery,  made  their  report,  which  was  then  and  there 
adopted. 

And  whereas  they  have  been  informed  that  certain  members  of  the 
church  have  felt  that  injustice  was  done  them  and  the  great  body  of 
anti-slavery  people  by  said  report,  they  would  cheerfully  say  that  they 
did  not  intend  to  censure  any  person  or  persons  belonging  to  said 
church  nor  the  great  body  of  anti-slavery  people.  And  that  speeches 
of  misguided  and  indiscreet  philanthropists,  was  intended  to  refer  to  a 
few  of  the  most  extreme  anti-slavery  men  and  women  in  the  country. 

They  cheerfully  made  these  statements  in  the  hope  of  removing  any 
misunderstanding  or  occasion  for  feeling  between  any  members  of  the 
church. 

Signed  Jonx  FAKR. 

WILLIAM  BAILEY. 

Littleton  in  1S60  was  not  the  Littleton  of  to-day.  One  has 
said  of  the  town  at  that  date  :  ••  The  moral  tone  was  not  high. 
Liquor  flowed  freely.  The  war  broke  out.  and  war  excitement 
with  politics  absorbed  every  enemy."  Something  of  the  state  of 
affairs  existing  then  is  graphically  described  in  the  chapter  on 
the  anti-slavery  agitation  in  Littleton.  Speaking  of  one  Sabbath 
in  April  of  this  year,  it  is  said.  "Flairs  were  floating  in  the 
breeze  and  nothing  but  war  was  talked  of."  The  sound  of  the 
church-going  bell  calling  people  to  the  house  of  God  seemed 
mure  l;ke  a  call  to  arms.  At  the  church-sroins  hour,  instead  of 


Ecclesiastical  History.  197 

the  quiet  tread  of  devout  people  wending  their  way  to  the  house 
of  prayer,  could  be  heard  the  heavy  tread  of  marshalled  soldiers 
and  the  shrill  strains  of  warlike  music.  The  Littleton  Brass 
Band  was  out  in  uniform  and  escorted  the  volunteers  to  the  Con- 
gregational Church.  A  sermon  by  the  Rev.  Charles  E.  Milliken, 
pastor,  on  the  present  crisis  followed  from  the  words  found  in 
2  Sam.  x.  12,  "  Be  of  good  courage,  and  let  us  play  the  men  for 
our  people,  and  for  the  cities  of  our  God  :  and  the  Lord  do  that 
which  seemeth  him  good."  The  discourse  was  eagerly  listened  to, 
and  very  generally  well  received  by  all  in  sympathy  with  the  war. 

With  the  coming  of  the  new  pastor  came  a  sister  next  older, 
who  lived  with  him  till  her  death,  March  3,  1867.  About  a  year 
after  his  engagement  as  pastor,  June  18,  1861,  he  married  Sarah 
W.  Dunklee,  of  Francestown.  She  was  a  most  estimable  woman, 
just  suited  for  a  pastor's  wife.  Her  amiable  disposition,  entire 
sympathy  with  her  husband's  work,  and  quiet  participation  in  the 
interests  of  the  church  and  community  made  her  influence  deeply 
felt  as  long  as  she  lived,  and  left  a  blessed  memory  to  all  who 
were  privileged  to  know  her.  They  began  housekeeping  in  the 
building  now  owned  by  Fred  H.  English,  then  moved  into  the 
house  now  the  home  of  Phineas  R.  Gould,  where  they  lived  sev- 
eral years,  until  they  bought  the  property  opposite  the  church  now 
owned  by  Henry  F.  Green.  There  were  born  to  them,  October 
12,  1863,"  Charles  D.  and  Addie  M.  Milliken.  The  former  is  now 
pastor  of  a  church  in  California.  Mrs.  Milliken  died  of  consump- 
tion December  3,  1875. 

The  year  book  giving  the  report  of  the  church,  January  1, 1860, 
shows  resident  membership  as  follows:  males,  30;  females,  75; 
absent,  15  ;  total,  120.  Additions  by  profession,  1  ;  deaths,  1  ; 
dismissals,  1;  adult  baptism,  1;  Sunday-school,  150.  Of  .those 
who  were  members  then,  and  still  living  with  us,  may  be  men- 
tioned Mrs.  Almera  Clark,  >Irs.  Betsey  C.  Millen,  Mrs.  John  C. 
Quimby,  John  W.  Fa  IT,  Mrs.  Susan  J.  Gould,  Mrs.  Frank  AVith- 
erell,  Mrs.  Mary  B.  Redington.  Mrs.  A.  J.  Church,  Mrs.  Charles 
Nurse,  and  Mrs.  B.  W.  Kilburn. 

The  first  admissions  under  Mr.  Milliken  of  which  there  is  record 
occurred  November,  1860.  They  were  Nelson  Farr  Cobleigh, 
Ezra  Alonzo  Day,  Comfort  Day  Farr,  Elizabeth  Cobleigh,  now 
the  wife  of  Rev.  Royal  M.  Cole,  missionary  in  Turkey,  Helen  M. 
Morse,  by  profession  ;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  Closson,  Alanson 
Closson,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Luther  Adams,  by  letter. 

March  2, 1862,  Mr.  M.  L.  Gould  was  received,  and  till  his  death 
was  one  of  the  burden-bearers.  At  May  communion  came  Mrs. 


198  History  of  Littleton. 

M.  D.  Walker  from  the  church  in  Bethlehem.  In  July,  1863,  came 
Mrs.  Condon,  who  testified  to  her  love  for  the  church  by  making  it 
a  sharer  of  her  estate.  In  September  the  same  year  from  Bethle- 
hem came  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nelson  C.  Farr,  —  he  for  so  long  a  time 
until  his  death  an  honored  officer,  and  she  still  with  us.  In  Novem- 
ber were  received  Myra  A.  Farr,  Elinor  Merrill,  afterward  the  wife 
of  Rev.  William  R.  Terrett,  Caroline  Farr,  now  Mrs.  B.  F.  Page, 
Martha  Ann  Eastman,  Sarah  A.  Cushman,  on  confession  of  faith, 
and  Mrs.  Josiah  Kilburn,  by  letter.  In  July,  1864,  James  Quimby 
was  received ;  Josephine  E.  Millen  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ezra  Brooks 
(both  deceased)  came  by  letter  from  Bethlehem.  March  3,  1865, 
came  by  letter  from  Lyndon,  Vt.,  Levi  B.  Dodge,  one  of  our  oldest 
members,  but  having  one  of  the  youngest  hearts.  At  the  same  time 
from  the  church  in  Lunenburg  came  Mrs.  Amilda  P.  Farr.  At 
the  May  communion,  1866,  were  received  Laura  B.  Eastman  and 
Stella  Redington,  two  young  friends  whose  friendship,  thus  sacredly 
strengthened,  grew  stronger  and  stronger  till  the  death  of  the  lat- 
ter severed  the  tie.  In  May,  1867,  there  had  been  no  marked  sea- 
son of  especial  interest  and  ingathering  of  souls.  The  gospel  had 
been  faithfully  preached  and  lived  by  the  pastor,  and  to  the  spirit- 
ual profit  of  his  people,  no  doubt.  Such  admissions  and  dismissals 
came  as  usually  come  to  a  country  church.  The  growth  had  been 
steady  though  slow,  as  is  usually  the  case  in  a  consecrated  pastor- 
ate. The  years  had  been  those  of  preparation  and  seed-sowing, 
and  when,  in  1860,  the  assistance  of  Rev.  J.  W.  Tarlton  was 
called  in,  the  field  was  found  to  be  already  white  for  the  harvest, 
and  at  the  July  communion  twenty  united  with  the  church  on 
profession  of  their  faith  :  namely,  Mrs.  Emelie  E.  Thayer,  Alice 
B.  Parker.  Sarah  A.  Fanner,  Airs.  Sarah  Quimby,  Elizabeth  M. 
Kilburn,  Isabella  Merrill.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  K.  Lovcjoy,  Elmira  L. 
Gate.  Sophronia  K.  Hale,  Ellen  I.  Bailey.  Philena  A.  Farr,  Alice  II. 
Gould,  Clara  E.  Clough,  Florence  S.  Bowman,  Mrs.  Emma  M.  Farr, 
Marshall  C.  Dodge,  Caroline  A.  Bracket!,  Charles  A.  Farr,  Mary 
F.  Redington,  Ellen  Lucinda  Blake;  and  by  letter  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Sylvester  Marsh.  In  1870  came  Frances  Carleton,  Mrs.  Goodwin, 
on  confession;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  R.  Burton,  Capt.  John  Pierce 
and  wife,  by  letter  from  the  church  at  Bethlehem.  In  1871 
there  united  Harriet  D.  Merserve,  Ellen  Cnbb.  Mary  Ann  McCoy, 
Mrs.  S.  J.  Eaton.  Mrs.  Alpha  Goodall.  Mrs.  Nellie  B.  Hatch,  Frank 
Glazier,  Frank  Martin  Hatch.  Fred  Oilman  Hatch,  and  Ada  P. 
Hatch. 

As  far  as   the  records  show  there  were  no  accessions  during 
1S72.     In  the  winter    and    spring  of    1873    there  was    a    union 


Ecclesiastical  History.  199 

revival  effort  on  the  part  of  the  Baptist,  Methodist,  and  Congrega- 
tional churches.  Meetings  were  held  daily  for  eighteen  weeks. 
The  pastors  were  assisted  by  Rev.  C.  J.  Fowler,  a  young  man 
endued  with  spirit  and  power.  There  was  great  interest  in  the 
meetings,  and  many  souls  were  saved  and  became  identified  with 
the  churches  of  the  town.  Among  the  converts  were  four  young 
women  who  became  wives  of  ministers,  —  two  Methodist,  one 
Baptist,  and  one  Congregationalist ;  one  of  the  first,  as  the  wife 
of  a  second  husband,  is  now  a  missionary  in  Western  Africa. 
Among  those  uniting  during  the  year  on  profession  of  their  faith 
were  William  D.  Thompson,  Warren  W.  Lovejoy,  Alfred  Carleton, 
Sylvester  Marsh,  Jr.,  J.  Harvey  Quimby,  John  E.  Weeks,  Anna 
Mclntire,  Mary  B.  Tilton,  Harriet  J.  Miner,  Mrs.  Caroline  Weeks, 
Mrs.  Bernice  Goodall,  Mrs.  Eliza  C.  Cheney,  Luther  C.  Wilkins, 
William  Jackson,  Jr.,  Martha  Cobb,  Marietta  P.  Farr,  E.  Adaline 
Kilburn,  Ella  Parker,  Mrs.  Farmer,  Mary  Tarbell,  Nellie  Closson ; 
and  Martha  M.,  Annie,  and  Flora  French  came  by  letter  from 
Bath. 

No  man  could  be  more  interested  in  his  work  than  Mr.  Milliken  ; 
during  these  years  he  was  always  in  harmony  with  the  other 
pastors  of  the  village,  and  ready  to  co-operate  with  them  for  the 
advancement  of  Christ's  kingdom  in  Littleton,  and  when  .a  helper 
came  he  was  ready  to  step  aside  and  let  him  do  the  harvesting 
work,  content  with  having  done  the  seed-sowing  and  having  borne 
the  burden  of  preparation,  only  anxious  that  somebody,  anybody 
should  do  the  work.  To  Mr.  Milliken  is  due  the  starting  of  neigh- 
borhood meetings  as  a  regular  system,  which  has  been  kept  up 
more  or  less  all  these  years.  Soon  after  coming  to  town  he 
noticed  so  many  men,  especially  at  the  to\vn  meetings,  whom  he 
never  saw  in  church,  that  he  felt  the  desire  to  reach  them  in  some 
way,  and  if  possible  to  do  them  good  ;  but  not  much  could  be 
done  outside  as  long  as  the  pastor  had  to  preach  twice  on  the 
Sabbath  and  hold  a  prayer-meeting  in  the  evening.  He  says  it 
was  in  1874,  when  the  church  gave  up  the  second  service,  that 
the  neighborhood  meetings  were  begun  in  earnest,  and  they  have 
had  a  marked  influence  in  the  subsequent  religious  history  of  the 
town.  "I  at  once,"  he  writes,  "  started  a  meeting  at  Xorth  Lit- 
tleton, and  another  at  West  Littleton.  During  all  the  summer 
I  preached  in  the  morning,  then  drove  to  Xorth  Littleton  and 
preached  at  three,  then  went  to  West  Littleton  and  preached  at 
five,  returning  to  preach  in  the  church  in  the  evening.  I  always 
attended  the  Sunday-school,  and  once  in  two  months  the  com- 
munion service  was  included.  By  the  latter  part  of  the  summer 


200  History  of  Littleton. 

I  got  some  of  the  young  men  to  go  together  and  alternate  with 
me.  and  by  the  second  summer  three  meetings  were  carried  on 
at  the  same  hour,  two  of  them  under  the  young  men." 

It  was  about  this  time  that  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Associ- 
ation was  formed ;  that  organization  took  ur>  and  has  carried  on 
the  work  ever  since.  In  1874  the  church  was  remodelled  as  we 
now  see  it,  at  a  cost  of  88.000  :  but  before  this  was  accomplished 
an  immense  amount  of  work  was  done  by  the  pastor  in  preparing 
for  it.  in  the  way  of  getting  the  pew-holders  in  the  old  house  to 
give  up  their  holdings.  Mr.  Milliken  undertook  this  task,  and 
came  nearer  making  a  complete  success  of  it  than  probably  any 
other  man  could  have  done. 

Our  fathers  were  as  tenacious  of  their  pews  in  the  church  as 
they  were  of  their  lots  in  the  cemetery,  and  apparently  to  part 
with  the  former  seemed  like  selling  their  birthright :  however,  by 
that  persistency  of  purpose  which  was  a  marked  characteristic  of 
Mr.  Milliken.  he  finally  succeeded  in  getting  all  but  two  persons  to 
give  to  the  society  their  pews.  When  the  church  was  remodelled 
these  two  pews  were  finished  with  the  others  and  remain  to  this 
day.  I  suppose,  the  property  of  somebody.  I  doubt  if  any  one  can 
tell  which  the  particular  pews  are.  but  they  are  somewhere  near 
the  centre  of  the  east  side  of  the  house.  After  the  house  was 
refitted,  the  revenues  of  the  society  were  raised  by  selling  sittings 
to  the  highest  bidder.  The  writer  recalls  his  first  services  as 
auctioneer  at  one  of  the  annual  sale  of  seats  about  1880  or 
1881. 

During  the  pastorate  we  are  considering.  "  the  annual  deficit," 
to  which  we  of  the  present  time  are  so  accustomed,  was  frequently 
putting  in  an  appearance.  It  seems  that  the  majority  of  the 
membership  of  this  church  and  society  never  gave  with  great 
liberality  or  freely,  nor  in  proportion  to  their  ability  to  <rive  ; 
systematic  contribution  had  not  been  learned  when  Mr.  Milliken 
came,  and  whatever  proficiency  we  have  made  in  that  direction  as 
a  people  is  largely  due  to  his  efforts  to  educate  the  church  in  this 
principle  of  Christianity.  More  and  more  frequently  the  contribu- 
tion-box went  round,  until,  notwithstanding  frowns  and  even 
remarks  of  objection,  it  became  a  part  of  the  regular  service  of 
every  Sabbath.  There  is  no  record  of  contributions  to  outside 
benevolence  when  Mr.  Milliken  came,  hut  during  his  last  vear 

o  » 

they  amounted  to  6^:20.23. 

In  1s  1 5.  at  the  May  communion.  Oeonre  C.  Furber.  was  received 
by  letter,  and  on  profession  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Xoah  W.  Ranlett.  Mrs. 
Esther  Brown.  Mrs.  II.  H.  Stocldard,  and  Lydia  A.  Cobb ;  at 


Ecclesiastical  History.  201 

£. 

the  July  communion,  Mrs.  lanthe  Cleora  Sang^r  and  Marian  L. 

Gould. 

In  July,  1877,  Mr.  Milliken  married  Mary  F.  Redington,  a  young 
woman  of  lovely  character  and  many  accomplishments,  who  was 
destined  for  a  few  brief  years  to  adorn  his  home.  In  the  mean 
time  he  came  to  feel  that  a  change  after  his  long  service  might  be 
desirable  for  both  pastor  and  people.  For  nearly  eighteen  years 
they  had  labored  together  in  the  Master's  vineyard  without  the 
semblance  of  strife  or  discontent,  when  he  finally  concluded  to 
sunder  the  peaceful  bonds  that  united  them  and  transmitted  to 
the  church  and  society  the  following  letter:  — 

To  THE  CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH  AND  SOCIETY  OF  LITTLETON  : 

DEA.R  BROTHERS  AND  SISTERS  IN  CHRIST,  —  For  something  over  eigh- 
teen years  we  have  walked  together  in  the  tender  relation  of  pastor 
and  people.  It  has  been  an  unusually  long  pastorate  for  these  days  of 
uncertainty  and  change,  and  generally  free  from  the  dissensions  that 
sometimes  mar  the  pastoral  relation.  We  have  taken  sweet  counsel 
together  in  the  house  of  God,  have  knelt  at  a  common  altar,  enjoyed 
tender  seasons  at  the  table  of  the  Lord,  have  wept  together  in  the  house 
of  mourning,  and  amid  it  all  have  felt  the  blessing  of  a  common 
Father. 

Many  mistakes  have  been  made  by  3'our  pastor  during  these  years, 
but  the  forbearance  of  his  people  has  been  such  as  to  endear  and 
not  to  estrange,  and  he  would  take  this  opportunity  gratefully  to  ac- 
knowledge their  uniform  courtesy  and  kindness. 

The  time  has  now  come  for  the  severing  of  this  pastoral  relation.  If 
such  a  step  should  be  in  accordance  with  the  wishes  of  some  and  the 
judgment  of  others,  I  will  sa}T  in  response  that  it  accords  with  nn'  own 
prayerful  conviction  of  what  will  be  both  for  my  own  interest  and  for 
the  welfare  of  this  church  and  people.  It  is  therefore  taken  unhesitat- 
ingly and  without  mental  reservation. 

If  I  ma}r  withdraw  from  this  parish  so  as  to  leave  a  continuation 
of  good  will,  a  people  wholly  united,  free  from  internal  dissension,  and 
hearts  untrammelled  for  the  welcome  of  him  who  may,  in  the  provi- 
dence of  God,  be  chosen  as  my  successor,  it  will  be  the  desire  of  my 
heart. 

I  do  therefore  herewith  resign  my  office  as  pastor  of  this  church  ;  and 
I  appoint  a  meeting  of  the  church  on  Tuesday  evening  next  to  act  upon 
this  resignation,  and  to  appoint  a  committee  of  the  church  for  the  pur- 
pose of  uniting  with  the  pastor  to  call  a  council  to  dissolve  the  pastoral 
relation  ;  to  take  effect  at  such  time  as  in  the  judgment  of  the  church 
will  be  for  its  own  welfare. 

In  Christian  fellowship,  C.   E.   MILLIKEN. 

October  27,  1878. 


202  History  of  Littleton. 

His  farewell  sermon  was  preached  December  29,  1878.  An 
ecclesiastical  council  was  called,  which  met  December  31,  1878, 
and  formally  approved  of  the  dissolution  of  the  pastoral  relation. 

During-  Mr.  Milliken's  residence  in  Littleton  he  was  a  member 
of  the  Orange  Association  of  ministers. 

Second  to  his  work  as  a  pastor  of  the  church  were  his  interest  and 
participation  in  the  educational  matters  of  the  village.  He  was 
elected  on  the  Board  of  Education  of  Union  School  District  the 
year  the  present  high  school  building  was  erected,  1867,  and 
served  as  president  of  the  board  till  1875,  and  as  a  member  in 
1876,  1877,  and  1878,  ten  years  in  all.  To  him  more  than  to  any 
other  member  of  the  board  were  due  the  selection  of  teachers, 
arrangement  of  the  courses  of  study,  and  the  separation  of  the 
grades.  The  high  attainment  to  which  our  schools  have  reached 
must  be  attributed  to  the  excellent  foundation  laid  by  him  and  his 
associates.  The  scope  and  influence  of  his  work  for  the  schools 
can  never  be  known,  but  it  is  safe  to  say  that  every  pupil  who 
attended  the  schools  while  he  was  on  the  board  bore  away  in- 
wrought in  his  character  the  impress  of  Mr.  Milliken's  interest 
and  thought. 

It  is  impossible  to  describe  in  words  the  effect  of  the  life  of  any 
man  on  the  community  in  which  he  dwells ;  no  words  of  ours  can 
give  the  least  definite  idea  of  the  extent  and  pervasive  influence 
for  good  of  this  preacher  and  teacher  of  righteousness  throughout 
this  region,  for  his  influence  was  felt  far  beyond  the  limits  of  his 
parish;  neither  can  we  sum  up  all  the  qualities  of  mind  and  heart 
that  made  him  beloved  by  so  many  and  his  pastorate  so  success- 
ful. "  He  was,"  however,  u  a  thoroughly  good  man  ;  his  heart 
was  always  warm;"  he  was  an  excellent  preacher,  and  one  of 
the  best  of  pastors. — -two  things  which  are  essential  to  make 
an  "  all  round  minister."'  To  the  sick  and  suffering  he  could 
carry  the  balm  of  comfort  in  a  way  that  ;'  doeth  good  like  a 
medicine." 

He  had  a  rare  faculty  for  helping  the  afflicted,  as  his  presence 
carried  with  it  light  and  sunshine  ;  pain  and  distress  were  for  the 
time  alleviated.  Above  all.  he  was  "  no  respecter  of  persons;" 
the  rich  and  the  poor,  Catholic  and  Protestant,  each  received  a 
share  of  his  attention,  without  distinction  of  birth,  rank,  nation- 
ality, or  religion.  In  one  house,  at  least,  of  old-country  people  of 
Catholic  faith,  his  name  is  held  in  almost  sacred  remembrance, 
because  of  his  ministrations  of  tender  sympathy  and  generous  help- 
fulness in  their  time  of  distress  and  affliction.  What  greater  re- 
ward can  a  man  have,  what  nobler  testimony  of  his  true  manliness, 


Ecclesiastical  History.  203 

than  that  exhibition  of  character  which  causes  his  fellowmen  to 
rise  up  and  call  him  blessed  ? 

Referring  to  his  work  as  a  whole,  he  modestly  writes  :  "  When  I 
left  Littleton  in  January,  1879,  I  thought  I  could  see  evident  im- 
provement all  along  the  line  of  morals,  education,  religion,  and  the 
general  tone  of  almost  everything.  It  would  be  folly  to  claim  very 
much  ;  only  this  I  can  say,  that  I  put  in  nearly  nineteen  years'  hard 
work  of  the  best  part  of  my  life." 

At  the  close  of  his  pastorate  in  Littleton  Mr.  Milliken  received 
a  call  from  the  Congregational  Church  at  Maynard,  Mass.,  whither 
he  at  once  removed.  Here  for  three  years  and  a  half  he  labored 
successfully,  beloved  by  his  people.  Sweet  content  abode  with 
the  family.  But  from  the  birth  of  Edward  Redington  Milliken, 
December  9,  1881,  the  young  mother  and  wife  did  not  recover. 
She  passed  away  January  13,  1882.  It  was  a  life  for  a  life. 
March  8  following,  Addie,  the  beautiful  daughter  of  nineteen 
years,  was  taken,  and  the  home,  a  short  time  before  so  domestic 
and  happy,  was  desolate  and  broken.  Mr.  Milliken  sought  to 
gain  some  relief  from  his  great  burden  of  sorrow  by  a  trip 
abroad.  He  sailed  July  8,  1882,  and  returned  May  1,  1883,  visit- 
ing nearly  all  the  countries  and  principal  cities  of  Europe,  Egypt, 
and  Palestine.  March  16,  1884,  he  again  took  up  his  ministerial 
work,  this  time  at  Penacook,  N.  H.,  where  he  remained  seven  and 
one-half  years.  Once  more  the  home  was  established  when,  on 
August  20,1888,  he  married  Ellen  Augusta  Folger,  of  Concord,  a 
helpmeet  indeed  in  all  the  work  and  interests  of  her  husband. 

When  Mr.  Milliken  felt  that  he  had  wrought  out  his  call  at 
Penacook,  he  resigned  his  pastorate  and  accepted  a  position  at 
Swanzey,  N.  H.,  November,  1891.  Almost  without  warning,  Feb- 
ruary 12,  1893,  death  again  entered  his  home,  and  for  the  third 
time  called  away  his  beloved  companion.  As  of  his  Master,  it 
may  well  be  said  of  Mr.  Milliken,  he  was  "  a  man  of  sorrows  and 
acquainted  with  grief,"  but  also  like  Him  whom  he  faithfully 
served,  in  the  midst  of  his  deep  afflictions  he  has  been  enabled  to 
look  up  into  the  face  of  the  Father  and  say,  "  Thy  will  be  done." 

The  departure  of  Rev.  Mr.  Milliken  was  apparently  a  critical 
event  in  the  church's  history.  More  than  two  years  elapsed  before 
his  successor  was  installed  over  the  church,  and  the  intervening 
months  constituted  a  period  of  disappointment  and  anxiety,  in 
which  the  pulpit  was  filled  by  various  candidates  for  the  succes- 
sion. In  March,  1879,  the  Rev.  A.  B.  McGowan,  of  Hyde  Park, 
Mass.,  was  selected  from  a  list  of  three  such  candidates  and  in- 
vited to  supply  the  pulpit  for  one  year,  and  a  committee  appointed 


20-4  History  of  Littleton. 

to  arrange  with  him  to  that  end.  In  the  mean  while  it  was  learned 
that  the  church  and  society  had  been  misinformed  in  regard  to 
the  character  of  the  proposed  supply,  and  no  further  action  was 
taken  in  the  matter.  On  the  29th  of  the  following  December  a 
call  was  extended  to  the  Rev.  J.  S.  Litch,  of  Derby  Line,  Vt,  to 
become  pastor;  this  was  at  first  accepted,  and  afterward  de- 
clined on  the  26th  of  January,  1880.  Subsequently  Rev.  George 
A.  Gates,  a  young  man  of  ability,  supplied  as  a  candidate,  and  on 
the  26th  of  May,  by  a  concurrent  vote  of  the  church  and  society, 
was  called  to  the  pastorate.  The  council  convened  to  consider 
the  ordination  and  installation  of  Mr.  Gates  was  a  numerous  and 
unusually  able  body  ;  the  clericals  were  the  Revs.  J.  P.  Stone, 
J.  W.  Lees,S.  Norton,  X.  J.  Jones,  D.  P.  Phillips,  E.  T.  Fail-bank, 
H.  W.  Jones.  F.  B.  Pheips,  X.  F.  Cobleigh,  E.  J.  Ranslow,  C,  E. 
Milliken,  and  Samuel  C.  Bartlett,  President  of  Dartmouth  Col- 
lege. The  lay  delegates  were  Deacon  Maynard,  Burt  A.  Taylor, 
Mitchell  H.  Bowker,  J.  B.  Hoyt.  Deacon  S.  Spooner,  Deacon 
Moses  Lang,  C.  E.  Putney,  T.  M.  Howard,  Calvin  Merrill,  and 
J.  W.  Stoddard. 

The  candidate  was  examined  at  great  length  concerning  his  re- 
ligious experience  and  doctrinal  belief,  nearly  the  entire  day  being 
devoted  to  the  work.  President  Bartlett  was  the  principal  exam- 
iner, but  nearly  all  the  clergymen  participated  in  it.  The  result 
was  embodied  in  a  lengthy  report  in  which  the  ordination  was 
refused.  The  reasons,  briefly  stated,  were  that  the  candidate  was 
'•  lacking  in  settled  convictions  in  regard  to  the  fundamental 
principles  of  the  evangelical  faith/'  and  manifested  "  an  unwill- 
ingness to  accept  the  ultimate  authority  of  the  Word  of  God  on 
religious  truth."  These  were  surely  good  reasons  why  a  person 
entertaining  them  should  not  be  authorized  to  nil  a  pulpit  in  a 
Congregational  church  and  preach  to  a  people  that  believed  in  its 
cardinal  doctrines.  The  action  of  the  council  was  none  the  less  a 
great  surprise  to  all  concerned  as  well  as  to  the  general  public, 
which  had  come  to  regard  Mr.  Gates  as  an  exceptionally  elo- 
quent preacher  who  promised  to  become  an  important  factor  in 
the  intellectual  life  of  the  town.  That  the  examination  gave  a 
correct  view  of  the  actual  opinions  of  the  candidate  could  not  be 
believed.  It  was  thought  that  through  some  process  of  mental 
mystification  he  had  been  led  to  engage  in  a  speculative  contro- 
versy with  members  of  the  council  rather  than  to  give  them  an 
explicit  statement  of  his  religious  opinions.  Regret  over  the  out- 
come was  general,  both  with  the  church  membership  and  the 
people  of  the  town.  Mr.  Gates  afterward  was  ordained,  held 


Ecclesiastical  History.  205 

important  pastorates,  won  a  distinguished  reputation  as  a  divine, 
was  for  many  years  president  of  the  college  at  Grinnell,  la.,  and 
is  at  present  the  president  of  the  Congregationalist  college  at 
Pomona,  California. 

In  accordance  with  votes  of  the  church  and  the  society,  a  call 
was  tendered  to  the  Rev.  George  W.  Osgood  to  become  pastor,  on 
the  18th  of  November,  1880  ;  it  was  accepted  on  January  11,1881, 
and  the  25th  of  the  same  month  named  for  the  assembling  of  the 
council  for  his  installation.  The  action  of  the  council  was  favor- 
able, and  Mr.  Osgood  was  on  the  same  day  duly  installed.  The 
exercises  were  as  follows  :  invocation  by  the  Rev.  C.  F.  Morse  ; 
reading  of  the  Scriptures  by  the  Rev.  J.  P.  Stone ;  sermon  by  the 
Rev.  E.  J.  Ranslow;  prayer  by  the  Rev.  H.  W.  Jones;  hymn  by 
the  Rev.  Nelson  F.  Cobleigh  ;  right  hand  of  fellowship  by  the 
Rev.  J.  W.  Lees  ;  charge  to  pastor  by  the  Rev.  S.  Norton ;  hymn 
by  the  Rev.  J.  P.  Stone  ;  and  benediction  by  the  pastor. 

Mr.  Osgood  remained  with  the  church  until  1884.  He  was  the 
son  of  Wesley  and  Pamelia  Robinson  Osgood,  and  was  born  at 
Bangor,  Me.,  April  27, 1851.  He  was  educated  at  Bangor,  Water- 
ville,  Me.,  and  Middletown,  Conn.,  was  graduated  from  Wesleyan 
University  in  1874  and  Bangor  Theological  Seminary  in  1877. 
January  24  of  the  latter  year  he  began  to  preach  at  Tunbridge, 
Vt.,  where  he  continued  till  he  came  to  Littleton.  October  6, 
1881,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Clara  Agnes  Peck,  of  Barre,  Vt. 

Mr.  Osgood  brought  the  zeal  and  enthusiasm  of  an  earnest,  con- 
secrated young  man  to  his  work ;  he  entered  heartily  not  only 
into  all  the  relations  of  the  church,  but  gave  a  large  interest  to 
whatever  concerned  the  welfare  of  the  community  in  general. 
He  was  a  close  student  of  the  Bible,  and  was  able  to  give  a  rea- 
son for  the  faith  within  him.  He  sought  to  establish  his  people 
on  the  foundations  of  the  eternal  truths  long  held  by  the  church  ; 
he  was  distinctively  a  teacher. 

In*1882  the  chapel  was  erected,  the  Condon  Fund  of  $1,100 
being  used  toward  the  expenses  of  its  construction.  The  follow- 
ing record  is  self-explanatory  :  — 

At  a  church  meeting  May  5,  1882,  the  committee  to  report  some 
resolutions  in  regard  to  the  gift  of  the  organ  by  Mrs.  Tuft  and  Mrs. 
Eastman  reported  as  follows  :  — 

In  view  of  the  grand  organ  which  this  church  has  received  from  Mrs. 
Lucinda  K.  Tuft  and  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Ida  Tuft  Eastman,  as  a  me- 
morial of  a  beloved  husband  and  father, 

Resolved,  That  we  herebj"  express  our  gratitude  for  their  generous 
gift  and  our  appreciation  of  the  motives  which  prompted  so  noble  an  act. 


206  History  of  Littleton. 

Resolved,  That  in  this  sweet-toned  instrument  we  find  a  new  induce- 
ment to  magnify  our  communion  of  praise. 

Kesolved,  That  we  instruct  our  clerk  to  present  a  cop}-  of  these 
resolutions  to  each  of  the  donors.  Joffif  MERRILLi  Clerj. 

Mr.  Osgood  terminated  his  pastorate  by  resignation,  October  1, 
1884.  The  dismissing  council ;'  commend  him  for  thorough  piety 
and  earnestness,  for  his  ability  as  a  preacher,  and  for  his  entire 
consecration  to  the  work  of  the  Master,  and  cordially  recommend 
him  as  such  to  the  kindly  regard  and  confidence  of  the  churches." 

The  retirement  of  Mr.  Osgood  was  the  result  of  a  want  of 
co-operation  and  harmony  in  conducting  church  work.  He  was 
an  energetic  man  with  nervous  temperament,  and  pushed  forward, 
often  without  having  consulted  his  constitutional  advisers,  —  a 
habit  that  rendered  conflict  unavoidable.  There  were  no  serious 
differences,  but  the  situation  was  strained,  and  it  was  deemed  ad- 
visable in  the  interest  of  pastor  and  people  to  relieve  it  through 
the  instrumentality  of  a  council.  Mr.  Osgood  since  leaving  here 
has  held  pastorates  at  Provincetown,  Hyannis,  Xewburyport,  and 
Lynn,  Mass.,  in  each  of  which  his  work  has  been  notably  accept- 
able to  his  people. 

During  the  following  year  the  Rev.  Cyrus  W.  Wallace,  D.D., 
was  acting  pastor  for  six  months,  and  was  followed  in  tbe  same 
capacity  and  for  the  same  length  of  time  by  the  Rev.  Charles  W. 
Millen.  In  May,  1885,  the  Rev.  Eduin  C.  Holman  was  engaged  as 
acting  pastor  for  one  year  with  a  proviso  that  after  the  expira- 
tion of  three  months  from  the  time  of  his  engagement  the  church 
should  decide  whether  or  not  a  call  should  be  extended  to  him  ; 
and  on  October  28  it  was  voted  to  settle  him  as  pastor.  On 
January  27,  188G,  he  was  formally  inducted  into  oi'lice.  This 
relation  was  terminated  on  the  last  day  of  that  year  by  virtue  of 
the  action  of  an  ecclesiastical  council  called  for  that  purpose  and 
held  on  November  25.  1886.  Mr.  Holman  having  tendered  his  resig- 
nation to  accept  a  call  to  the  Centre  Congregational  Church,  of 
Haverhill,  Mass.  Mr.  Holman  was  a  young  man  graduated  from 
the  Theological  Seminary  but  a  short  timo  previous  to  his  settle- 
ment here.  He  was  a  pulpit  orator  of  more  than  ordinary  ability, 
but  had  a  strong  penchant  for  business  and  other  practices  incon- 
sistent with  the  duties  of  a  religious  teacher,  and  since  leaving  here 
has  had  a  somewhat  checkered  career  and  is  no  longer  engaged 
in  the  sacred  duties  of  the  ministerial  calling. 

The  departure  of  Mr.  Holman,  after  a  brief  pastorate,  again 
required  the  church  to  seek  a  new  religious  guide,  and  there  were 
several  candidates  fur  the  vacancy.  After  a  somewhat  prolonged 


Ecclesiastical  History.  207 

trial  the  choice  finally  fell  to  Frederick  George  Chutter,  a  student 
at  the  Andover  Theological  Seminary,  to  whom  a  joint  committee 
addressed  the  following  communication  dated  January  15, 1886 : 

We  have  been  directed  by  votes  of  the  Congregational  Church  and 
Society  of  this  place  to  inform  }'ou  of  their  action,  which  is  indicated  by 
the  enclosed  certificates,1  by  which  3-011  are  invited  to  become  their 
settled  pastor. 

Trusting  that  the  invitation  may  find  a  favorable  response,  we  re- 
main fraternally  yours, 


Committee  for  the  Church. 


C.  D.  TARBELL, 

C.   L.  CLAY, 

MRS.  J.  C.  GOODNOUGH, 

HENRY  MERRILL,  } 

WARREN  W.  LOVEJOY,      '>  Committee  for  the  Society. 

JULIA  A.  ALLEN,  ) 


The  council  "  to  ordain,  examine,  and  install  Frederick  G. 
Chutter  "  was  held  September  9,  1887.  The  churches  at  Haver- 
hill,  Mass.,  Waterville,  Me-,  Penacook,  Bethlehem,  Dalton,  Lan- 
caster, Haverhill,  Lisbon,  Franconia,  East  Andover,  and  Wells 
River,  Vt.,  were  represented  and  the  delegates  by  unanimous 
action,  voted  to  recommend  Mr.  Chutter  for  ordination  and  in- 
stallation, and  he  was  accordingly  invested  with  the  sacred  office 
of  pastor  over  the  church  and  society  in  Littleton. 

It  was  during  the  pastorates  of  Mr.  Holman  and  Mr.  Chutter 
that  the  organization  known  as  "Christian  Scientists  "  began  to 
make  slight  inroads  upon  the  church  membership  of  the  town, 
and  this  church  was  the  principal  sufferer  from  this  cause.  It 
was  perhaps  a  difficult  matter  to  deal  with,  as  the  recalcitrants 
began  to  ask  for  letters  of  dismissal  and  recommendation  to  the 
Christian  Science  Church.  The  first  request  of  this  character 
came  from  Walter  W.  Watson  and  wife,  of  Boston,  and  after  due 
deliberation  it  was  voted,  "  that  if  they  desire  we  give  them  a  let- 
ter of  dismission  from  this  church  without  recommendation  and 
without  censure;"  and  this  action  was  the  basis  upon  which  all 
similar  requests  were  treated.  In  all  some  eight  or  ten  members 
withdrew  from  this  church  to  become  members  of  that  sect. 

A  minute  entered  in  the  church  records  states  that  on  "  May  11, 
1887,  Mrs.  Martha  Goodwin  died,  aged  91  years,  4  months, 

1  The  certificates  were  as  follows  :  that  of  the  church  was,  "  Voted,  that  the 
committee  on  supply,  etc.,  be  a  committee  to  act  for  the  church  in  connection  with 
any  committee  appointed  by  the  society  to  extend  the  call  of  the  church  to  Mr. 
Chutter  and  make  such  arrangements  as  to  his  installation,  in  case  of  his  accept- 
ance, as  are  necessary."  That  of  the  Society  was  of  similar  purport. 


208  History  of  Littleton. 

10  days,''  and  ;<  May  18,  1887,  Philip  C.  Wilkins  died,  aged  84 
years."  It  is  a  singular  coincidence  that  these  aged  people,  who 
had  lived  on  adjoining  farms  for  fifty-five  years  and  had  long  been 
members  of  this  church,  should  have  been  called  to  their  reward 
within  a  week  of  each  other.  Mrs.  Goodwin  was  the  daughter  of 
Jonas  Xurse,  and  was  born  in  this  town  and  had  lived  on  the  same 
farm  on  Mann's  Hill  for  seventy  years. 

Mr.  Chatter  served  the  church  with  great  acceptance  until, 
desiring  to  go  abroad  for  study  and  recreation,  he  in  August, 
1890,  tendered  his  resignation  of  the  pastorate  for  that  purpose. 
A  meeting  of  the  church  was  held  on  the  17th  of  that  month  for 
its  consideration.  Thirteen  members  were  present,  and  by  a 
unanimous  vote  appointed  a  committee  consisting  of  B.  W.  Kil- 
burn.  A.  R.  Burton,  C.  L.  Clay,  and  Mrs.  John  Merrill,  to  wait 
on  Mr.  Chatter  and  request  him  to  withdraw  his  resignation.  At 
a  subsequent  meeting  held  on  the  5th  of  September  the  committee 
reported  that  it  had  been  unsuccessful  in  its  mission,  when  the 
meeting  accepted  the  resignation  and  a  committee  was  appointed 
to  confer  with  the  retiring  pastor  and  arrange  for  a  mutual  coun- 
cil, and,  in  the  event  of  the  dismissal  of  Mr.  Chatter,  to  provide 
a  supply,  and  this  committee  was  instructed  at  a  meeting  held  on 
September  23,  by  resolution,  "that  it  was  desired  by  this  church 
that  the  committee  .  .  .  present  no  candidate  until  they  are  fully 
settled  in  their  minds  that  they  have  found  the  right  man  for  the 
place." 

The  council  met  on  September  24.  1890.  and  in  dissolving  the 
relations  between  the  pastor  and  the  church  and  society  said  "  that 
they  found  nothing  to  impair,  but  much  to  strengthen,  their  con- 
fidence in  the  Christian  character  and  work  of  the  retiring  pastor, 
and  they  accordingly  commended  him  to  the  confidence  of  the 
churches  as  in  their  judgment  an  honest  and  faithful  minister  of 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  an  eloquent  expounder  of  the  Word 
of  God."  A  reception  was  tendered  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chatter  at  the 
vestry  on  the  evening  of  October  8.  which  was  largely  attended. 
Thus  ended  a  pastorate  that,  though  brief,  had  been  attended  with 
many  blessings  to  the  church,  and  the  necessity  that  severed  the 
ties  was  deeply  regretted  by  the  church  and  the  society. 

Mr.  Chutter  was  born  at  Chard.  England.  September  12,  18~>7, 
and  when  quite  young  came  to  this  country  with  his  parents,  who 
settled  at  Waterville.  Me.  His  theological  education  was  acquired 
at  Anclover  Theological  Seminary,  where  he  was  graduated  in 
1887.  He  came  from  there  to  assume  the  pastorate  of  this  church. 
While  abroad.  Mr.  Chutter  took  a  special  course  in  theology  at 


Ri;v.    FKKIMCKH  K    (',.  CMI'TTKK. 


Ecclesiastical  History.  209 

Oxford  University,  and  another  at  New  College,  Edinburgh,  cover- 
ing the  same  subject.  While  abroad  he  also  travelled  exten- 
sively, going  as  far  north  as  the  Arctic  Circle,  and  south  as  far  as 
Egypt.  He  paid  a  lengthy  visit  to  Palestine.  On  returning  from 
his  European  travels  lie  was  tendered  culls  to  the  Pawtucket 
Church  in  Lowell,  Mass.,  and  to  Tacoma,  Wash.,  which  he  declined 
on  account  of  the  condition  of  his  health  that  precluded  continuous 
intellectual  pursuits. 

As  a  preacher  Mr.  Chutter  confines  himself  to  his  manuscript, 
reading  with  rapidity,  energy,  and  discriminating  enunciation. 
His  sermons  evince  care  both  in  the  selection  of  subject  and  treat- 
ment ;  his  style  is  ornate,  and  abounds  in  metaphor  and  other 
illustrations. 

Since  1893  he  has  been  engaged  in  a  prosperous  dry-goods 
business  in  this  town.  He  still  continues  to  be  an  ardent  worker  in 
the  church,  having  lost  none  of  his  zeal  in  its  behalf  through  the 
cessation  of  his  ministerial  duties.  In  fact,  they  cannot  be  said  to 
have  ceased,  for  he  is  still  frequently  called  to  preach  in  this  and 
other  towns,  and  his  sermons  are  forceful  and  eloquent. 

Mr.  Chutter  has  taken  decided  interest  in  political  affairs,  and 
represented  the  town  in  the  Legislature  in  1900-1901.  He  has 
also  been  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  in  this  town  for 
ten  years,  and  served  on  the  important  committee  on  schools, 
teachers,  and  text-books.  The  classification  of  the  schools  and 
the  selection  of  teachers  have  largely  fallen  to  his  lot.  He  re- 
signed from  the  board  in  March,  1903.  He  has  been  president 
of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Public  Library  and  a  trustee  of 
Dow  Academy  at  Franconia.  He  has  recently  been  appointed  by 
the  Governor  and  Council  a  trustee  of  the  School  for  Feeble- 
Minded  Children,  succeeding  Daniel  C.  Remich  on  the  board. 

In  October,  1887,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Caroline  C., 
daughter  of  Eben  Cutler,  of  Boston,  Mass.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren, Mildred  C.,  born  in  Oxford,  England,  in  1892,  and  Reginald 
F.,  born  in  Littleton  in  1893. 

The  selection  of  a  successor  to  Rev.  Mr.  Chutter  developed  a 
difference  of  opinion  between  the  church  and  the  society  in  the  mat- 
ter of  choice.  The  church,  at  a  meeting  held  on  the  31st  of  January, 
1891,  voted  to  invite  the  Rev.  J.  H.  Bliss  to  become  their  pastor  at 
a  salary  of  $  1,800  per  annum  and  parsonage.  The  society  voting  to 
non-concur  with  the  church,  the  vote  to  extend  a  call  to  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Bliss  was  reconsidered,  at  a  meeting  held  February  1G,  1891, 
and  meetings  of  church  and  society  arranged  for  March  4,  to 
consider  matters  anew,  when  a  call  was  given  Rev.  A.  E.  Haven, 

VOL.    II.  —  14 


210  History  of  Littleton. 

which  was  declined.  Other  action  intervened  without  results, 
when,  at  a  meeting-  held  on  May  9,  a  call  was  by  a  unanimous 
vote  given  to  the  Rev.  Melvin  J.  Allen,  and  he  was  subsequently 
inducted  into  office. 

Mr.  Allen  was  born  at  Cincinnatus,  N.  Y.,  March  7,  1852,  and 
was  graduated  from  Amlicrst  College  in  1879,  and  from  Andover 
Theological  Seminary  with  the  class  of  1882.  lie  married  Ella 
I).  Hanckes,  of  Amherst,  Mass.  His  first  pastorate  was  at  Ashby, 
Mass.,  where  he  was  ordained  and  installed  in  1882  and  remained 
six  years,  when  he  was  installed  over  the  church  at  Holden,  Mass., 
where  he  was  pastor  from  1888  to  1890.  He  then  returned  to 
Andover  for  a  year's  study,  whence  he  came  to  Littleton  and  was 
installed  July  5,  1891. 

Mr.  Allen  was,  perhaps,  with  the  exception  of  the  Rev.  E.  I.  Car- 
penter, the  most  scholarly  pastor  the  church  has  had.  His  ser- 
mons showed  great  preparation,  and  afforded  occasion  for  serious 
and  helpful  thought  on  the  part  of  the  hearers. 

In  November,  1893,  the  results  of  the  patient  work  of  the  faith- 
ful pastors  were  made  manifest  in  one  of  the  deepest  and  most 
widely  reaching  revivals  that  have  ever  been  experienced  in  Little- 
ton. Union  meetings  were  held  for  some  four  weeks  under  the 
direction  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  M.  S.  Rees,  evangelists  from  Elmira, 
N.  Y.  At  the  following  communion  in  January,  Mr.  Allen  had  the 
great  pleasure  of  receiving  into  the  church  thirty-nine  persons, 
mostly  young  people  from  the  Sunday-school.  This  was  a  larger 
number  than  had  ever  been  received  at  one  time  in  the  history 
of  this  church.  New  life  was  infused  into  all  the  activities  of 
the  church,  the  membership  of  the  Y.  P.  S.  C.  E.  being  more  than 
doubled. 

March  4,  1894,  Mr.  Allen  read  his  resignation,  to  take  effect 
August  1.  The  council  called  July  2,  in  voting  to  accede  to  the 
request  of  the  pastor  and  the  church  that  the  relation  be  dissolved, 
said  that, 

"  lu  coming  to  this  conclusion  we  desire  to  put  upon  record  our 
appreciation  of  our  brother  as  a  preacher  of  righteousness,  who  has 
brought  to  his  work  the  results  of  wide  experience  and  knowledge  of 
the  social  condition  of  the  church  and  society.  His  preaching  has 
been  along  the  lines  of  applied  Christianity,  not  so  much  to  prepare 
men  to  die,  but  to  live  in  all  their  relations  as  brethren.  Our  brother 
lias  interpreted  Christianity  as  a  life  and  living  process  ;  his  spiritual 
and  intellectual  growth  have  gone  on  together.  His  studies  on  applied 
ethics  and  Christianity  fit  him  to  be  an  organizer  and  a  preacher. 

"Rightly  dividing  the  words  of  truth,  he  has  worked  in   a  manner 


Ecclesiastical  History.  211 

in  his  relation  to  the  young  people  to  commend  him  to  the  judgment 
of  his  brethren  in  the  church  and  to  the  ministry  in  the  region  '  round 
about.'  The  accessions  on  confession  of  faith  to  this  church  within 
the  past  year  have  been  the  largest  of  an}'  one  year  in  the  history  of 
this  church. 

"It  is  a  matter  of  great  satisfaction  to  the  council  that  the  pastor- 
ate to  be  terminated  lias  been  one  of  serious  and  faithful  effort.  His 
labors  have  already  produced  Christian  conviction,  and  will  bear  fruit 
in  the  future  as  in  the  past  to  the  good  of  this  church  and  to  all  who 
feel  its  enlarging  influence. 

"We  commend  our  brother  for  the  work  he  has  done  in  the  public 
schools,  both  in  visiting  and  in  encouraging  every  good  method  in 
teaching  by  word  and  example.  We  commend  him  as  a  good  citizen, 
which  is  the  outgrowth  of  his  character. 

"We  extend  our  sympathy  to  the  church,  and  trust  that  some  good 
and  able  man  will  be  ready  to  break  the  bread  of  life,  and  that  our 
brother  will  soon  be  called  to  a  church  in  which  he  will  do  noble  work 
for  the  Master." 

During  his  residence  in  this  town  he  was  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Education,  and  took  more  than  an  ordinary  interest  in  the 
schools.  While  pursuing  his  college  course  he  was  assistant 
librarian  of  the  college,  and  a  member  of  the  library  committee 
at  Ash  by  from  1883  to  1888,  and  at  Holden  was  president  of 
the  Village  Improvement  Society  in  1889-1890.  His  contributions 
to  newspapers  have  been  frequent  and  of  a  character  to  better 
public  conditions.  Among  such  contributions  were  a  paper  on 
"The  Country  Church,"  published  in  the  "Andovcr  Review,"  Oc- 
tober, 1888,  and  one  on  "-Christianity  and  the  Social  Economy" 
in  the  "  Seminary  Bulletin,"  June,  1891.  He  was  also  for  some 
time  editor  of  "The  Open  Door,"  a  weekly  paper  published  at 
Holden,  Mass.,  and  devoted  to  the  interests  of  the  Congregation- 
alist  Church  in  that  and  adjoining  towns.  After  leaving  this 
town  he  became  pastor  of  a  church  at  York,  Me. 

Mr.  Allen  was  succeeded  in  the  pastorate  over  this  church  and 
society  by  Rev.  John  H.  Hoffman,  who  was  born  in  Lyndon,  Vt., 
June  10,  1847,  educated  at  New  bury,  Vt.,  Seminary,  New  Hamp- 
ton Institute,  and  .Bates  College,  from  which  he  was  graduated, 
and  then  studied  theology  in  the  seminaries  at  Bangor,  Me.,  and 
Andover,  Mass.  He  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  over  the 
church  at  Hcnnikcr  in  August,  1877,  and  retained  that  position 
seven  years.  In  1884  he  accepted  a  call  to  the  church  at  Shelburnc 
Falls,  Mass.,  where  he  remained  five  years,  discharging  his  minis- 
terial duties  successfully,  and  in  1889  was  installed  over  the  church 
at  Peterborough,  where  he  remained  four  years,  lie  then  went 


212  History  of  Littleton. 

"West,  and  for  a  year  preached  at  the  church  at  Kearney,  Neb. 
In  1894  lie  was  called  to  tlie  First  Congregational  Church  in  Lit- 
tleton for  one  year.  At  this  time  was  adopted  the  policy  of 
employing  the  minister  upon  an  annual  contract  without  the 
intervention  of  a  church  council  either  for  installation  or  dis- 
missal, and  the  method  has  prevailed  to  the  present  time  (1903). 
Mr.  Hoffman  was  re-engaged  from  year  to  year  until  April,  1898, 
when,  owing  to  differences  of  opinion  in  the  society  in  regard  to 
salary  and  other  causes,  he  tendered  his  resignation,  which  was 
accepted  by  a  small  majority,  and  his  connection  terminated  in 
January  of  that  year. 

Mr.  Hoffman  was  a.  forceful  preacher,  with  a  tendency  to  what 
may  with  propriety  be  termed  old-fashioned  methods  of  selecting 
topics  or  subjects  for  his  sermons.  He  was  particularly  given  to 
preaching  upon  current  vices,  and  what  many  church  people  regard 
as  innocent  amusements  came  in  for  severe  condemnation.  He 
evidently  had  the  courage  of  his  convictions  with  a  want  of  worldly 
tact,  —  a  quality  that  is  apt  to  constitute  a  serious  fault  in  a 
village  pastor. 

In  his  several  pastorates  he  was  an  efficient  member  of  the 
auxiliary  societies  of  the  church  ;  was  president  of  the  Evangelical 
Alliance  of  Contoocook  Valley,  of  the  local  Union  of  Christian 
Endeavor,  of  the  Franklin  County,  Mass.,  Union  of  the  same 
society,  and  filled  the  same  office  in  other  places. 

Mr.  Hoffman  was  instructor  of  elocution  in  the  Maine  State 
College,  of  the  Pittsfield  Institute,  Me.,  and  the  Arms  Academy, 
Shelburne  Falls,  Mass.,  and  acquired  a  reputation  as  a  reader 
in  lecture  courses.  He  also  delivered  lectures  on  various  occa- 
sions, his  subjects  being  "  On  Wheels  from  Shore  to  Shore," 
"The  Prairie  Village,"  "A  New  England  Arillage,"  and  "An 
Hour  with  Friends  of  Education."  These  efforts  received  the 
commendation  of  teachers  and  other  competent  judges  in  literary 
matters. 

It.  is  too  early  to  form  an  opinion  as  to  whether  his  pastorate 
was  a  success.  The  work  of  the  minister  of  the  gospel  is  unlike 
that  of  laborers  in  other  professions  in  nothing  more  than  in  this, 
that  his  harvest  is  not  gathered  in  a  season.  He  sows  and  culti- 
vates a  spiritual  field,  and  the  fruitage  is  garnered  through  the  years, 
but  the  final  judgment  is  reserved  to  be  pronounced  in  the 
"  kingdom  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens." 

Mr.  Hoffmann  is  now  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  at 
North  Reading,  Mass. 

The  present  pastor,  the  Rev.  William  Forbes  Cooley,  came  as 


Ecclesiastical  History.  213 

the  successor  of  the  Rev.  John  H.  Hoffman  July  8,  1898,  for  one 
year;  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  was  re-elected  to  serve  so  long 
as  agreeable  to  both  parties.  Mr.  Cooley  was  born  in  New  York 
City  February  4,  1857  ;  was  educated  at  private  schools,  and 
graduated  from  New  York  University  with  the  class  of  1878,  re- 
ceiving the  degree  of  B.S.  in  course.  In  1891  he  received  the 
degree  of  M.S.  from  the  same  institution.  In  1880  he  entered 
Union  Theological  Seminary,  whence  he  was  graduated,  and 
was  ordained  to  the  ministry  at  Plymouth  Church,  Brooklyn, 
X.  Y.,  July  11,  1884,  the  Rev.  Henry  Ward  Beecher  delivering  the 
charge.  Before  his  ordination  he  had  been  licensed  to  preach,  and 
in  1882-1883,  was  located  at  Lehi,  Utah,  to  which  place  he  re- 
turned for  the  vear  following  his  ordination.  After  ordination  he 

^  o 

was  also  successively  stationed  at  North  Branch,  Minn.,  one  year  ; 
Seward,  111.,  three  years;  Elmhurst,  III.,  one  year;  Short  Hills, 
N.  J.,  two,  and  Chatham,  N.  J.,  five  years,  when  he  came  to  this 
town. 

Mr.  Cooley  has  been  a  frequent  contributor  to  the  religious 
press,  and  for  eight  years  has  been  a  reporter  of  matters  of  interest 
in  New  Jersey  or  New  Hampshire  for  the  "  Congregational  ist.'1 
Ho  has  also  had  printed  in  the  "  Andover  Review"  articles  under 
the  title  of"  A  Word  in  Behalf  of  Eudcmonism,"  and  "  Side  Lights 
from  Mormonism."  He  has  published  a  volume  entitled  "  Em- 
manuel:  The  Story  of  the  Messiah,"  which  was  issued  from  the 
press  of  Dodd,  Mead  &  Co.  in  1889.  His  writings,  like  his  ser- 
mons, are  clothed  in  chaste  English,  and  are  calculated  to  please 
the  discriminating  taste  as  well  as  instruct  the  reader.  As  a 
preacher  he  has  departed  in  a  measure  from  the  rule  which  so 
long  governed  the  clergy  of  his  denomination  in  writing  out  their 
sermons  in  full,  and  depends  to  a  considerable  extent  upon  extem- 
poraneous speaking  in  the  pulpit.  Tie  is  sometimes  given  to 
preaching  a  sermon  so  far  removed  from  the  conventional  order  as 
to  awaken  discussion  among  his  parishioners  and  subject  himself 
to  both  friendly  and  hostile  criticism. 

The  theological  views  of  Mr.  Cooley  are  those  of  the  •'  so-called  lib- 
eral orthodox  school."  He  "  accepts  evolution,  the  '  new  theology,' 
and  much  of  the  higher  criticism."  In  this  respect  he  is  in  accord 
with  an  influential  section  of  his  congregation  who  accept  the 
modifying  influences  of  science  and  the  progress  of  the  age  as 
essential  aids  to  a  correct  interpretation  of  the  Scriptures. 

Aside  from  positions  connected  with  his  church  associations, 
Mr.  Cooley  has  not  held  office.  In  those  organizations  he  has 
been  Registrar  of  the  Congregational  Association  in  Rock  ford, 


214  History  of  Littleton. 

111.,  in  1887  ;  secretary  of  the  New  Jersey  Association,  1895-1899  ; 
moderator  of  the  Ne\v  Hampshire  State  Association  in  1900,  and 
clerk  of  the  Coos  Conference  since  1901. 

Mr.  Cooley  is  studiously  fond  of  his  books,  and  devotes  time  and 
core  to  the  consideration  of  the  subjects  embodied  in  his  sermons. 
He  is  also  mindful  of  his  duties  as  a  citizen.  These  obligations 
are  considered  entirely  from  an  independent  standpoint,  with  a 
mind  open  to  the  truth  and  a  conscientious  desire  to  reach  a  right 
conclusion.  He  adheres  with  firmness  to  his  convictions,  never 
subjecting  them  to  entangling  alliances  with  selfish  interests, 
partisan  approval,  or  greed  of  popular  applause. 

The  clergymen  named  in  the  preceding  narrative  as  preachers 
in  this  church  are  not  the  only  ones  who  have  ministered  within 
its  walls.  Some  of  the  celebrated  divines  of  the  nation  have  been 
heard  from  its  pulpit;  Lyman  Beecher  and  his  gifted  son  Henry 
Ward  Beecher,  two  of  the  most  powerful  and  persuasive  orators 
in  our  history,  among  the  number.  The  elder  Beecher  held  a  ser- 
vice here  in  1845  or  1846,  while  on  a  tour  of  the  Mountains;  the 
sou  was  heard  here  on  several  occasions:  first  in  July,  1856, 
when  a  guest  at  a  mountain  hostelry  he  was  urged  by  Edmund 
Carleton  to  occupy  the  pulpit  and  strike  a.  blow  for  the  antislavcry 
cause.  While  reluctant  to  accept  the  invitation,  he  was  finally 
persuaded  to  preach.  On  this  occasion  the  house  was  filled  to 
its  capacity,  and  Mr.  Bcecher's  sermon  was  a  powerful  appeal  to 
the  members  of  his  congregation  to  walk  in  the  paths  of  righteous- 
ness ;  with  not  a  word  on  the  political  questions  of  the  hour, 
much  to  the  chagrin  of  some  who  were  present  in  expectation  of 
listening  to  a  political  sermon.  He  came  again  while  a  guest  at 
the  Twin  Mountain  House.  The  Rev.  John  Pierpont,  eminent 
as  a  poet  and  temperance  advocate  as  well  as  a  pulpit  orator,  offi- 
ciated at  one  of  the  usual  services  in  1849.  Presidents  Lord,  Smith, 
Bartlett,  and  Tucker  of  Dartmouth  College  have  also  supplied 
the  pulpit.  The  Rev.  George  II.  Hepworth,  when  pastor  of  the 
Church  of  the  Unity  in  Boston,  coming  here  in  quest  of  health 
oft  (MI  occupied  this  pulpit,  and  avoiding  controversial  questions, 
delivered  sermons  that  interested  and  instructed  large  audiences. 
Another  clergyman  who  sometimes  gave  the  congregation  wor- 
shipping here  an  opportunity  to  listen  to  sermons  weighty  with 
thought  and  clothed  in  language  of  chaste  eloquence,  was  William 
Rogers  TVrrett,  who  for  thirteen  years  previous  to  his  death  in 
1902  was  professor  of  American  History  at  Hamilton  College. 
There  were  others —  the  list,  is  long,  representing  various  schools 
of  theology  and  forms  of  church  government — possessing  more 


Ecclesiastical  History.  215 

than  local  fame,  who  sojourning  here  during  their  vacations  sup- 
plied this  pulpit  for  a  morning's  service.  Thus  the  churchgoing 
people  of  all  denominations  have  from  time  to  time  been  given  an 
opportunity  to  listen  to  religious  teachers  of  renown. 

For  nearly  two  centuries  the  clergymen  of  the  Congregational 
Church  were  the  governing  power  in  New  England,  directing  the 
affairs  of  Church  and  State  ;  and  second  only  to  them  in  these 
respects  were  the  deacons.  Their  influence  in  secular  affairs  had 
begun  to  wane  about  the  time  of  the  close  of  the  War  of  Indepen- 
dence, and  in  this  town  it  had  not  been  powerful  in  political 
affairs,  for  reasons  that  must  Jbe  apparent  to  the  casual  reader. 
Deacons  Asa  Lewis  and  Andrew  Rankin  were  influential  men  in 
their  time,  not  because  of  their  office  in  the  church,  but  on  account 
of  the  high  quality  of  their  citizenship.  The  first  deacon  elected 
after  the  settlement  of  the  first  minister  was  Robert  Charlton,  who 
succeeded  Deacon  Rankin  in  1823.  An  organized  church  with  a 
regular  service  in  a  house  of  worship  had  raised  the  office  in  popu- 
lar esteem  to  something  like  its  ancient  dignity  ;  and  when  the 
Rev.  David  Goodall  announced  the  event  to  his  wife  with  the  re- 
mark that  he  "  considered  the  position  to  which  Deacon  Charlton 
had  that  day  been  elevated  more  honorable  than  any  dignity  ever 
conferred  upon  the  Duke  of  Wellington,"  he  gave  expression  to 
the  general  view  of  members  of  the  Congregational  Church  at  that 
time.  That  Deacon  Charlton  filled  this  office  with  becoming  dig- 
nity and  reverence  we  cannot  doubt,  for  he  possessed  in  a  large 
degree  the  Christian  virtues  and  intelligence  required  for  a  satis- 
factory discharge  of  its  duties.  In  1837  the  infirmities  of  age 
compelled  him  to  resign  this  office  and  ask  a  letter  of  dismission, 
with  a  recommendation  to  the  church  at  Waterford,  Yt.,  which 
was  near  his  home. 

Deacon  Gideon  Griggs  was  one  of  the  ante-record  deacons.  It 
is  not  known  with  certainty  in  what  year  he  was  elevated  to  the 
diaconate  ;  but  it  is  probable  that  he  and  Deacon  Rankin  were 
chosen  in  1815,  soon  after  the  death  of  Deacon  Lewis.  The 
building  of  the  first  meeting-house  had  raised  the  question  of 
location,  and  it  is  not  unlikely  that  the  issue  may  also  have 
entered  into  the  choice  of  deacons.  As  a  matter  of  fact  the 
extremes  of  the  town  were  represented  by  the  selections  made. 
Deacon  Rankin  lived  within  a  stone's-throw  of  Lyman,  now  Mon- 
roe, line  ;  and  from  the  residence  of  Deacon  Griggs  on  Mann's 
Hill  to  Bethlehem  line  the  distance  was  not  half  a  mile.  Gideon 
Griggs  held  the  office  until  1827,  and  was  again  chosen  in  1832, 
and  held  it  continuously  until  his  death  in  1851.  lie  was  a  very 


216  History  of  Littleton.^ 

devout  man,  and  esteemed  church  privileges  the  most  desirable 
of  earthly  possessions,  —  a  trait  he  transmitted  to  his  son  Alvan, 
who  never  missed  a  stated  meeting  of  the  church  for  any  less 
cause  than  sickness  or  war.  It  was  said  of  the  son  that  when  he 
lived  on  Mann's  Hill  he  would  leave  the  plough  in  the  furrow,  or 
liis  hay  uncocked  to  be  washed  by  rain,  in  order  to  attend  the 
Friday  afternoon  meetings.'  The  deacon's  love  and  reverence  for 
the  devotional  exercises  of  the  church  were  like  unto  those  of  his 
son,  and  lie  often  neglected  his  worldly  interests  that  he  might 
enjoy  their  spiritual  blessings. 

When  Deacon  Noah  Farr  retired,  John  Men-ill  became  his  suc- 
cessor, and  held  and  filled  the  office  forty-four  years.  Half  a 
generation  has  passed  since  he  discharged  the  duties  of  the  posi- 
tion, but  to  many  now  living  Deacon  Merrill  was  the  ideal  church 
officer,  and  when  the  word  "  deacon  "  is  spoken  his  calm,  benig- 
nant, and  dignified  presence  is  presented  to  their  vision,  and  he 
holds  a  place  in  their  hearts  which  is  an  abiding  tribute  to  his 
memory  such  as  few  men  have  been  privileged  to  enjoy.  His 
appreciation  of  the  duties  of  the  position  were  idealized,  and  with 
calm  judgment,  dignified  presence,  deep  religious  convictions,  great 
tact  in  the  conduct  of  affairs,  and  an  unfailing  kindness,  he  lived 
up  to  the  high  standard  of  church  conduct  he  had  established 
for  his  guidance,  and  aided  many  others  to  walk  in  the  same 
path.  These  characteristics  enabled  him  to  act  along  the  lines  of 
least  resistance  and  thereby  maintain  a  marked  degree  of  harmony 
in  church  affairs.  When  he  failed,  as  he  sometimes  did,  to  pre- 
serve inviolate  Christian  relations  among  members,  it  was  when 
he  came  in  contact  with  a  will  that  never  bent;  but  even  then  mat- 
ters were  so  arranged  that  the  current  of  church  events  was  but 
little  disturbed.  When  he  retired  from  the  diaconate  in  1885, 
owing  to  the  ravages  of  disease,  he  left  to  his  successors  a  shining 
example  which  they  may  strive  to  emulate  but  cannot  well  expect 
to  surpass.  In  that  larger  sphere  where  men  of  the  world  most 
do  congregate  Deacon  Merrill  was  highly  esteemed  and  was  always 
spoken  of  with  respect,  and  the  sincerity  and  high  character  of  his 
religions  convictions  were  never  questioned.  The  judgment  of 
such  men  is  apt  to  possess  a  deeper  significance  in  regard  to  the 
practical  results  of  the  Christian  life  than  one  that  emanates  from 
brethren  wilhin  the  church.  Ifc  was  chosen  to  the  diaconate  a 
few  months  before  Rev.  Mr.  Carpenter  came  to  the  pastorate,  and 
they  soon  learned  the  worth  of  each  other,  and  their  love  from 
that  time  was  like  unto  that  of  David  and  Jonathan. 

Associated  with  Deacon  Men-ill  in  office  were  Marshall  D.  Cob- 


JOHN    MLKKII.I.. 


Ecclesiastical  Ifistoi'ij,  217 

leigh  and  Allen  Bay.  The  former  was  first  elected  in  1851,  and 
held  the  position  nntil  his  death  in  1868 ;  the  latter  became  a 
deacon  in  1857,  and  also  relinquished  it  only  upon  his  death  in 
1869,  though  for  nearly  five  years  of  this  time  he  had  been  a 
resident  of  Brattleborough,  Vt.  Deacons  Cobleigh  and  Day  were 
relatives,  and  lived  on  adjoining*  farms  on  the  Slate  Ledge  road. 
Both  were  valued  citizens,  had  held  important  offices  in  civil  life, 
and  had  been  captains  of  the  Eleventh  Company  of  the  Thirty- 
second  Regiment  of  the  State  Militia.  They  had  many  qualities 
in  common,  but  personal  appearance  was  not  one  of  these.  Deacon 
Cobleigh  looked  like  an  ascetic,  was  thin,  hollow-cheeked,  and  for 
years  the  victim  of  a  wearing  disease.  Deacon  Day  was  a  model 
of  manly  beauty,  with  noble  features  and  a  ruddy  face  crowned 
with  a  wealth  of  hair  which  was  early  tinged  with  gray,  a  picture 
of  health  and  strength.  These  men  gladly  exchanged  their  militia 
titles  won  on  peaceful  fields  for  that  with  which  their  church 
honored  them,  and  it  is  sufficient  to  know  that  in  the  discharge 
of  its  duties  they  acquitted  themselves  as  worthy  colleagues  of 
Deacon  Merrill. 

Of  those  who  have  held  the  office  since  1870,  Deacons  Nelson 
C.  Farr  and  John  C.  Quimby  are  dead,  Charles  D.  Tarbell  and 
Charles  L.  Clay  are  citizens  of  other  States,  Samuel  C.  Sawyer, 
Charles  A.  Farr,  and  Irvin  C.  Renfrew  are  present  residents  in 
town,  but  no  longer  incumbents. 

In  the  century  of  its  existence  this  church  has  conferred  its 
highest  lay  gifts  upon  sixteen  men,  who  in  turn  have  borne  them 
worthily  and  honored  the  body  that  placed  its  symbols  in  their 
keeping.  Myron  H.  Richardson,  Warren  W.  Lovcjoy,  Milo  C. 
Pollard,  and  John  F.  Tilton  are  the  present  board  of  deacons. 

The  office  of  Deaconess  in  the  Congregational  body  is  of  recent 
institution.  Its  duties  have  no  connection  with  the  ecclesiastical 
functions  of  the  church,  but  are  such  as  were  formerly  discharged 
by  volunteers  or  a  committee  on  charity.  While  Mrs.  John  Mer- 
rill was  active  in  the  affairs  of  the  church,  there  was  no  occasion 
for  such  an  office  in  this  church.  The  records  contain  the  first 
mention  of  the  position  in  December,  1SD5,  when  Mrs.  Caroline 
Farr  Page  and  Mrs.  Mary  I.  Coodnough  were  chosen  after  the 
passage  of  the  following :  '•  Voted  that  two  deaconesses  be  elected, 
one  for  two  years  and  one  for  one  year,  subject  to  re-election  as 
the  church  shall  vote  at  its  annual  meeting,  and  the  duties  out- 
lined." Those  elected  at  this  time  declined  to  serve,  and  at  the 
annual  meeting  in  1890  Mrs.  Hannah  Eaton  was  elected  for  the 
term  of  t\vo  years,  and  Mrs  Mary  U.  Redingtou  for  one  vcar. 


218  History  of  Littleton. 

The  following:  year  Mrs.  Redington  was  re-elected  for  two  years. 
This  board  continued  to  serve  until  Mrs.  Redington's  absence 
rendered  it  necessary  to  fill  the  vacancy,  when  Mrs.  Eliza  J. 
Sawvcr  succeeded  her.  Mrs.  Susan  Church  succeeded  Mrs.  Baton 
in  1901,  and,  declining  re-election,  Mrs.  Caroline  B.  Merrill  was 
elected,  and  Mrs.  Sawyer  and  Mrs.  Merrill  constitute  the  present 
board. 

The  passage  of  the  Toleration  Act  by  the  Legislature  at  the  June 
session,  1819,  was  the  culmination  of  a  strenuous  conflict  waged  in 
this  State  for  more  than  a  decade  by  men  connected  with  the 
Methodist,  Baptist,  Free-will  Baptist,  Universalist,  and  some  other 
denominations  against  the  privileges  enjoyed  by  the  Congrcgational- 
ists,  which  under  the  law  was  practically  the  State  church.  Funds 
for  the  support  of  this  church  were  raised  by  taxation,  and  protests, 
suits  at  law,  and  controversial  conflicts  were  frequent,  through 
the.se  years.  When  this  ancient  privilege  went  down  before  the 
long-continued  assaults  of  its  opponents,  the  law  provided  a  sub- 
stitute for  the  system  so  long  in  vogue  for  the  support  and  main- 
tenance of  church  organizations  by  authorizing  the  formation  of 
societies  whose  object  it  should  be  to  provide  ways  and  means  for 
the  support  of  public  religious  worship  by  uniting  in  one  body 
members  of  the  church  and  other  persons  interested,  and  giving 
such  society  a  legal  status.  The  church  was  the  spiritual,  and  the 
society  the  business  arm  of  a  religious  body. 

Such  a  society  was  formed  in  this  town  December  2, 1819.  The 
meeting  for  this  purpose  was  called  by  David  Iloskins,  David 
Goodall,  and  Joseph  W.  Morse,  evidently  selected  with  a  view  of 
giving  representation  to  eacli  of  the  three  corners  or  sections  of 
the  town.  At  this  meeting  William  Burns  served  as  chairman  and 
William  Brackett  as  secretary,  and  a  constitution  was  adopted 
which  provided  that  the  society  should  be  known  as  The  Littleton 
Congregational  Society,  and  further  prescribed  the  following  offi- 
cers :  "  A  clerk,  three  assessors,  and  a  collector  who  shall  serve  as 
a  collector  and  treasurer."  It  further  provided  "  that  all  money 
raised  for  the  use  of  said  society  shall  be  voted  at  the  annual 
meeting,  and  it  shall  be  proper  for  the  assessors  to  take  their 
inventory  from  the  Town  Records  annually,"  and  "  that  it  shall 
be  the  duty  of  the  assessors  to  make  and  hand  over  the  tax  bill  to 
the  collector  for  collection  in  the  month  of  May  annually."  The 
collector  was  also  required  to  give  a  good  and  sufficient  bond  for 
the  faithful  performance  of  his  duty. 

The  first  meeting  for  organization  was  held  on  the  same  dav, 
and  in  addition  to  the  temporary  officers  William  Brackett  was 


Ecclesiastical  History.  219 

elected  clerk  and  took  the  oath  prescribed,  and  David  Rankin, 
Joseph  W.  Morse,  and  Guy  Ely  were  elected  assessors. 

The  first  annual  meeting  was  called  to  meet  at  the  meeting- 
house on  Thursday,  March  16, 1820.  Its  first  act  was  to  adjourn 
to  the  dwelling-house  of  John  Gile.  Evidently  it  was  a  cold 
March  day,  and  those  assembled  preferred  the  cheerful  warmth  that 
radiated  from  the  fireplace  at  the  hostelry  to  the  gloomy  sur- 
roundings at  the  meeting-house.  David  Goodall  acted  as  mod- 
erator, William  Brackett  was  continued  as  clerk,  and  Joseph  W. 
Morse,  Michael  Fitzgerald,  and  Simeon  Dodge  assessors,  and  they 
took  the  oath.  It  was  "voted  to  raise  $200  for  Preaching  the 
present  year,  one  third  to  be  pd.  in  September,  and  the  remainder 
in  Jany.  next,"  and  Lyman  Hibbard,  William  Burns,  and  Guy 
Ely  were  chosen  a  committee  to  draft  a  call  to  Mr.  Fairbank 
and  present  it  to  the  society.  This  call  was  subsequently  on  the 
same  day  read  and  accepted  by  the  society,  and  presented  to  Mr. 
Fairbank,  who  accepted,  and  the  first  Wednesday  of  May  was 
agreed  on  for  the  installation. 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  March,  1825,  without  a  formal  amend- 
ment of  the  constitution  so  far  as  the  records  indicate,  but  by 
general  consent,  the  board  of  assessors  was  abolished,  and  a  com- 
mittee of  five  chosen  to  superintend  the  business  of  the  society  for 
the  ensuing  year.  The  committee  consisted  of  Simeon  Dodge, 
Nathan  Dewey,  Joseph  Pingree,  David  Rankin,  and  Luther  Thomp- 
son. The  next  year,  without  any  recorded  vote  suggesting  a 
change  in  the  number  of  tbe  committee,  but  three  persons, 
namely,  Nathan  Dewey,  David  Goodall,  and  T.  A.  Edson,  consti- 
tuted the  superintending  committee. 

At  a  special  meeting  held  at  the  village  school-house  on  the 
31st  of  March,  1828,  it  was  "voted  to  raise  money  by  voluntary 
subscriptions." 

The  call  for  the  annual  meeting  of  1829  bore  this  post- 
script: "  N.  B.  As  all  money  is  raised  by  voluntary  subscrip- 
tions in  this  society,  and  each  subscriber  being  a  member, 
it  is  earnestly  requested  there  shall  be  a  general  and  punctual 
attendance." 

At  the  meeting  held  under  this  call  Robert  Charlton  was 
moderator,  Aaron  Brackett  clerk.  Isaac  Parker,  Josiali  Kilburn, 
and  Robert  Charlton  superintending  committee,  and  Isaac  Parker 
collector. 

Then  comes  a  long  interregnum  of  seven  years  in  which  no 
meetings  of  the  society  were  held  and  its  organization  lapsed. 
In  February,  1837,  a  new  society  was  organized  under  the  law  of 


220  History  of  Littleton, 

1827  ]  with  a  membership  of  twenty-six.  No  additions  appear 
to  have  been  made  until  November,  1880,  when  seventy-nine  mem- 
bers were  added  to  the  roll  Since  then  it  has  been  the  policy  of 
the  society  to  induce  all  regular  attendants  on  the  church  service 
or  subscribers  to  the  pastoral  fund  to  join  its  membership,  and  it 
now  numbers  about  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  persons. 

As  has  been  seen,  the  payment  of  tithes  was  never  the  rule  in 
town.  The  only  instances  approaching  the  enforcement  of  the 
ancient  system  were  when  the  town  voted  to  raise  small  sums  to 
be  paid  in  wheat  or  cash,  and  these  were  voted  reluctantly  and  at 
intervals  of  several  years,  so  that  they  were  practically  of  little  or 
no  value  for  the  maintenance  of  public  religious  worship.  It  is  a 
little  singular  that  opposed  as  they  were  to  giving  practical  effect 
to  the  law  by  complying  with  its  provisions  in  this  respect,  they 
were  evidently  unwilling  to  aid  in  securing  its  repeal,  for  during 
the  entire  period  of  the  repeal  agitation  their  representatives  to  the 
Legislature  voted  to  keep  the  law  on  the  statute  book.  When 
the  change  was  at  last  effected  and  the  society  system  adopted, 
the  attempt  to  raise  necessary  funds  through  the  taxing  power 
conferred  on  the  society  also  failed  after  a  trial  extending  over 
less  ihan  a  score  of  years.  The  sums  required  were  not  large 
as  viewed  from  the  standpoint  of  the  present.  But  when  the 
numbers  and  resources  of  the  people  then  and  now  are  con- 
sidered, the  burden  was  certainly  as  heavy  as  that  now  borne  by 
the  church  people.  Rev.  Mr.  Fairbank  received  at  no  time  more 
than  6250  per  annum,  the  Worcesters  8550  or  its  equivalent,  and 
Mr.  Carpenter  6500  during  the  period  when  the  Congregational 
was  the  only  organized  society  in  town.  The  payment  of  these 
sums  was  often  in  arrears,  and  to  discharge  the  demands  it  was  at 
one  time  the  practice,  following  that  prescribed  by  law,  to  author- 
ize a  member  or  a  committee  of  members  to  levy  an  assessment 
to  meet  the  deficit.  Then  came  the  adoption  of  the  method  of 
raising  funds  by  voluntary  subscriptions,  but  it  would  seem  that 
this  system  has  seldom  left  the  society  with  a  surplus  in  its  treas- 
ury at  the  close  of  the  fiscal  year,  but  at  such  times  generous 
members  have  supplied  the  deficiency. 

From  the  beginning  of  the  Congregational  body  creeds  have 
been  a  matter  of  the  first  importance.  Its  democratic  polity  left 

1  The  following  became  member*  at  this  time:  Gidern  Gri<rsrs,  William  Brackett, 
Edmund  Carleton,  Jr.,  John  Farr,  Guy  Ely.  Lewis  L.  Merrill,  Sylvanus  Baldi. 
Abijah  Allen,  Timothy  Gile,  Phineas  Allen,  Philander  Farr,  Ezra  Abbott,  Elislia  P. 
Miner.  Isaac  Parker,  Noah  Farr,  A.  Moore.  Aaron  Brackett,  Sewell  Brackett,  John 
Merrill,  J.  G.  B.  Stevens,  M.  1).  Cobleigh,  Josiah  Kilburn,  Frederick  Kilburn,  Allen 
Day,  Alvan  Griggs,  and  Philip  C.  Wilkins. 


Ecclesiastical  History.  221 

each  church  to  define,  within  certain  limits,  its  covenant  and 
declaration  of  faith  and,  having  once  established  these,  they  were 
free  to  change  them,  —  a  liberty  that  was  seldom  used  in  olden 
times,  but  has  more  recently  become  a  matter  of  common  occur- 
rence,—  and  the  church  in  Littleton  has  availed  itself  of  this 
privilege  to  meet  the  demands  of  its  people  on  more  than  one 
occasion.  That  we  may  have  a  clear  understanding  of  the  theo- 
logical meaning  and  purpose  of  these  changes,  the  Rev.  William 
Forbes  Cooley  has  prepared  an  historical  sketch  which  follows. 
It  indicates  how  far  the  church  has  departed  from  the  creed 
professed  seventy-five  years  ago,  and  sho\vs  the  successive  steps 
taken  in  its  development. 

It  seems  to  be  impossible,  he  says,  to  ascertain  the  authorship 
of  the  original  creed  of  the  Congregational  Church,  or  even  the 
date  of  its  composition.  In  the  old  record  book  in  which  the 
earliest  creed  extant  is  found  the  handwriting  is  that  of  the  Rev. 
Drury  Fairbank,  who  was  pastor  from  1820  to  1836.  The  list  of 
members  appended  to  it  is  dated  1832,  but  it  seems  improbable 
that  a  man  of  Mr.  Fairbank's  character  should  have  served  the 
church  twelve  years  before  leading  it  to  adopt  a  covenant  and 
articles  of  faith.  There  is  a  tradition  that  there  was  an  earlier 
statement  than  this,  but  if  so,  that  statement  has  perished  along 
with  the  papers  bearing  the  earliest  records  of  the  organization. 

One  of  the  organizers  of  the  church  was  the  Rev.  Asa  Carpen- 
ter, pastor  of  the  church  at  Waterford,  Yt. ;  but  the  old  Littleton 
creed  bears  no  special  likeness  to  that  of  the  Waterford  church. 
Neither  does  it  to  the  old  articles  of  faith  at  Lancaster,  where  the 
Congregational  Church  is  eight  years  the  senior  of  the  one  at 
Littleton;  nor  yet  to  those  of  the  Plymouth  church,  where  .Mr. 
Fairbank  was  pastor  for  upwards  of  twenty  years  preceding  his 
settlement  in  this  place. 

It  seems  probable  that  the  creed  is  the  original  production 
either  of  Mr.  Fuirbank  shortly  after  his  coming  hither,  or  of  the 
Rev.  David  Goodall,  a  retired  minister  of  much  force  of  character 
who  was  living  in  the  parish  and  who  was  one  of  the  organi/ers 
of  the  church,  or  of  the  two  combined.  It'  it  was  written  by  Mr. 
Goodall,  it  doubtless  antedates  1820,  the  date  of  the  beginning  of 
the  first  settled  pastorate.  In  that  case,  as  the  permanent  records 
began  in  1820,  their  silence  concerning  it  would  be  explained. 

The  articles  of  belief  are  embodied  in  the  covenant  of  the 
church.  That  they  are  Calvinistic  goes  almost  without  saying. 
Unitarianism  was  rarely  strong  in  the  rural  districts,  and  Armin- 
ianism  was  represented  in  churches  of  its  own  rather  than  in 


9  0  0 


History  of  Littleton. 


change  in  Congregational  beliefs.  Yet  the  articles  arc  more  the 
expression  of  sturdy  thought  Calvinistically  trained  but  occupied 
with  human  interests  than  a  production  of  Calvinistic  scholasti- 
cism. The  writer  of  it  is  strongly  impressed  with  the  sovereignty 
of  (n>d,  who,  he  avers,  had  from  eternity  "a  perfect  foresight  of 
all  creatures  and  events  to  which  it  would  be  suitable  or  best  that 
He  should  give  existence,"  but  he  has  nothing  to  say  as  to  partic- 
ular election  and  reprobation,  those  nightmares  to  so  many  believ- 
ers, lie  speaks  of  "the  apostasy  of  our  first  parents"  and  its 
dire  result,  the  degeneracy  and  bondage  of  man  ;  but  it  is  chiefly 
as  an  introduction  to  the  need  and  nature  of  redemption,  regard- 
ing which  he  testifies  "that  whosoever  will  may  take  of  the 
water  of  life  freely."  He  believes,  also,  in  the  two  sacraments 
of  baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper,  in  the  final  perseverance  of 
all  true  believers,  in  the  resurrection  of  the  body,  and  in  a 
coming  judgment  day,  the  issues  of  which  will  be  eternal  life 
and  eternal  death.  The  creed  has  a  Trinitarian  article,  but  this 
is  so  broad  in  its  terms  that  all  modern  evangelical  Christians 
would  find  it  acceptable.  It  concludes  with  the  expression  of  an 
admirable  purpose  to  progress  in  religious  knowledge,  which 
shows  that  the  Christians  in  this  town  a  century  ago  were  far 
from  being  hidebound  in  their  religious  ideas. 

In  the  church  records,  under  date  of  January  22,  1840,  is 
found  a  minute  which  reads  :  "  At  a  meeting  of  the  church  it 
was  voted  unanimously  to  adopt  the  following  Articles  of  Faith 
and  Covenant  instead  of  those  which  have  heretofore  been  used 
by  the  church,  which  are  designed  to  be  publicly  read  to  those 
presenting  themselves  for  admission  to  the  church."  Then 
comes  the  second  creed  of  the  church,  a  statement  in  thirteen 
articles.  There  is  nothing  in  the  records  to  show  who  drew 
them  up,  nor  why  the  old  ones  were  superseded.  Nor  does  there 
seem  to  be  any  tradition  on  the  subject.  Inasmuch,  however, 
as  the  pastor  of  the  church  at  that  time,  the  Rev.  Isaac  R. 
Worcester,  was  a  man  of  more  than  common  ability,  as  was 
proved  later  by  long  service  in  the  prominent  and  responsible 
position  of  editor  under  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners 
lor  Foreign  Missions,  and  as  the  document  is  inscribed  in  his 
handwriting,  it  is  probable  that  he  was  the  author  of  it. 

This  second  creed  is  doctrinally  so  like  the  old  one  that  one 
wonders  at  first  why  it  was  thought  to  be  called  for.  On  closer 
examination,  however,  evidences  of  theological  advance  appear. 
There  is  now  inserted  (Art.  2  )  a  statement  that  the  Scriptures 
were  "given  by  inspiration  of  God,"  but  as  the  old  creed  evi- 


Ecclesiastical  History.  223 

dently  postulates  this,  and  as  the  new  one  does  not  contain  the 
doctrine  of  Scriptural  inerrancy,  of  late  so  much  in  controversy, 
in  which  doubtless  the  author  believed,  it  is  not  probable  that  any 
special  advance  in  thought  is  here  registered.  It  is  otherwise 
with  the  fourth  article,  which  is  also  new.  This  affirms  the  law 
of  love,  and  with  strong  approval,  but  with  the  old-time  sanction 
conservatively  added,  "  on  pain  of  everlasting'  punishment."  Even 
more  significant  is  the  statement  in  the  article  on  redemption 
that  it  was  the  love  of  God  that  brought  Christ  to  earth.  Evi- 
dently some  wave  or  ripple  of  new  theology  was  making  its  way 
up  this  valley  in  1840.  Another  new  article,  which  witnesses  to 
the  same  progressive  influence,  is  the  eighth,  in  which  salvation 
is  offered  to  all  men  on  the  simple  conditions  of  true  repentance 
and  true  faith.  Somewhat  strangely  the  only  remaining  new 
statement  shows  movement  not  toward  modern  ideas,  but  away 
from  them.  In  the  original  creed  five  articles  are  more  or  less 
dominated  by  the  doctrine  of  foreordination,  largely  on  the  philo- 
sophical side.  In  the  new  this  subject  is  confined  to  one  arti- 
cle, the  tenth,  but  in  the  form  of  particular  election  which  it 
there  assumes,  it  has  more  of  the  bite  of  ruthless  fate  in  it 
than  in  the  whole  five  articles  of  the  older  statement.  Yet 
the  election  doctrine  is  stated  in  the  mildest  language  admis- 
sible, its  dire  logical  corollaries  being  un mentioned.  One  doctrine 
of  the  original  creed,  the  perseverance  of  the  saints,  is  omitted  in 
the  second.  One  does  not  know  whether  the  old  doctrine  was 
less  generally  held,  or  whether  the  church  was  then  having  less 
trouble  with  members  who  had  lapsed  from  faith  and  duty. 

The  substance  of  the  remainder  of  the  creed  of  1840  agrees 
with  the  teaching  of  the  old,  though  in  most  cases  the  doc- 
trines are  more  sharply  defined.  In  general  the  theology  is 
more  developed  after  its  kind,  which  perhaps  is  evidence  of  more 
theological  reading  and  discussion  in  1840  than  in  1820.  The 
article  on  the  Trinity,  in  its  insistence  that  trinitarian  distinc- 
tions in  the  Godhead  do  not  impair  the  divine  unity,  seems  to 
witness  to  contemporary  Unitarian  controversies.  The  style  of 
this  creed  is  less  attractive  than  that  of  the  old.  The  introduction 
lays  stress  upon  solemnity,  but  as  a  whole  it  is  less  solemn  and 
impressive  than  its  predecessor,  perhaps  because  it  is  more  scho- 
lastic, perhaps  because  it  is  couched  in  plain  speech  and  uses  the 
wording  of  the  Bible  but  little. 

The  creed  of  1840,  slightly  modified  as  to  wording  in  1873,  re- 
mained the  authorized  expression  of  the  church's  faith  until  1881*, 
when,  during  the  pastorate  and  under  the  influence  of  the  Rev. 


224  History  of  Littleton. 

F.  G.  Chatter,  the  present  Confession  of  Faith  was  adopted.  This 
is  printed  in  full  in  the  manual.  It  is  the  resultant  of  more  or 
less  contrary  forces.  On  the  one  hand,  there  was  dissatisfac- 
tion with  the  scholasticism  and  frank  Calvinism  of  the  creed  of 
1840;  on  the  other,  distrust  of  the  so-called  "  Commission  Creed," 
a  denominational  statement  prepared  by  a  committee  of  the 
National  Council  and  published  in  1883.  That  was  thought  to 
be  tinctured  with  the  new  theology.  Therefore  Mr.  Chutter,  who 
together  with  Deacons  C.  D.  Tarbell  and  C.  L.  Clay  and  Mrs. 
A.  J.  Church  constituted  the  committee,  and  upon  whom  chiefly 
the  work  of  framing  a  new  statement  devolved,  secured  a  copy  of 
the  creed  of  the  Pilgrim  Church  of  Worcester,  Mass., —  a  creed 
which  he  had  heard  strongly  commended,  —  and  modified  it  to 
suit  the  needs  of  this  church.  This,  as  reported  by  the  committee, 
was  unanimously  adopted  by  the  church  on  October  15, 1889.  Rhe- 
torically and  vitally  it  is  a  great  improvement  on  the  one  it  dis- 
placed. It  is  couched  in  the  language  of  joyous  avowal  rather 
than  cautious  philosophy,  colored  not  a  little  by  the  phraseology 
of  Scripture  and  the  creeds  of  the  past.  As  to  form  it  follows 
the  Apostles'  creed  quite  closely,  its  principal  divisions  being 
determined  by  the  names  of  the  Trinity.  Five  doctrines  of  its 
predecessor  it  omits, —  those  of  the  fall,  total  depravity,  human 
inability,  election,  and  the  universal  offer  of  salvation.  On  the 
other  hand,  it  contains  one  doctrine  not  found  in  either  of 
the  earlier  credal  expressions,  a  doctrine  of  which  the  Puritan 
forefathers  were  shy,  —  the  doctrine  of  the  Church  universal,  "on 
earth  and  in  heaven/'  Its  chief  doctrinal  stress  is  on  the  Trinity, 
and  especially  the  deity  of  Christ,  —  beliefs  which  it  emphasizes 
far  beyond  either  of  its  predecessors.  In  the  main,  however, 
it  is  not  doctrinal,  but,  after  the  example  of  the  Apostles'  creed, 
is  occupied  with  what  Christians  consider  to  be  facts  rather  than 
doctrines. 

Mr.  Cooley  might  well  have  spoken  of  the  earliest  creed  with 
more  positiveness.  That  the  church  organized  in  1803  had  a 
creed,  and  that  it  was  mainly  the  production  of  the  Rev.  David 
Goodall,  there  can  be  little  doubt.  The  fact  is  established  by  the 
direct  statement  of  Solomon  Whitinir,  and  an  incident  related  by 
him  in  regard  to  the  action  of  Elizabeth,  widow  of  Elder  James 
Kankin,  who  when  requested  refused  to  subscribe  to  the  creed  at 
the  time  of  organization.  That  it  was  the  same  as  the  creed 
adopted  by  the  church  at  Watert'ord  in  1802  cannot  be  stated  with 
equal  positiveness,  though  it  is  probable.  The  same  authority 
states  that  "Goodall  and  Carpenter  fixed  up  the  doctrine  for  both 


Ecclesiastical  History.  225 

churches.  That  at  "West  Waterford  was  started  first,  and  its 
phraseology  did  not  quite  suit  Priest  Goodall  and  he  coaxed 
Carpenter  to  change  it.  When  that  was  done,  both  churches  were 
alike."  The  inquiry  addressed  to  Mr.  Whiting  had  reference  to 
the  creed  of  the  Littleton  Church,  which  he  was  told  had  been  lost, 
and  his  answer  was  undoubtedly  intended  as  a  response  to  that 
question.  Unless  Mr.  Whiting  was  entirely  mistaken,  the  creed 
of  the  church  at  Littleton  and  the  second  creed  adopted  by  the 
church  at  Waterford  differed  in  no  important  particulars,  and 
the  last  named  may  be  accepted  as  like  unto  that  to  which  the  ten 
original  members  of  the  first  church  in  this  town  subscribed  their 


names.1 

1  Believing  the  creed  approved  by  the  church  at  Waterford,  Vt.,  September  30, 1802, 
to  be  the  joint  production  of  the  Rev.  Asa  Carpenter  and  the  Rev.  David  Goodall, 
it  is  here  printed,  together  with  the  original  creed  of  1798.  The  reader  curious  in 
theological  matters  will  here  undoubtedly  find  a  counterpart  of  the  creed  adopted 
by  the  First  Congregational  Church  in  this  town  March  3,  1803. 

WATERFORD,  May  30th,  1798. 

You  now  being  sensible  of  your  lost  estate  in  yourselves,  and  that  all  your  right- 
eousness is  as  filthy  rags ;  and  being  Sensible  of  the  free  and  rich  offer  of  Salvation 
through  Christ  to  such  guilty  beings  as  you,  do,  in  the  presence  of  God  and  before 
present  witnesses,  Angels  and  men,  give  up  yourselves  to  God  and  take  upon  you  the 
bonds  of  his  covenant.  You  do  avouch  God  the  Father  to  be  your  God;  God  the 
Son  to  be  your  Redeemer,  Prophet,  Priest,  and  King;  and  God  the  Holy  Ghost  to 
be  your  Sanctifier,  Guide,  and  Comforter;  promising,  by  the  assistance  of  divine 
Grace,  to  take  God's  word  for  the  only  rule  of  your  faith  and  practice;  and  to  make 
it  your  constant  care  to  walk  before  him  in  holiness  and  righteousness  all  the  days 
of  your  lives. 

And  you  do,  moreover,  give  up  yourselves  to  one  another  in  church  relation,  to 
be  governed  according  to  the  laws  of  Christ,  promising  that  you  will  walk  orderly 
in  attending  to  all  the  ordinances  of  his  house  ;  faithfully  maintaining  the  worship 
of  God  in  public,  and  in  your  families  (so  far  as  it  may  depend  on  you).  You  engage 
to  seek  the  best  interest  of  this  church  and  of  all  your  Sister-churches;  and  to  submit 
yourselves  to  that  watch  and  discipline  which  the  word  of  God  enjoins;  in  doing 
which  you  mutually  engage  to  assist  each  other;  holding  this  as  the  object  of  your 
discipline,  viz.  to  recover  the  wandering  to  the  path  of  duty ;  and  to  advance  the 
church  in  holiness,  by  utterly  disapproving  in  each  other  what  the  word  of  God  dis- 
approves; and  by  requiring  in  eacli  other  what  the  word  of  God  requires;  and  this 
without  any  respect  of  persons ;  that  you  as  a  church  of  Christ  may  shine  as  a  light 
in  the  world. 

CHURCH  COVENANT  OF  SEPTEMBER  30,  1802. 

We  now  being  sensible  of  our  lost  estate  in  ourselves  and  that  all  our  righteous- 
ness is  as  filthy  rags;  and  being  sensible  of  the  free  and  rich  offer  of  Salvation 
through  Christ  to  such  guilty  beings  as  we,  do  in  the  presence  of  God  and  before 
present  witnesses,  Angels  and  men,  give  up  ourselves  to  God  and  take  upon  us  the 
bonds  of  this  covenant. 

We  do  avouch  God  the  Father  to  be  our  God  ;  God  the  Son  to  be  our  Redeemer, 
Prophet,  Priest,  and  King;  and  God  the  Holy  Ghost  to  be  our  Sanctitier,  Guide,  and 
Comforter  ;  promising,  by  the  assistance  of  divine  grace,  to  take  God's  word  for  the 
only  rule  of  our  faith  and  practice,  and  to  make  it  our  constant  care  to  walk  before 
him  in  holiness  and  righteousness  all  the  days  of  our  lives. 

We  do  moreover   give   up   ourselves  to  one  another   in  church  relation,  to  be 

TOL.  II.  —  15 


226  History  of  Littleton. 

The  first  Sunday-school  in  this  town  1  of  which  anything  is 
known  was  organized  in  the  year  1816  in  a  log  house  near  the 
present  home  of  Frank  I.  Parker  on  the  Meadows,  where  a  licensed 
preacher  lived  by  the  name  of  Nathaniel  K.  Hardy.  Mrs.  Hardy 
gathered  eight  or  ten  of  the  children  about  her  on  Sunday  after- 
noons, and  they  learned  verses  from  the  Bible. 

The  chaise  and  four-wheeled  carriage  were  not  in  use  here,  and 
the  children  rode  to  and  from  the  school  on  horseback;  where 
there  were  two  persons  from  the  same  house  they  went  on  the 
same  horse.  One  of  the  pupils,  Julia  A.  Allen,2  now  deceased, 
who  attended  this  school,  remembered  riding  to  it  from  their 
farm  on  Mann's  Hill,  behind  her  brother  on  horseback.  The  late 
John  Farr,  another  of  the  older  residents  of  Littleton,  was  a  mem- 
ber of  this  Sunday-school. 

Mrs.  Hardy  and  her  daughters  kept  the  school  for  two  or  three 

governed  according  to  the  laws  of  Christ,  promising  that  we  will  walk  orderty  in 
attending  to  all  the  ordinances  of  his  house  —  that  we  will  keep  a  faithful  watch 
over  each  other  —  and  that  we  will  walk  together  in  the  exercise  of  that  brotherly 
love  which  the  Gospel  requires.  We  promise  that  as  kind  and  faithful  brethren, 
we  will  constantly  stand  by  each  other  in  all  our  trials  —  that  we  will  endeavor  to 
encourage  each  other's  hearts  in  all  our  troubles  and  afflictions  —  that  we  will 
extend  the  kind  hand  of  charity  to  help  and  relieve  each  other  under  all  our  wants 
and  distresses.  We  promise  to  use  our  influence  to  promote  the  welfare  of  each 
other's  immortal  souls  —  that  we  will  endeavor  to  instruct  and  help  each  other  on  in 
the  ways  of  true  religion.  We  promise  to  constantly  attend  the  public  worship  of 
God  on  the  Sabbath  —  that  we  will  attend  all  church  meetings,  preparatory  lectures, 
and  all  other  proper  religious  meetings,  so  long  as  God  shall  give  us  suitable  health 
and  opportunity  to  do  the  same.  We  promise  to  attend  upon  the  ordinances  of  the 
gospel,  viz.  baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper.  We  promise  that  we  will  daily  read 
and  study  the  Sacred  Scriptures  and  will  endeavor  according  to  the  best  of  our 
understanding  to  comply  witli  all  the  commands  of  God  contained  therein,  depend- 
ing entirely  upon  his  grace  to  enable  us  to  do  the  same.  We  promise  constantly  to 
maintain  and  keep  up  the  worship  of  God  in  our  families  so  far  as  may  depend  upon 
us  —  that  we  will  not  allow  of  any  dancing,  gaming,  carousing,  or  of  excessive 
drinking  in  our  houses.  We  promise  that  we  will  not  join  with  the  wicked  in  any 
of  their  amusements,  or  do  anything  which  shall  appear  to  be  an  approbation  of 
their  conduct.  We  promise  that  we  will  use  all  our  influence  to  restrain  our  own 
children  and  all  under  our  care  from  all  bail  company  and  from  every  wicked  course 
—  that  we  will  endeavor  to  train  them  up  in  the  ways  of  true  religion.  We  engage 
to  use  our  influence  in  opposing  vice,  and  to  bear  testimony  against  every  corrupt 
doctrine  and  all  vicious  practice.  We  engage  to  seek  the  best  interest  of  this 
church  and  of  all  our  sister  churches  and  to  submit  ourselves  to  that  discipline 
which  the  word  of  God  enjoins,  in  doing  which  we  mutually  engage  to  assist  each 
other,  holding  this  as  the  object  of  our  discipline,  viz.  to  recover  the  wandering  to 
the  path  of  duty  and  advance  the  church  in  holiness,  by  disapproving  in  each  other 
what  the  word  of  God  disapproves,  and  by  requiring  in  each  other  what  the  word  of 
God  requires  ;  and  this  without  respect  of  persons  ;  that  we  as  a  church,  as  such,  may 
shine  as  a  light  in  the  world. 

1  This  account  of  the  Sunday-school  of  the  Congregational  Church  is  written  by 
John  Franklin  Tilton. 

-  She  died  April  15,  1897. 


Ecclesiastical  History.  227 

years,  until  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Hard}7,  when  the  family  moved 
away  and  the  school  was  given  up. 

There  seems  to  have  been  no  other  Sunday-school  for  the  next 
six  or  eight  years,  when  one  was  started  at  the  old  meeting-house 
on  the  hill ;  but  very  little  can  be  learned  about  this  school. 
The  only  thing  we  are  able  to  obtain  in  regard  to  it  is  from  a 
letter  received  from  Mr.  Albee  C.  Allen,  of  Xew  York.  Mr.  Allen 
says:  "Rev.  Mr.  Fairbank,  our  good  old  minister,  brought  a 
number  of  Testaments  and  proposed  to  the  young  people  that 
they  should  spend  a  part  of  the  intermission  between  the  services 
in  studying  the  Bible ;  this  proposition  was  mostly  accepted  by 
the  young  ladies."  Mr.  Allen,  then  one  of  the  boys,  like  many 
a  foolish  one  in  these  days,  thought  himself  too  old  to  go  to 
Sunday-school. 

While  the  men  gathered  around  the  open  fire  in  the  office  of 
the  tavern  or  went  into  the  side  room  for  refreshments,  the  school 
was  held  in  the  parlor ;  when  a  stove  was  put  in  the  meeting- 
house, the  school  was  held  there,  and  about  the  time  the  minister 
should  finish  his  morning  sermon  a  good  fire  was  started,  though 
often  Priest  Fairbank  preached  so  long  that  the  fire  would  have 
to  be  rekindled.  They  gathered  around  the  stove  for  the  Bible 
class. 

In  1834  this  school  was  united  with  one  that  had  but  recently 
been  organized  and  held  meetings  in  the  village  school-house  on 
Pleasant  Street,  and  the  school  thus  formed  held  its  sessions  in 
the  new  church. 

We  now  revert  to  the  Sunday-school  that  had  been  started  in 
the  village  about  the  year  1826. 

Some  of  the  good  people,  feeling  that  the  children  ought  to 
study  the  Bible,  gathered  about  twenty  of  the  boys  and  girls  on 
Sunday  afternoons,  and  these  spent  the  time  in  learning  verses 
which  some  one  would  explain. 

Among  those  attending  this  school  were  four  children  of  Mr. 
Simeon  Dodge,  who  was  the  first  superintendent,  —  or  president, 
as  he  was  called  then,  —  three  children  of  Abijah  Allen,  and  others 
from  the  families  of  John  Gile  and  John  Bowman. 

The  first  place  of  meeting  was  in  an  old  school-house ;  this 
building  was  burned  after  a  few  years,  and  the  school  moved  to 
an  empty  building  which  stood  next  west  of  where  Green  A:  Co.'s 
drug  store  now  stands;  seats  were  put  in.  and  during'  the  warm 
weather  school  was  held  there.  We  might  remark  in  passing 
that  the  man  who  began  building  this  house  did  not  heed  the 
words  of  the  good  book  "  to  sit  down  and  count  the  cost,"  for  we 


228  History  of  Littleton, 

find  that  after  it  was  up  and  boarded  it  was  left  unfinished. 
The  land  was  of  more  value  than  the  building  and  was  soon 
wanted  for  other  and  more  desirable  structures,  so  the  old  house 
took  its  journey  across  the  street  to  the  land  of  Warren  Hale, 
now  C.  F.  Eastman's,  where  it  stood  for  several  years.  Being  in 
the  way  there,  it  made  another  journey  to  the  corner  of  Main  and 
Maple  Streets,  where  it  was  used  as  a  storehouse  by  the  woollen 
factory.  It  was  a  great  place  for  the  boys  to  play  "  hide  and  seek  " 
among  the  sacks  of  wool.  The  fall  freshets  coming  down  from 
the  hill  flooded  the  cellar,  the  water  would  freeze,  and  many  a 
lad  learned  to  skate  there.  The  building  was  afterwards  changed 
into  a  stable  and  served  that  purpose  two  years,  when  it  was 
remodelled,  and  occupied  by  Sinclair  &  Merrill  (C.  A.  Sinclair  and 
George  Merrill)  as  a  grain  and  provision  store.  It  was  recently 
occupied  by  Bellows  &  Son.1 

There  used  to  be  quite  a  rivalry  among  the  scholars  of  this 
school  as  to  who  would  learn  the  most  verses ;  at  a  session  one 
scholar  repeated  two  chapters  in  John,  receiving  the  praise  of 
the  superintendent,  Henry  A.  Bellows. 

There  were  four  or  five  teachers  at  first,  among  them  being 
Henry  A.  Bellows,  Eliza  Bellows,  and  Kate  Sumner.2 

When  the  Unitarians  occupied  the  church  for  half  the  time  in 
1836  or  1837,  the  Congregationalists  held  their  services  in 
Brackett's  Hall  and  the  Sunday-school  was  also  held  in  that  hall 
during  this  period. 

This  arrangement  lasted  about  two  years,  when  the  Congre- 
gationalists made  arrangements  by  which  the  two  divisions  were 
united  and  Congregational  preaching  began  again  each  Sabbath. 

To  make  committing  verses  to  memory  from  the  Bible  more  in- 
teresting to  the  pupils,  merits  for  each  perfect  lesson,  consisting 
of  blue  tickets,  were  issued.  When  one  had  received  ten  of  these, 
they  were  exchanged  for  a  red  one.  At  the  end  of  the  year  the 
scholar  who  could  bring  the  most  red  tickets  received  a  prize. 

Question  books  were  introduced  in  1840,  which  were  graded 
for  the  different  classes,  the  pastor's  class  continuing  to  take 
some  portion  of  the  Bible  for  study.  These  books  were  changed 
for  the  International  Lessons  about  1872.  For  many  years  the 
school  had  the  Portland,  Me.,  edition  of  the  Lessons,  which  were 
given  up  for  Peloubet's.  The  1st  of  January,  1808,  the  Blakeslee 
series  was  introduced. 

1  The  building  thus  removed  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1853,  and  a  new  one  erected 
soon  after.  —  KD. 

-  Sister  of  James  B.  Sumner,  of  Dalton. 


Ecclesiastical  History.  229 

The  church  at  the  village  as  originally  built  had  a  gallery  on 
the  north  side  and  an  entry  underneath,  where  the  social  meetings 
were  held,  and  often  in  the  winter  the  Sunday-school  met  there ; 
the  room  was  only  eight  or  ten  feet  wide,  and  when  all  were 
talking  at  the  same  time,  there  was  some  confusion.  In  1856 
there  were  about  fifteen  classes  ;  among  the  teachers  were  Deacon 
John  Merrill,  Julia  A.  Allen,  Josiah  Kilburn,  Mrs.  John  W.  Balch, 
Rev.  E.  I.  Carpenter,  the  pastor  at  that  time,  William  Bailey,  Martha 
Hale,  Alvan  Griggs,  and  others. 

The  order  of  exercises  was  much  the  same  as  at  present.  When 
Deacon  Merrill  was  superintendent,  he  used  to  read  a  story  to 
the  children,  which  was  much  enjoyed. 

Alvan  Griggs  was  one  of  the  teachers  in  the  time  of  the  war  of 
1861.  Feeling  that  it  was  his  duty  to  go  into  the  army,  he  bade 
his  class  farewell  and  went  to  Concord.  He  did  not  pass  the  ex- 
amination at  first  and  tried  four  or  five  times  before  he  was  ac- 
cepted. He  served  his  country  for  several  months. 

Simeon  D.  Dodge  was  the  first  superintendent1  and  librarian, 
holding  the  office  several  years,  and  until  he  left  the  village,  when 
Plenry  A.  Bellows  succeeded  him.  After  his  resignation  Edmund 
Carleton  served  for  a  year  or  more.  Rev.  Evarts  Worcester  came 
next.  During  his  term  of  service  missionary  concerts  were  in- 
troduced. These  were  held  in  the  old  school-house  on  Pleasant 
Street,  on  the  first  Monday  afternoon  of  each  month.  After  a 
few  years  the  time  of  meeting  was  changed  to  the  first  Sunday 
evening  of  the  month.  A  collection  was  taken  at  the  concerts  and 
during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  E.  I.  Carpenter,  and  at  his  suggestion 
in  the  expectation  that  more  money  would  be  given,  these  col- 
lections were  taken  at  the  morning  service ;  this  custom  has 
continued  to  the  present  time. 

Mr.  Worcester's  brother,  Isaac  R.  Worcester,  followed  him,  and 
then  Dr.  Ezra  C.  Worcester  became  superintendent.  Deacon  John 
Merrill  succeeded,  and  held  the  office  for  twelve  years,  resigning 
in  1865.  About  this  time  a  constitution  was  adopted  which  for 
brevity  surpasses  most  such  documents.  It  is  all  contained  in 
eight  lines  ;  and  if  some  of  the  words  had  been  abbreviated  it  could 
have  been  expressed  in  six  lines.  It  is  as  follows  :  - 

"  Constitution  of  the  First  Congregational  Sunday  School  Society  of 
Littleton,  N.  H.  The  officers  of  the  society  shall  consist  of  Superin- 
tendent, Secretary,  Treasurer,  and  Librarian.  The  annual  meeting  for 

1  We  have  been  unable  to  give  the  time  of  service  of  the  superintendents  in  many 
instances. 


230  History  of  Littleton. 

the  choice  of  officers  shall  be  the  first  Sabbath  of  June.1  The  officers 
chosen  at  the  organization  of  the  societj-  to  hold  their  office  until  the 
first  Sunday  in  June  or  until  their  successors  are  chosen." 

The  school  was  organized  under  the  above  constitution,  and  the 
following  officers  were  elected :  Superintendent,  Franklin  Tilton  ; 
secretary  and  treasurer,  M.  L.  Goold  ;  librarian,  Noah  Farr.  '  The 
number  of  teachers  was  22,  and  there  were  120  scholars. 

The  secretary  records  that  Bibles  were  offered  by  Franklin 
Tilton,  Charles  W.  Brackett,  and  Alvan  Griggs  to  those  who 
would  get  in  the  most  permanent  scholars.  Some  twenty  mem- 
bers were  added  to  the  school.  Julia  A.  Allen  brought  the  largest 
number,  but  declined  the  Bible  on  the  ground  that  she  had  already 
been  well  paid,  her  hopes  being  more  than  realized.  The  first 
Bible  went  to  Elizabeth  M.  Rowell,  the  second  to  Laura  Isabella 
Tilton,  and  the  third  to  Marion  L.  Goold. 

During  the  week  after  the  distribution  of  the  Bibles  the  super- 
intendent learned  that  one  of  the  boys  went  home  crying  because 
he  did  not  receive  a  Bible,  though  he  had  secured  nearly  as  many 
as  the  others. 

The  highest  record  for  the  next  week,  says  Milo  Bean,  entitled 
the  one  making  it  to  a  Bible,  and  Josiah  Kilburn  and  Nelson  C. 
Farr  each  offered  a  Bible  in  the  same  way  for  the  most  pupils 
secured  during  the  next  four  weeks.  One  copy  went  to  Emily 
Witherell  for  four,  and  a  month  afterwards  Emily  Adaline  Kilburn 
received  the  other  for  twelve.  Doxy  Wilkins  received  one  offered 
by  Elizabeth  M.  Kilburn  for  eight  scholars. 

The  first  annual  report  shows  a  total  attendance  of  6,240 ; 
weekly  average  of  120  ;  number  of  classes,  22  ;  largest  attend- 
ance, July  15,  1806,  160  ;  the  smallest,  June  8,  80 ;  number 
added  to  the  school,  40.  Concerts  were  held  each  month,  and 
each  class  paid  the  contribution  received  to  the  treasurer. 

June  3,  1860,  Franklin  Tilton  was  re-elected  Superintendent 
by  one  hundred  and  eighteen  votes  ;  M.  L.  Goold,  secretary  and 
treasurer ;  A.  R  Burton,  librarian,  and  llev.  C.  E.  Milliken, 
chorister. 

March  27, 1867,  there  is  this  record  :  "Had  no  school,  our  Supt. 
is  dead.  Mr.  Tilton  died  the  22nd.  Ten  concerts  held  during  the 
year.  Total  attendance  5,003  ;  average  per  Sunday,  96  ;  largest 
number  present,  124,  June  23  ;  smallest,  May  26,  50,  owing  to  the 
rain,  deceived  during  the  year  £20.10;  paid  out  820. 00 ;  cash 
on  hand,  60.10." 

1  Afterwards  changed  to  the  second  Sunday  in  May. 


Ecclesiastical  History.  231 

At  the  annual  election  in  June,  1867,  Nelson  C.  Farr  was 
elected  superintendent,  M.  L.  Goold  secretary  and  treasurer. 
The  secretary  reports  "  160  members,  and  18  classes,  6  male.  16 
female  teachers,  100  of  the  members  adults,  and  70  heads  of 
families.  Average  number  for  the  year  90,  300  volumes  in  the 
Library." 

There  is  no  report  of  proceedings  in  1868.  May  22,  1869, 
N.  C.  Farr  was  re-elected  superintendent,  M.  L.  Goold  secretary 
and  treasurer,  Noah  Farr  librarian.  Each  class  chose  its  teacher. 

The  report  for  1870  was  much  the  same.  There  was  paid  out 
for  books  for  library,  $18.38. 

In  1871  John  J.  Ladd,  principal  of  the  high  school,  was  elected 
superintendent,  M.  L.  Goold  secretary  and  treasurer,  and  Noah 
Farr  librarian.  In  1875  Nelson  C.  Farr  was  again  elected 
superintendent.  The  other  officers  were  the  same  as  the  two  years 
previous.  In  1876  and  1877  the  only  changes  were  C.  A.  Farr, 
elected  librarian  in  1876,  and  John  F.  Tilton  in  1877;  cash  on 
hand,  $-41.40.  In  the  choice  of  superintendent  for  1878  the  con- 
test was  quite  earnest,  some  favoring  Mr.  Farr  and  others  Mr. 
Thomas  Carleton;  the  latter  gentleman  was  elected.  Cash  on 
hand  at  the  end  of  the  year,  $57.22. 

At  the  next  election,  May  26,  1879,  there  was  quite  a  change 
in  the  officers.  S.  C.  Sawyer  became  superintendent,  Mrs.  A.  J. 
Church  assistant,  M.  L.  Goold  secretary  and  treasurer,  Thomas 
Carleton  librarian.  Sixteen  dollars  was  paid  for  singing-books. 
Cash  on  hand,  $90.73.  Seventy-five  dollars'  worth  of  books  was 
added  to  the  library. 

In  1880  and  1881  S.  C.  Sawyer  was  re-elected  superintendent, 
Mrs.  A.  J.  Church  first  assistant,  Mary  13.  Tilton  second  assist- 
ant, Mrs.  B.  F.  Robinson  committee  on  music,  and  Oscar  C.  Hatch 
secretary  and  treasurer.  Cash  on  hand  at  the  end  of  the  year, 
$78.32.  "  Paid  for  library  books  in  1880,  $75. 

Dr.  Sawyer  was  superintendent  in  1882,  but  resigned  before  the 
close  of  the  year,  and  Thomas  Carleton  served  as  superintendent 
for  the  remainder  of  the  year.  Charles  L.  Clay  was  then  elected 
superintendent,  and  served  for  the  next  four  years.  Oscar  C. 
Hatch  was  elected  secretary  and  treasurer,  Lydia  A.  Cobb  librarian. 
The  average  attendance  was  ninety-eight ;  largest  number,  Janu- 
ary 7,  one  hundred  and  thirty,  and  the  lowest,  August  6,  sixty- 
three.  There  were  three  concerts  during  the  year.  Sixty-five 
dollars'  worth  of  books  was  added  to  the  library. 

At  that  time  the  teachers  in  the  school  were  Rev.  George  W. 
Osgood,  Mrs.  Allen  J.  Church,  Mrs.  Henry  F.  Green,  Charles  P. 


232  History  of  Littleton. 

Tarbell,  Mrs.  George  Osgood,  Mrs.  John  C.  Goodenough,  Caroline 
A.  Brackett,  Mrs.  Charles  L.  Clay,  Deacon  John  Merrill,  Mrs. 
Edgar  Aldrich,  Mary  B.  Tilton,  John  F.  Tilton,  and  others. 

March  7,  1884,  Nelson  C.  Farr,  for  many  years  superintendent, 
passed  away.  The  funeral  of  Ella  Page,  a  member  of  the  school, 
was  held  March  30.  Mrs.  Lydia  Burt,  another  member,  died 
June  7. 

•  Children's  Sunday  was  observed  this  year  with  appropriate 
exercises.  One  hundred  and  forty  were  connected  with  the 
school,  with  an  average  of  ninety.  The  school  undertook  the  fur- 
nishing of  a  double  room  in  Whitman  College,  and  sent,  beside 
bedding,  some  833  for  the  purpose. 

In  1885  Mary  B.  Tilton  was  elected  secretary,  and  Marshall  D. 
Cobleigh  treasurer.  Mrs.  C.  L.  Clay  was  superintendent  of  the 
infant  department.  May  31  Deacon  John  Merrill,  who  had  been 
so  long  identified  with  the  school  and  all  its  interests,  passed 
away.  In  1886  Ellen  I.  Sanger  was  elected  secretary,  and  George 
French  treasurer.  At  the  close  of  the  year  two  hundred  scholars 
were  registered,  with  eighteen  teachers. 

In  1887-1888  Myron  H.  Richardson  was  superintendent,  with 
Nellie  Weeks  secretary,  and  A.  J.  Church  treasurer.  The  follow- 
ing year  Thomas  Carleton  was  superintendent,  and  Alice  Nurse 
secretary.  Socials  were  held  during  the  winter.  At  this  time 
the  present  constitution  was  adopted.  June  30  an  interesting 
cantata,  "  Under  the  Palms,"  was  rendered  by  the  school  as  an 
exercise  for  Children's  Day.  Mr.  Carleton  served  until  January  1, 
1890,  when  he  resigned,  and  Charles  L.  Clay  was  again  elected 
superintendent  and  held  the  office  until  July,  1892,  at  which  time 
WTarren  W.  Lovejoy  was  elected  and  filled  the  position  until 
January,  1898. 

Since  the  year  1898  the  following  persons  have  served  as  super- 
intendents :  Mrs.  Henry  Merrill,  Rev.  William  Forbes  Cooley,  and 
Mrs.  Mary  B.  Sherburne. 

The  following  are  or  have  recently  been  teachers  :  Rev.  John 
H.  Hoffman,  Mrs.  K.  Chickering,  Rev.  F.  G.  Chutter,  Julia  A. 
Eaton.  Myra  G.  Eaton,  Mrs.  C.  F.  Eastman,  Mrs.  Geonre  C.  Furber, 
Mrs.  M.  I).  Walker,  Mrs.  Charles  R.  Allen,  Mrs.  Charles  F.  Bing- 
ham,  Mrs.  John  C.  Goodenough,  Hannah  F.  Merrill,  and  Mrs. 
George  Walker,  Mrs.  Emily  E.  Gorham,  Mrs.  M.  H.  Richardson, 
Mrs.  Ethel  M.  Miller,  John  F.  Tilton.  Total  number  of  classes, 
15  :  5  adult,  4  intermediates,  and  6  primary  classes.  Total  attend- 
ance, 1GO;  average,  100. 

The   following   notice  of   David  Yeretsian,  who   received    aid 


Ecclesiastical  History.  233 

from  the  school  in  1888  and  1889,  appeared  in  the  Littleton  paper 
of  July  17,  1895  :  — 

"  An  interesting  episode  was  a  part  of  the  services  at  the  Congrega- 
tional Church  last  Sunday  morning.  Mr.  David  M.  Yeretsian,  who  is 
engaged  in  an  evangelical  canvass  of  the  State  under  the  auspices  of 
the  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  was  invited  to  address  the  congregation.  It  was  an 
agreeable  surprise  to  the  people,  especially  those  interested  in  the  work 
of  foreign  missions,  that  this  }'oung  man  was  the  beneficiary  of  the 
gifts  of  the  Sundaj'-school  and  church  at  this  place,  and  was  thereby 
enabled  to  take  a  two  years'  course  in  a  Protestant  educational  institu- 
tion in  Armenia.  The  intermediary  in  this  case  was  Mrs.  Lizzie  Cob- 
leigh  Cole,  a  missionary  now  stationed  at  Bitlis,  Asia  Minor.  She 
will  be  remembered  as  a  daughter  of  this  town.  Mr.  Yeretsian  ex- 
pressed his  obligations  to  this  people  in  graceful  and  fitting  terms.  He 
is  now  a  senior  in  Williams  College." 

The  records  are  very  incomplete  in  regard  to  the  number  who 
united  with  the  church  from  the  Sunday-school  previous  to  the 
last  fifteen  years.  During  one  year  of  Mr.  George  W.  Osgood's 
pastorate  twenty-five  were  added  to  the  church  from  the  Sabbath- 
school.  In  1882  there  were  two  ;  in  1885,  sixteen.  Twenty-four 
united  with  the  church  in  1894. 

The  constitution  adopted  in  1865  served  until  the  spring  of 
1889,  when  another  was  drawn  up  which  has  been  used  since  that 
time. 

The  first  library  was  connected  with  the  Sunday-school  in  the 
village  in  1826.  It  was  obtained  soon  after  the  opening  of  the 
school  by  each  attendant  furnishing  a  certain  amount  of  money. 
Mr.  Dodge,  the  superintendent  and  librarian,  used  to  carry  the 
books  to  and  from  his  house  in  an  old-fashioned  hair-covered 
trunk.  The  library  was  not  replenished  by  the  addition  of  a 
few  books  from  time  to  time  as  at  present,  and  they  were  read 
and  re-read. 

The  books  were  given  away  or  exchanged  several  times  pre- 
vious to  1876.  At  that  date  the  library  contained  about  three 
hundred  volumes,  which  were  kept  in  a  dark  closet  in  the  entry 
of  the  church.  The  Methodist  Sunday-school  asked  to  exchange 
these  books  for  those  contained  in  their  library.  The  request  was 
granted.  A  few  years  after  the  books  thus  obtained  were  sent 
to  a  Western  Sunday-school. 

Soon  after  $150  was  raised  by  subscriptions  and  new  books 
were  bought.  In  June,  1867,  the  secretary  reports  three  hundred 
volumes  in  the  library  and  875  paid  for  new  books. 

In  1878  Mr.  B.  W.  Kilburn  offered  to  divide  the  proceeds  of 


234  History  of  Littleton. 

two  evenings'  entertainments  with  a  magic  lantern  between  the 
Methodist.  Baptist,  and  Congregational  Sunday-schools.  Thirty- 
three  dollars  were  received  and  expended  for  books  for  the 
library. 

About  1888  or  1889  Mr.  Kilburn  gave  the  Congregational 
Sunday-school  8100,  which  was  the  beginning  of  the  fine  library 
of  some  seven  hundred  volumes  that  the  school  has  to-day.  At 
this  time  the  books  were  numbered  and  catalogued.  In  the  year 
1900  a  further  addition  of  an  "  exchange  "  library  of  fifty  volumes 
was  made. 

For  many  years  during  Mr.  Milliken's  pastorate  the  "Well 
Spring,"  a  Sunday-school  paper,  was  taken  by  the  school.  This 
paper  was  published  for  years  by  that  great  Sunday-school  worker, 
Asa  Bullard,  and  is  still  used  by  the  school. 

The  first  year  of  the  school  the  contributions  were  collected  by 
the  boys  passing  contribution  boxes  ;  when  there  was  any  special 
call,  the  superintendent  secured  the  money. 

When  the  first  missionary  ship,  "  The  Morning  Star,"  was  built 
in  1866,  nearly  every  scholar  took  a  share  in  it,  receiving  a  cer- 
tificate of  stock  on  the  payment  of  twenty-five  cents.  A  few  years 
after  a  building  was  erected  by  issuing  certificates  of  stock  in  the 
same  way. 

In  1868  the  manner  of  taking  the  collections  was  changed,  the 
treasurer  receiving  the  collections  from  the  teachers  in  boxes, 
each  class  having  a  box.  From  the  year  1876  to  about  1880 
the  collections  increased  considerably,  there  being  quite  a  contest 
as  to  which  would  give  the  most  and  be  the  banner  class  for  the 
month.  Twenty-five  dollars  a  year  for  several  years  was  sent  to 
Mrs.  Lizzie  C.  Cole  in  Turkey  to  educate  a  native  boy. 

In  1893  money  was  contributed  to  build  a  school-house  in  India. 
In  1894  the  school  assumed  the  tuition  of  a  colored  boy  at  Hamp- 
ton, Ya.  Since  1899  the  sum  of  $125  has  been  paid  there  for 
various  missionary  objects. 

The  members  of  the  school  have  hardly  been  satisfied  without 
helping  those  who  did  not  have  the  privileges  they  enjoyed.  We 
learn  that  Levi  B.  Dodge  started  a  Sunday-school  at  West  Little- 
ton early  in  the  fifties,  and  was  the  superintendent.  On  two  dif- 
ferent occasions,  years  after,  persons  have  come  to  him  asking 
"  if  he  used  to  keep  the  school  over  at  West  Littleton,"  and  told 
him  that  some  word  spoken  by  him  first  led  them  to  a  better  life. 
After  Mr.  Dodge  moved  to  Lyndon,  Vt.,  he  was  a  teacher  in  a 
school  there.  Some  years  ago  one  of  the  young  ladies  of  the 
village  school  opened  one  at  the  Scythe  Factory,  or  Apthorp,  as  it 


Ecclesiastical  History.  235 

is  now  called.  She  acted  as  superintendent,  procured  the  teachers, 
and  took  entire  oversight  of  the  school  for  a  time. 

There  have  also  been  schools  at  North  Littleton  at  different 
times.  Mr.  Charles  D.  Tarbell  took  a  deep  interest  in  one  at  Wil- 
lowdale,  and  was  successful  in  having  a  good  school  for  several 
seasons,  and  they  raised  quite  a  sum  of  money  which  was  put  into 
a  library  which  is  still  in  use. 

Nothing  can  be  ascertained  in  regard  to  the  attendance  previous 
to  1858,  except  for  the  year  it  was  opened  in  the  village  in  1826, 
when  the  number  of  scholars  was  twenty. 

The  school  on  the  Meadows  ten  years  before  had  ten  scholars. 
From  1858  to  the  present  time  we  are  indebted  to  the  record  con- 
tained in  the  Congregational  Year  Book.  In  1858  the  school  num- 
bered 135;  in  1859,  150;  1860,  180;  1861,  180;  1862,  190; 
1863,  200;  1864,  200;  1865,160;  1866,159;  1867,160;  1868, 
160;  1869,  140;  1870,  148;  1871,  165;  1872,  172;  1873,165; 
1874,  165;  1875,  150;  1876,  175,  average  110;  1877,  175,  aver- 
age 110;  1878,  180,  average  114;  1879,  160,  average  85 ;  1880, 
140,  average  82;  1881,  150,  average  106;  1882,  200,  average 
100  ;  1883,  average  125  ;  1884,  average  101 ;  1885,  145,  average 
100;  1889,  145;  1890,  120,  average  90;  1891,  120,  average  90; 
1892,  average  72;  1893,  77;  1894-1896,  average  75;  1897,  aver- 
age 75;  1898,  average  90;  1899,  125,  average  75;  1900,  110, 
average  56  ;  1901,  122,  average  66 ;  1902,  75,  average  60. 

The  progress  of  the  school  has  been  of  a  most  gratifying  char- 
acter taken  as  a  whole.  Like  the  church  itself,  there  have  been 
periods  of  retrogression  and  discouragement,  but  these  have  been 
of  a  temporary  nature,  and  the  spirit  of  self-sacrifice  and  devotion 
to  the  sacred  cause  the  school  was  established  to  promote  has 
always  been  renewed,  and  the  work  of  the  school  carried  on  with 
increased  success. 

The  delicate  subject  of  church  music,  as  connected  with  this 
church,  has  been  treated  in  an  admirable  sketch  prepared  by  Mrs- 
Caroline  Brackett  Merrill,  who  had  the  benefit  of  the  large  and 
accurate  fund  of  personal  knowledge  and  tradition  on  the  subject 
possessed  by  the  late  Mrs.  John  Merrill. 

Ages  before  David  or  Solomon,  or  whoever  the  redacteur  of  the 
Psalms  may  have  been,  prepared  his  liturgical  hymn-book  for  use 
in  the  temple  service  at  Jerusalem,  music  had  been  a  most  impor- 
tant factor  in  all  religious  rites  and  ceremonies,  and  so  it  will 
probably  continue  to  be  until  the  end  of  time. 

Under  the  Puritan  rule  of  early  New  England,  stripped  as  it 
was  of  all  its  accessories,  psalmody  was  reduced  to  its  simplest 


236  History  of  Littleton. 

form,  and  seems  to  have  aimed  more  at  expressing  the  religious 
sentiments  of  the  worshippers  in  form  more  or  less  poetical  than  at 
lifting  the  soul  heavenward  on  the  strains  of  its  melody. 

Doubtless  it  is  because  of  this  very  humble  position  which  music 
occupied  in  the  early  church  of  Littleton  that  we  are  able  to  ob- 
tain so  few  facts  with  regard  to  its  modus  operandi.  Before  the 
year  1815,  while  the  few  scattered  worshippers  gathered  in  barns, 
school-houses,  or  any  available  place  for  religious  service,  the 
music  was  almost  entirely  vocal,  any  other  instrument  than  the 
tuning-fork  savoring  too  much  of  the  world.  An  amusing  anec- 
dote is  told,  on  the  authority  of  Mrs.  Samuel  Goodwin,  of  an 
incident  of  that  time.  On  one  occasion  some  progressive  soul 
introduced  into  one  of  these  assemblies  an  instrument  known  as 
a  "  bag  fiddle,"  whereupon  a  certain  Mistress  Rankin,  whose 
religious  convictions  would  not  allow  her  to  countenance  such 
an  innovation,  arose  to  her  feet,  and,  forgetting  St.  Paul's  in- 
junction that  "the  women  keep  silence  in  the  churches,"  she 
boldly  declared  that  either  she  herself  or  that  "  bag  fiddle  "  should 
leave  the  "  meeting."  As  the  obnoxious  instrument  remained, 
the  worthy  lady  drew  herself  to  her  full  height  and  majestically 
retired,  only  pausing  at  the  door  to  remark  in  a  tone  that  showed 
the  positive  views  which  she  held  with  regard  to  the  future  state, 
"  I  will  have  you  to  know  that  there  will  be  no  bag  fiddles  in 
heaven." 

Although  the  church  edifice  was  completed  in  1815,  there  was 
no  pastor  settled  over  the  church  until  1820,  and  probably  there 
was  no  organized  choir.  The  first  that  we  get  any  trace  of  was  led 
by  William  Brackett,  probably  in  the  year  1820,  but  possibly  not 
until  1821.  During  the  years  in  which  what  is  known  as  "  the  old 
meeting  house  "  was  in  use  for  religious  purposes,  there  seems  to 
have  been  little  of  interest  in  the  musical  line.  Some  of  the  sing- 
ers whose  names  have  come  down  to  us  are  Job  Pingrec  and  his 
sister  Dolly,  Aaron  Brackett  and  his  wife  Mary,  Moses,  Guy  C., 
and  Wilder  Rix,  and  Mrs.  A.  Gile  (Harriet  Rix),  Clarissa  Rankin, 
Caroline  Ely,  Walter  Charlton,  Silas  Morse,  Douglas  and  Lydia 
Robins,  Marquis  L.  Gould,  Maria,  Lydia,  and  Ebenczer  Wheeler, 
Martha  and  Celinda  Hughes.  In  fact,  the  choir  was  a  movable 
and  changeable  body.  Every  one  who  attended  singing-school  was 
expected  to  sing  in  the  choir.  Oliver  T.  Brown,  a  lawyer  of  Water- 
ford,  Yt,  who  afterwards  married  a  daughter  of  Priest  Fairbank, 
was  "  singing-master,"  and  occasionally  remained  in  town  over  the 
Sabbath  day  to  assist  in  the  choir.  The  hymn-book  used  during 
this  time  was  the  early  edition  of  "  Psalms,  Hymns  and  Spiritual 


Ecclesiastical  History.  237 

Songs"  of  good  old  Dr.  Watts.  Probably  most  of  the  readers  of 
this  article  are  somewhat  acquainted  with  the  grim  theology 
taught  therein,  but  possibly  it  would  not  be  out  of  place  to  quote 
a  couple  of  stanzas  from  a  hymn  entitled  "  The  Last  Judgment." 
After  sending  forth  the  summons  and  calling  together  the  nations, 
the  judge  is  represented  as  issuing  the  command  :  — 

"  Stand  forth,  thou  bold  blasphemer,  and  profane 
Now  feel  my  wrath,  nor  call  my  threat'nings  vain. 
Thou  hypocrite,  once  drest  in  saint's  attire, 
I  doom  the  painted  hypocrite  to  fire. 
Judgment  proceed,  hell  trembles,  heaven  rejoices  ; 
Lift  up  your  heads,  ye  saints,  with  cheerful  voices. 

"  Behold  my  terrors  now  ;  my  thunders  roll, 
And  thy  own  crimes  affright  thy  guilty  soul. 
Xow  like  a  lion  shall  my  vengeance  tear 
Thy  bleeding  heart,  and  no  deliverer  near; 
Judgment  concludes;  hell  trembles,  heaven  rejoices  ; 
Lift  up  your  heads,  ye  saints,  with  cheerful  voices." 

In  view  of  the  fact  that  all  save  the  Divine  Man  have  "  sinned 
and  come  short  of  the  glory  of  God,"  it  is  hard  to  conceive  how 
even  the  saints,  believing  in  such  a  God  of  vengeance,  could  be  ex- 
pected to  "lift  cheerful  voices."  But  that  they  did  is  proven  by 
the  fact  that  music  continued  to  flourish  and  the  "  singers'  seats  " 
were  well  filled.  We  might  quote  from  many  of  the  hymns  that 
were  in  common  use  less  than  a  century  ago  to  prove  how  like  and 
yet  how  unlike  are  society  and  its  sentiments  under  the  develop- 
ment of  time.  Here  is  a  "  Magistrate's  Hymn,"  in  which  that 
functionary  is  made  to  declare,  — 

"  In  vain  shall  sinners  hope  to  rise 
By  flatt'ring  or  malicious  lies ; 
And  while  the  innocent  I  guard 
The  bold  offender  sha'n't  be  spar'd." 

The  popular  funeral  hymn  was  "  Hark  from  the  Tomb  a  Doleful 
Sound,"  etc.,  and  it  seems  to  have  been  sung  on  most  occasions 
without  regard  to  age,  sex,  or  the  circumstances  of  the  deceased. 

For  the  regular  Sabbath  service  the  chorister  selected  the 
anthem,  if  one  was  sung,  and  appropriate  music  for  the  hymns. 
In  1830  the  "  Bridgewater  Collection  of  Church  Music"  was  a  fa- 
vorite "  tune  book."  At  this  time  Job  Filigree  was  chorister  and 
played  the  tenor  viol,  while  the  bass  viol  was  played  by  Aaron 
Brackett. 


238  History  of  Littleton. 

Mr.  Brackett,  sometimes  called  the  "  little  Major,"  was  a  member 
of  the  choir  from  the  time  he  came  to  Littleton  in  1820  until  his 
death  in  1868,  a  longer  period  of  service  by  far  than  that  of  any 
other  member.  He  had  a  bass  voice  of  little  power,  but  very  true. 
He  always  kept  time  with  his  head  and  his  book.  Aside  from  keep- 
ing his  neighbors  on  the  key,  his  chief  office  is  said  to  have  been 
to  keep  peace  in  the  choir.  It  \vould  seem  from  this  bit  of  history 
that  disturbances  in  church  choirs  are  not  a  modern  invention,  and 
then,  as  now,  it  was  often  necessary  to  pour  oil  on  the  troubled 
waters.  In  the  "  old  meeting  house  "  the  congregation  sat  during 
the  singing  and  stood  during  prayers.  The  singers'  seats  were  in 
the  gallery  opposite  the  high  pulpit  and  "  deacons'  seats." 

This  was  also  the  location  of  the  choir  in  the  new  church, 
which  was  built  at  the  village  in  1832.  In  this  latter  edifice  the 
more  modern  pews  having-  taken  the  place  of  the  old-fashioned 
square  ones  with  seats  facing  both  ways,  the  congregation  arose 
and  turned  about  in  their  pews  to  face  the  choir  during  the  ren- 
dering of  each  hymn.  After  moving  to  the  new  church  Major 
Brackett  continued  to  play  the  bass  viol,  and  later  a  "  bull  fiddle," 
or  double  bass  viol,  was  introduced,  and  a  "  silver-keyed  flute,"' 
which  was  played  by  John  Senter,  one  of  the  principal  workmen 
in  the  Scythe  Factory.  Some  of  the  leading  members  of  the  first 
choir  in  this  church  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Prescott  White,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Truman  Stevens,  Mrs.  Moses  P.  Little,  and  Mrs.  George 
Little.  These  two  last-mentioned  ladies  are  still,  at  the  present 
day,  remembered  by  a  few,  who  speak  with  enthusiasm  of  the 
rich,  finely  trained  voice  of  Mrs.  George  Little,  and  the  striking 
personal  beauty  of  Mrs.  Moses  Little,  which,  added  to  a  fine  voice, 
made  her  a  most  attractive  member  of  the  choir.  Perhaps  there 
is  no  time  in  the  history  of  chorus  singing  in  the  church  that  the 
music  attained  a  greater  degree  of  excellence  than  at  this  period. 
Either  at  this  time  or  a  little  later,  Henry  A.  Bellows,  afterwards 
Chief  Justice  of  New  Hampshire,  and  his  sister  Frances,  who 
had  a  very  sweet  contralto  voice,  and  Cyrus  Eastman,  were  iden- 
tified with  the  choir.  The  first  reed  instrument  was  a  small, 
portable  melodion,  which  the  performer  held  in  his  lap,  working 
the  bellows  with  the  elbows  while  performing  on  the  keys  with 
the  lingers.  This  instrument  was  afterwards  fitted  into  a  frame 
and  rigged  with  a  treadle.  It  was  played  at  one  time  by  S.  G. 
Miner,  at  another  by  Abigail  B.  Little. 

At  just  what  date  "  Watts'  Entire"  was  discarded  for  "  Watts 
and  Select,"  we  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain,  but  when  the 
church  edifice  was  repaired  in  1850,  among  the  gifts  to  the 


Ecclesiastical  History.  239 

church  was  a  hymn-book  for  the  desk.  This  book  was  given  at 
the  suggestion  and  by  the  effort  of  Matthew  Hale,  son  of  Deacon 
James  Hale.  It  was  bound  in  morocco,  and  on  the  fly  leaf  was 
inscribed  "  Cong.  Church.  Presented  for  the  Desk  by  a  number 
of  Young  Men."  This  was  the  new  edition  of  "  Watts  and  Select," 
published  only  that  year,  and  it  contained  the  "  key  of  expres- 
sion," which  consisted  of  certain  symbols  placed  in  the  margin  to 
indicate  "  the  requisite  variations  of  movement,  quantity  and  tone 
of  voice."  This  was  considered  a  great  advance  in  correcting  the 
"  defects  in  our  public  psalmody,"  and  the  press  notices  of  the  book 
stated  that  wherever  the  key  had  been  practised,  music  had 
become  more  respectable  and  delightful.  At  this  time  (1850) 
Mrs.  William  C.  Brackett  began  playing  the  melodion,  which  was 
soon  replaced  by  a  seraphine,  which  instrument  she  continued 
to  play  most  of  the  time  for  thirteen  years.  Her  place  was 
occasionally  filled  by  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Atwood,  or  by  Emily 
Eastman  or  Adelia  C.  Brackett.  During  the  years  between 
1850  and  1863,  while  Mrs.  Brackett  played  the  seraphine,  the 
choir  was  led  successively  by  Luther  T.  Dow,  Charles  S.  Hazeltine, 
and  Wesley  Alexander.  Some  of  the  singing-books  used  were 
Boston  Sacred  Melodist,  Sabbath  Bells,  Modern  Harp,  Cantica 
Laudis,  and  The  Hallelujah.  At  different  times  during  this 
period  there  were  various  musical  instruments  used  aside  from 
the  seraphine  and  bass-viol.  At  one  time  there  was  added  to  the 
two  latter  a  double  bass-viol  played  by  Henry  H.  Lovejoy,  a  tenor 
viol  by  Charles  S.  Hazeltine,  and  a  French  horn  by  Frederick 
Hazeltine.  At  this  time  the  two  leading  soprano  voices  were  so 
well  matched  that  it  was  difficult  to  decide  which  was  the  better. 
By  tacit  consent  the  one  who  arrived  first  in  the  "singers'  seats" 
on  Sabbath  morning  was  entitled  to  the  seat  of  honor.  So  strong 
did  the  rivalry  become  between  these  two  young  ladies  that  early 
on  Sunday  morning,  it  is  said,  they  might  be  seen  hurrying-  to  the 
church,  each  hoping  to  arrive  first  and  install  herself  in  the  "end 
seat."  It  was  but  natural  that  the  rest  of  the  choir  should  be 
anxious  to  be  at  hand  to  encourage  the  rivals,  and  doubtless  dur- 
ing that  reign  the  organist  was  spared  the  necessity  of  playing 
long  voluntaries  to  kill  time  while  the  singers  were  gathering. 
In  1800  the  Rev.  C.  E.  Milliken  became  pastor  of  the  church. 
Being  a  musician  himself,  he  took  great  interest  in  the  music,  and 
seems  after  a  time  to  have  given  to  it  a  new  impulse.  Through 
his  influence,  after  considerable  opposition,  the  "  Sabbath  Hymn 
and  Tune  Book"  was  introduced,  in  which,  as  the  name  indicates, 
the  hymns  and  tunes  were  combined.  In  the  early  part  of  his 


240  History  of  Littleton. 

pastorate  the  church  would  be  obliged  at  times  to  resort  to  congre- 
gational singing.  At  such  seasons  the  seraphine  was  brought  from 
the  gallery  and  placed  in  front  of  the  pulpit,  and  the  pastor,  equal 
to  the  occasion,  would  himself  lead  the  singing,  and,  when  neces- 
sity required,  come  down  from  his  pastoral  chair  to  play  the 
instrument. 

If  we  were  even  to  mention  the  names  of  those  who  at  various 
times  have  been  members  of  the  choir  of  the  Congregational 
Church,  which  was  for  so  long  the  only  church  in  Littleton,  we 
should  exceed  the  limit  of  the  space  allotted  to  this  topic.  Many 
of  the  young  people  of  each  generation  as  they  came  along  craved 
the  privilege  of  sitting  in  the  gallery.  A  good  proportion  of  these 
had  but  small  musical  ability,  and  the  seats  in  the  gallery  were 
hard  and  uncushioned,  but  the  restraints  of  the  sanctuary  were 
not  quite  so  strictly  enforced  in  this  retired  corner,  and  in  ex- 
change for  the  liberty  of  action  thus  afforded  many  a  one  was 
willing  to  make  the  most  of  his  small  talent.  In  February,  1863, 
Mrs.  Brackett  resigned  the  place  that  she  had  filled  acceptably  so 
many  years,  and  Mr.  Frank  Thayer  became  her  successor.  Very 
shortly  after  this  a  young  man  by  the  name  of  Frank  Ilodgman,  a 
nephew  of  Francis  Ilodgman,  so  long  identified  with  this  town, 
became  a  member  of  the  choir.  The  old  seraphine,  which  possibly 
was  never  very  sweet-toned,  had  seen  its  best  days,  and  Mr.  Ilodg- 
man lost  no  opportunity  of  urging  the  purchase  of  a  pipe  organ. 
At  last  the  other  musicians  became  inspired  with  the  idea,  but  the 
question  of  funds  proved  a  formidable  one.  At  this  juncture  "  The 
Ladies'  Sunday  School  Sewing  Society  "  responded  to  the  need,  as 
that  society,  under  whatever  name  it  has  existed,  has  never  failed 
to  do  from  that  day  to  this.  They  promised  to  stitch  out  -$200  at 
their  fingers'  ends,  if  the  rest  could  be  raised  by  voluntary  contri- 
bution. After  various  discouragements  and  much  anxiety  and 
labor,  the  requisite  ftGOO  were  raised.  The  organ  was  built  by 
Nutting,  of  Bellows  Falls,  Vt.  In  1864  it  was  placed  in  the 
gallery,  and  Mr.  Frank  Thayer  installed  as  organist.  Singing 
then  received  a  new  impulse  and  flourished  finely  for  a  time. 
Occasionally,  for  want  of  a  suitable  leader,  there  would  be  a  lapse. 
Mrs.  Adaline  Owen  Kilburn  was  for  a  long  time  the  leading  soprano, 
and  Mrs.  Xoah  W.  Uanlett  her  able  assistant,  the  latter  singing 
either  soprano  or  contralto  as  occasion  required.  When  the 
church  was  rebuilt  in  1874,  the  organ  and  singers'  seats  were  re- 
moved to  their  present  position  in  the  rear  of  the  pulpit,  and  a 
quartette  choir  was  organized,  consisting  of  Stella  L.  Burnham, 
soprano,  Miss  Sophia  Stevens,  contralto,  Mr.  Ira  Stevens,  tenor, 


Ecclesiastical  History.  241 

Mr.  Henry  L.  Tilton,  bass.  Previous  to  this,  the  services  of  both 
the  instrumental  and  vocal  performers  had  been  purely  voluntary. 
Mr.  Thayer  had  given  his  services  as  organist  for  about  thirteen 
years,  taking  the  liveliest  interest  in  everything  that  pertained  to 
the  music  of  the  church.  With  the  reorganization  of  the  choir, 
the  church  was  deemed  to  be  in  a  sufficiently  prosperous  condition 
to  pay  the  organist  a  small  salary,  which  they  accordingly  began 
doing,  and  shortly  after,  when  Mr.  Tilton  withdrew  and  Mr.  Moses 
Harriman  took  his  place,  it  was  decided  that  the  singers  should 
be  paid  for  their  services.  In  1881  a  very  fine  pipe  organ,  bujlt 
by  Hook  &  Hastings  of  Boston,  was  placed  in  the  church,  in  mem- 
ory of  Richard  Taft,  by  his  wife  and  daughter.  In  the  summer 
of  1892,  owing  to  other  pressing  duties  which  occupied  his  time, 
Mr.  Thayer  was  obliged  to  resign  his  place  as  organist,  a  position 
which  he  had  filled  for  a  period  of  more  than  twenty-nine  years, 
with  the  exception  of  one  year  during  which  Mr.  Henry  II.  Lovejoy 
occupied  the  position.  So  long  had  Mr.  Thayer  been  the  leading 
spirit  in  the  choir,  both  as  organist  and  musical  director,  that  his 
services  seemed  almost  a  necessity  ;  but  shortly  after  his  resigna- 
tion the  church  was  fortunate  in  securing  Mrs.  Charles  F.  Bingham 
to  preside  at  the  organ,  a  place  which  she  has  filled  very  acceptably 
to  the  present  writing. 

The  church  edifice  has  been  enlarged  and  remodelled  several 
times.  The  first  considerable  change,  made  at  the  time  of  the 
building  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  has  been  referred  to 
in  the  annals  of  the  period.  At  that  time  the  building  was  en- 
larged by  the  addition  of  a  section  to  its  south  end  and  the  build- 
ing of  the  granite  basement,  in  which  was  finished  a  room  for  the 
Sunday-school  and  social  and  week-day  meetings.  The  original 
pews  were  provided  with  doors,  which  were  a  source  of  confusion 
during  the  assembling  of  the  worshippers  and  often  after  the  com- 
mencement of  the  service  by  the  entrance  of  belated  persons.  The 
old  pews  at  this  time  gave  place  to  those  of  modern  construction. 
The  old  church  was  heated  by  two  box  stoves,  which  were  inade- 
quate for  their  designed  purpose  in  extreme  cold  weather,  and  a 
change  was  made  to  a  furnace  at  that  time.  The  architectural 
character  of  the  early  Puritan  meeting-house  was  one  of  severe 
simplicity.  This  first  village  church  departed  from  the  rule  of 
two  centuries  by  the  use  of  the  gothic  window ;  in  all  other 
respects  it  adhered  to  the  ancient  form. 

The  changes  of  the  following  years  were  confined  to  restoring 
the  natural  wear  and  tear  of  the  building  until  1874,  when  an 
entire  reconstruction  of  the  edifice  was  made  which  changed  its 

VOL.  II. 16 


242  History  of  Littleton. 

physical  appearance.  The  old  box-like  belfry  was  replaced  by  two 
spires  —  one  one  hundred  and  ten,  the  other  seventy  feet  in  height 
—  which  added  much  to  its  form.  At  the  same  time  the  interior 
was  refurnished  and  the  walls  frescoed.  When  completed,  it  was 
rcdedicated,  October  29,  1874.  The  sermon  on  the  occasion  was 
bv  the  Rev.  J.  Q.  Bittenger,  of  Haverhill  ;  his  text  was  from 
1  Corinthians  iii.  21. 

Following  these  substantial  improvements,  a  chapel  was  erected 
on  the  church  lot  west  of  the  edifice  in  1882.  This  building  con- 
tains a  suitable  auditorium  for  meetings  of  both  church  and  society, 
a  kitchen  and  other  rooms  required  for  social  purposes.  Funds 
bequeathed  by  Mrs.  William  Condon  amounting  to  $1,100  were 
used  to  aid  in  its  construction.  It  is  a  substantial  and  handsome 
edifice. 

While  the  Rev.  John  II.  Hoffman  was  acting  pastor  of  the 
church,  he  proposed  to  replace  the  plain  glass  windows  with  those 
of  a  more  ornamental  character,  and  invited  various  persons 
to  contribute  such  windows  as  memorials.  His  retirement  soon 
after,  however,  closed  the  incident. 

In  1900  the  pastor,  the  Rev.  W.  F.  Cooley,  in  co-operation  witli 
I).  C.  Remich,  proposed  an  entire  reconstruction  of  the  interior  of 
the  church  edifice,  and  a  special  committee,  consisting  of  Frederick 
G.  Chutter,  Charles  F.  Eastman,  and  Isaac  B.  Andrew,  was  con- 
stituted to  supervise  the  work,  which  was  begun  in  September, 
1901,  and  completed  in  March,  1902. 

When  the  renovation  was  complete,  not  a  vestige  of  the  old 
interior  was  visible.  The  walls  were  replastered  and  redecorated, 
the  old  floor  covered  with  one  of  hard  wood  and  new  woodwork 
replaced  the  old,  while  a  panelled  ceiling  of  steel  with  handsome 
electroliers  was  substituted  for  one  of  decorated  plaster. 

On  Sunday,  March  10,  the  church  was  rededicated  with  appro- 
priate service,  which,  in  addition  to  extended  exercises  of  worship, 
included  an  address  by  the  pastor  and  addresses  of  presenta- 
tion l>y  the  donors  of  the  several  memorial  windows,  or  their 
representatives. 

The  window  dedicated  to  the  memory  of  the  Rev.  David 
Goodall,  the  founder  and  first  regular  supply  of  the  church,  was 
the  gift  of  his  descendants,  among  whom  Richard  W.  Peabody,  of 
Chicago,  111.,  a  grandson,  Caroline  G.  Walmsley,  and  Mrs.  Lillian 
Carpenter  Streetcr,  great-granddaughters,  were  active  in  the  affair, 
and  Frank  II.  Mason,  of  Akron,  Ohio,  a  great-grandson,  was  the 
principal  contributor  to  the  fund  raised  for  its  purchase.  Mr. 
Peabody,  then  ninety-three  years  of  age,  was  present,  and  an  ad- 


CoNCiKEGATIOXAI,     ClIl'Kt  II.    REMODELED     iS-.i. 


Ecclesiastical  History.  243 

dress  of  presentation  prepared  by  him  was  read  on  the  occasion. 
He  referred  to  the  fact  that  at  about  the  time  of  his  birth  all  the 
living  members  of  his  grandfather's  family  were  residents  of  this 
town  or  of  Lyman  and  Bath,  while  in  1902  but  one  of  his  descend- 
ants was  a  resident  of  Littleton;  others  were  scattered  through 
thirteen  States,  the  District  of  Columbia,  British  Columbia,  Mexico, 
and  the  Philippine  Islands. 

Other  memorials  were  the  following:  that  in  commemoration 
of  Josiah  Kilburn,  Emily  Bonney  Kilburn,  and  Lydia  A.  Kilburn, 
his  second  wife,  the  gift  of  Benjamin  W.  and  Caroline  L.  Kilburn, 
was  presented  by  Daniel  C.  Remich  ;  that  to  Deacon  Nelson  C. 
Farr,  in  the  small  vestibule,  given  by  Mrs.  George  Lewis,  was 
presented  by  Deacon  S.  C.  Sawyer ;  one  to  the  memory  of  Ellen 
I.  Sanger  Parker,  in  the  main  vestibule,  the  gift  of  her  father 
and  mother,  was  presented  by  Mrs.  Sanger;  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Lynch 
made  the  address  in  presenting  the  window  designed  to  perpetuate 
the  names  of  deceased  members  of  the  Redington  family  so  long 
connected  with  this  church,  and  that  of  the  Rev.  C.  E.  Milliken,  a 
former  pastor ;  the  beautiful  window  designed  as  a  memorial  of 
Dr.  Ralph  Bugbee  and  Jennett  C.  Batchellor,  his  wife,  given  by 
their  daughter,  Mrs.  Mary  Bugbee  Blake,  was  presented  by  Albert 
S.  Batchellor;  William  A.,  Edward  D.,  and  Harvey  S.  Brackctt 
united  in  giving  the  window  in  memory  of  their  mother,  Julia 
Hutchins  Brackett  Eastman,  which  was  presented  by  the  Rev.  F. 
G.  Chutter ;  that  given  by  William  Tilton  and  Mrs.  M.  F.  Young 
to  honor  the  names  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Franklin  Tilton  and  their 
daughter  Minnie,  was  presented  by  Deacon  John  F.  Tilton,  who 
was  followed  by  the  Rev.  W.  F.  Cooley  with  brief  remarks  eulo- 
gistic of  Miss  Tilton  ;  Deacon  Charles  A.  Farr  presented  the 
wrindow  given  by  Mrs.  Emma  Hall  Farr  and  her  daughter  Stella, 
in  memory  of  John  Farr  and  the  Rev.  Evarts  Worcester ;  that 
donated  by  the  heirs  of  Isaac  Calhoun  was  presented  by  Daniel 
C.  Remich;  James  E.  Henry,  of  Lincoln,  was  the  giver  of  one  in 
memory  of  his  father  and  mother,  Joseph  and  Mary  (Calhoun) 
Henry.  The  Rev.  F.  G.  Chutter  made  the  presentation  ;  the  win- 
dow near  the  pulpit,  the  gift  of  Mrs.  Chutter,  was  presented  by 
her  in  memory  of  her  husband's  pastorate. 

While  none  of  these  works  are  original  conceptions,  they  are  re- 
garded as  fine  reproductions  of  famous  paintings  and  a  notable 
addition  to  the  somewhat  meagre  memorial  and  decorative  art  of 
the  town. 

A  century  in  its  restless  flight  has  brought  many  changes,  and 
this  church  has  kept  pace  with  the  progress  of  events.  The  plain 


244  History  of  Littleton. 

meeting-house  of  the  Puritan  fathers  is  as  inadequate  to  meet  the 
physical  wants  of  the  present  generation  as  their  theology  is  to 
satisfy  its  spiritual  aspirations.  The  first  meeting-house  and  the 
last,  the  creed  of  1803  and  that  of  the  present  hour,  mark  two 
extremes  in  the  church  history  of  the  town.  To  the  Congrega- 
tiomtlist  who  organized  the  church,  formalism  was  little  short  of 
a  sin,  and  responsive  readings  would  not  have  been  tolerated,  and 
Christmas  and  Easter,  as  now  observed,  were  regarded  as  prompt- 
ings of  Satan.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Carpenter  was  the  last  of  the  Puri- 
tans. The  passionate  religious  controversies  of  two  generations 
ago  have  mellowed  to  the  vanishing  point,  and  will  soon  disappear 
unless  there  is  a  revival  of  doctrinal  sentiment  in  the  church. 


XXXIII. 

ECCLESIASTICAL    HISTORY   (Continued). 

METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH. 

IT  may  be  said  that  Methodism  was  sent  to  this  region  in  1794, 
when  one  circuit  of  the  New  England  District  was  the  whole 
of  New  Hampshire,  Rev.  John  Hill  being  the  preacher  in  charge. 
He  reported  at  the  end  of  the  year  that  innumerable  doors  were 
opening  to  the  evangelist  in  that  wilderness.  Earlier,  however, 
than  Mr.  Hill's  appointment,  Jesse  Lee,  toward  the  end  of  August, 
1791,  visited  the  State  at  the  southern  part,  as  Presiding  Elder  of 
the  New  England  District.  No  permanent  results  seem  to  have 
followed  Lee's  visit.  As  early  as  1795  a  Methodist  Society  was 
formed  at  Chesterfield  by  circuit  riders  from  York  State,  and  they 
were  there  some  years  before.  In  1796  Chesterfield  reported 
sixty-eight  members,  the  following  year  ninety-two,  and  the  third 
year  one  hundred  and  twenty-two.  This  is  the  report  for  all  New 
Hampshire.  In  1800  Landaff,  having  been  organized  by  Joseph 
Crawford  the  preceding  year,  he  being  the  preacher  at  Vershire 
and  Windsor,  Vt.,  appears  in  the  minutes  as  a  circuit,  but  reckoned 
as  belonging  to  Vermont  instead  of  New  Hampshire.  The  preacher 
sent  to  the  circuit  was  Elijah  R.  Sabin.  Not  knowing  where  to 
find  his  circuit,  he  says  he  had  to  go,  making  many  inquiries 
as  to  the  part  of  the  world  in  which  it  was  located.  Methodist 
families  were  already  in  Littleton  ;  for  this  year  Jesse  Lee.  having 
come  from  Maine  by  a  route  near  where  the  (Irand  Trunk  Kail- 
way  now  goes,  reached  the  Connecticut  River  at  Northumberland, 
and  turning  southward,  must  have  passed  through  this  town,  first 
along  the  Connecticut,  thence  diagonally  to  the  Ammonoosuc  at 
Lisbon.  In  his  journal  he  says:  "  I  rode  down  the  river  through 
Lancaster,  Dalton,  into  Littleton,  where  I  was  hailed  and  stopped 
by  Josiah  Newhall,  an  old  acquaintance  of  mine,  who  had  moved 
up  into  the  country.  1  consented  to  stay  all  night  with  him,  and 
was  thankful  to  find  a  house,  though  but  a  small  log-cabin,  where 


246  History  of  Littleton. 

I  could  lay  my  head  in  peace ;  myself  and  horse  were  weary.  It 
was  generally  loose  and  rich  land  near  the  river,  though  most  of 
the  settlements  were  new.  The  mountains  on  both  sides  of  the 
river,  and  the  rising  grounds  at  a  distance  made  a  beautiful 
appearance.  The  country  promises  to  be  very  fruitful,  and  I 
doubt  not  but  religion  will  flourish  in  this  country  before  long. 
Our  preachers  have  lately  formed  a  circuit  there,  called  Landaff." 
In  1801  the  circuit  returned  one  hundred  and  ninety-two  mem- 
bers. Mr.  Sabin  had  a  junior  preacher,  Mr.  Felch.  Josiah  New- 
hall  lived  on  the  C.  W.  Bedell1  place.  Douglas  Robins,  the 
great-grandfather  of  Rev.  J.  E.  and  W.  F.  Robins,  moved  to  this 
town  in  1798,  and  was  a  Methodist,  having  come  from  Chester- 
field, where  Methodism  had  been  established  several  years.  He 
was  intimately  associated  with  Josiah  Newhall,  and  these  two 
families  were  quite  possibly  the  earliest  Methodists  in  the  town. 
When  the  Landaff  circuit  was  formed,  Littleton  was  included  in 
its  bounds,  and  so  its  inhabitants  were  thus  early  brought  under 
Methodist  influences.  Some  of  its  tireless  itinerants  were  not  well 
received.  In  1801  John  Langdon,  of  Vershire,  Vt.,  accompanied 
by  Rosebrook  Crawford  and  the  renowned  Laban  Clark,  then  a 
mere  youth  and  recent  convert,  took  an  evangelistic  tour  through 
this  region.  At  a  certain  place  on  the  Landaff  circuit  Langdon 
preached  to  a  large  congregation  one  evening.  "  When  he  called 
on  me,"  writes  Clark,  "to  follow  with  an  exhortation,  many  were 
weeping,  and  we  could  not  close  the  meeting  till  near  midnight; 
numbers  appeared  to  be  truly  awakened  ;  some  cried  aloud  for 
mercy,  and  a  few  rejoiced  in  the  Lord.  The  next  day  we  set  off 
for  Lunenburg,  visited  several  families  on  our  way  in  Landaff, 
Lisbon,  and  Littleton."  Laban  Clark  was  in  the  itinerancy  half 
a  century,  became  one  of  the  most  prominent  among  the  great 
men  of  New  England,  and  was  indefatigable  in  the  cause  of  educa- 
tion, being  one  of  the  chief  founders  of  the  Wesleyan  University. 
While  on  this  trip  Rosebrook  Crawford  was  mobbed  in  Lancas- 
ter by  some  of  the  citizens,  being  drawn  on  his  back  across  the 
Connecticut  River  through  the  slush  over  the  ice  and  bidden  to 
go  his  way  in  Vermont.  For  1801-02  the  Landaff  circuit  returned 
one  hundred  and  sixty-four  members,  being  included  in  the  Ver- 
shire, Vt.,  District,  of  which  John  Brodhcad  was  Presiding  Elder. 
Two  preachers  travelled  this  circuit,  Phineas  Peck  and  Martin 
Ruter.  One  of  these  men  falling  sick,  Asa  Kent  was  sent  in  his 

1  On  what  is  now  a  part  of  the  Bedell  farm,  Imt  his  log-cabin  was  on  the  old  road 
which  passed  easterly  from  the  old  meeting-house  south  of  the  Bean  place  and 
around  the  hill  beyond  the  barn  on  that  farm.  It  was  just  over  this  bill  that  the 
Xewhall  cabin  stood.  I:  was  northeast  from  the  Be.in  place. 


Ecclesiastical  History.  247 

place,  helping  nine  months  of  the  year.  Mr.  Kent  relates  an  oc- 
currence which  shows  how  determined  the  people  of  Lancaster 
and  Littleton  were  to  keep  Methodism  out  of  these  regions. 
While  riding  from  the  former  to  the  latter  town,  Mr.  Kent  was 
overtaken  in  the  woods  by  a  sleigh  full  of  men  and  women,  who, 
recognizing  the  itinerant,  cried,  "  That 's  the  Methodist  minister  ; 
let's  run  him  down."  They  sent  their  horses  full  speed,  when 
Mr.  Kent  turned  his  horse  into  the  deep  snow,  letting  them  pass. 
After  refreshing  themselves  at  a  tavern  in  Littleton,  they  over- 
took the  preacher  again,  and,  as  before,  attempted  with  loud 
shouts  to  run  him  down.  He  remonstrated  with  them,  exhorting 
them  to  repentance  and  a  better  life,  when  most  of  them,  the 
ladies  especially,  appeared  to  be  ashamed,  and  they  left  him  with 
sharp  threats  if  he  ever  came  to  Lancaster  again.  But  he  did  go 
there  many  times  afterward  with  no  great  annoyance. 

Nearly  all  the  Upper  Connecticut  valley  was  included  in  the 
Landaff  circuit.  Ruter  and  Brodhead  were  to  gain  a  renown  as 
broad  as  Methodism,  —  the  one  as  a  successful  educator  and  by  his 
admirable  Church  History,  the  other  by  his  remarkable  activity 
and  success  in  building  up  the  kingdom  of  God  in  New  England. 
Wentworth  was  added  to  Landaff  in  1803,  and  the  report  was  two 
hundred  and  fifty  members  with  three  preachers,  T.  Branch,  P. 
Dustin,  and  S.  Langdon.  But  the  following  year  Landaff  appears 
in  the  minutes  alone,  with  Thomas  Skeels  and  William  Stevens  in 
charge.  New  Hampshire,  in  the  ten  years  after  John  Hill's  single 
circuit,  had  been  made  a  district  of  five  great  circuits,  with  John 
Brodhead  as  Presiding  Elder.  In  1805  Landaff  reported  three 
hundred  and  eighty-two  members,  with  Joel  Winch  the  preacher 
in  charge.  The  year  following  Asa  Kent  and  Isaac  Pease  were 
the  preachers.  This  year  the  records  show  a  falling  off  in  mem- 
bership of  nearly  a  hundred  on  the  Landaff  circuit ;  but  as  changes 
were  constantly  made  in  the  bounds  of  the  circuits,  new  ones  form- 
ing to  which  parts  of  the  Landaff  were  contributions,  the  loss  was 
doubtless  a  gain  somewhere.  In  1807  Joel  Burge  was  the  preacher 
in  charge,  and  the  returns  show  decided  gains.  By  act  of  the 
Legislature  the  Methodist  Church  in  the  State  was  recognized  as  a 
distinct  sect  or  persuasion  at  this  date.  This  almost  limitless 
circuit  began  to  be  more  and  more  restricted,  since  on  the  south 
Center  Harbor  and  Hanover  were  each  headquarters  of  a  circuit, 
while  on  the  north  Lunenbnrg  was  the  same.  In  1808  Zachariah 
Gibson  was  the  preacher,  with  a  report  at  the  end  of  the  preced- 
ing year  of  two  hundred  and  ninety-five  members.  The  next  year 
Joseph  Peck  was  sent  to  Landaff,  and  had  to  aid  him  the  follow- 


248  History  of  Littleton. 

ing  year  a  young  man  named  David  Crowell.  The  year  seems  to 
have  been  very  successful,  since  at  its  end  the  members  reported 
were  four  hundred  and  four,  with  large  gains  on  contiguous  cir- 
cuits. For  the  year  1811  John  W.  Hardy  was  in  charge,  with 
Joseph  Peck  as  coadjutor.  A  prosperous  year  ensued.  The  whole 
of  New  Hampshire  now  returned  over  two  thousand  members. 

In  1812  Robert  Hayes  and  James  Jaques  were  sent  to  Landaff 
circuit.  The  following  year  Thomas  Branch,  on  this  circuit  in 
1808,  passed  to  his  eternal  reward.  He  was  an  able,  tireless,  de- 
vout man,  worn  out  early,  as  most  of  those  itinerants  were,  by  ex- 
posure and  ceaseless  toils.  The  preachers  here  for  that  year  were 
Jacob  Sanborn  arid  Benjamin  Burnham.  Solomon  Sias,  subse- 
quently editor  of  the  "  Herald,"  formerly  on  this  circuit,  was  Pre- 
siding Elder  of  New  Hampshire  from  1811  to  1814  inclusive.  In 
1814  the  work  of  the  circuit  demanded  three  men,  and  the  follow- 
ing were  sent  here  :  I.  Emerson,  J.  Payne,  and  D.  Blauchard.  The 
years  of  the  wars  with  England  seem  to  have  been  unsuccessful  for 
the  church,  as  the  membership  shows  a  falling  off.  For  1815  two 
strong  men  were  sent  here,  Jacob  Sanborn  and  John  Lord.  One  for- 
merly on  this  circuit,  David  Kilbourn,  was  made  Presiding  Elder. 

In  March,  1816,  died  Bishop  Francis  Asbury,  a  man  standing 
in  relation  to  American  Methodism  much  as  John  Wesley  stood 
to  that  of  Great  Britain.  Asbury  never  was  in  northern  New 
Hampshire,  but  passed  through  its  central  regions.  He  was 
abundant  in  labors,  devout,  and  wise  in  administration.  For  half 
a  century,  when  travelling  was  mostly  done  on  horseback  or 
in  rude  carriages,  he  went  from  one  end  of  the  land  to  the  other, 
meeting  conferences,  preaching,  organizing  churches,  overseeing 
the  work,  ordaining  ministers,  and  doing  other  duties.  It  is 
thought  that  no  other  man  in  the  Christian  Church  ever  ordained 
so  many  men  to  the  ministry  as  he.  The  next  year  Jesse  Lee, 
to  whom  reference  has  been  made  as  passing  through  this  town 
from  Maine  and  stopping  with  his  friend  Xcwhall,  also  passed  to 
his  reward.  More  than  to  any  other  man,  was  New  England 
Methodism  indebted  to  him.  The  preachers  on  the  Landat'f  cir- 
cuit for  ixlij  \vere  Walter  Sleeper  and  He/ckiah  Davis.  After  the 
ending  of  the  war  and  its  immediate  results,  prosperity  again  re- 
turned to  the  chiircher,.  The  circuit  reported  four  hundred  and 
twenty-one  members.  Jacob  Sanborn  was  the  preacher  for  1817, 
and  for  IsiS  Lewis  Dates1  and  Samuel  Norris,  two  able,  successful 
men,  to  whom  \<nv  England  Methodism  was  much  indebted.  Mr. 

1  Lewis  Bares  was  the  grandfather  of  the  present  governor  of  Massachusetts, 
John  Lewis  Hates. 


Ecclesiastical  History.  249 

Bates  used  to  preach  in  the  house  of  Ebenezer  Cushman,  the  old 
Bowman  house.  Mr.  Cushman,  the  father  of  Hon.  Francis  Ashury 
Cushman,  late  of  Lebanon,  was  for  years  a  resident  here  and  a 
prominent  Methodist.  The  preaching  of  Mr.  Bates  was  so  loud 
that  an  aged  resident  of  this  town  says  he  dreaded  to  listen,  as 
it  made  his  head  ache. 

The  New  England  Annual  Conference,  of  which  this  State  was 
a  district,  had  held  up  to  this  time  four  of  its  sessions  in  New 
Hampshire,  —  at  Canaan  in  1806,  where  Bishop  Ashury  presided  ; 
at  Winchester  in  1810 ;  at  Unity  in  1815 ;  and  in  1817  at  Con- 
cord, now  Lisbon.  For  this  circuit  in  1819  Lewis  Bates  was'con- 
tinued,  with  Richard  Emery  as  helper.  They  seem  to  have  made 
a  good  proof  of  their  ministry,  as  they  reported  five  hundred  and 
twenty  members  and  all  through  the  State  there  was  decided 
increase.  Jacob  Sanborn,who  had  served  this  circuit  as  preacher 
in  charge,  was  travelling  this  country  again,  as  Presiding  Elder, 
during  the  years  1820-1822. 

It  was  largely  due  to  Methodism  that  the  obnoxious  laws 
by  which  a  town  could  regularly  assess  taxes  to  support  a  settled 
minister  were  repealed.  1  have  already  spoken  of  the  Methodists 
being  recognized  as  a  distinct  sect  or  persuasion  in  1807.  But  as 
the  majority  of  voters  in  almost  every  town  belonged  to  the 
"  Standing  Order,"  it  is  apparent  that  under  the  laws  they 
could,  if  they  wished,  assess  taxes  to  support  only  a  minister 
of  their  own  denomination,  and  while  the  Methodists  under 
the  State  Constitution  were  not  required  to  pay  such  taxes  after 
being  recognized  by  law  as  a  distinct  sect  or  persuasion,  they  and 
other  "  new  lights,"  such  as  the  Free-Will  Baptists,  Universal- 
ists,  Baptists,  and  others,  found  it  very  difficult  many  times  to 
evade  the  persistent  tax-collector.  The  town  officers,  the  local 
courts,  the  jurymen  likely  to  be  chosen,  the  lawyers,  judges,  and 
the  whole  machinery  of  government,  being  generally  in  the  hands 
of  Congregationalist  church-members  or  adherents,  there  was  a 
slim  chance  for  sectaries.  The  laws  against  all  outsiders  were 
rigorously  enforced.  Governor  Plumer,  feeling  deeply  the  indig- 
nities of  such  a  course,  freely  volunteered  to  defend  such  as  were 
prosecuted  in  any  way  under  the  rigorous  laws  and  traditions  of 
those  times.  Barstow,  in  his  History  of  New  Hampshire,  tells 
of  a  case  in  which  the  cow  of  a  poor  laborer  was  sold  at  vendue 
in  default  of  paying  church  taxes ;  nor  was  household  furniture, 
or  even  dishes,  exempted  from  the  stern  parish  collector.  Acts 
of  incorporation  would  be  refused  other  churches  than  the  one 
already  established  by  law.  It  is  probable  that  the  Methodists 


250  History  of  Littleton. 

of  this  town  were  never  compelled  to  pay  taxes  for  the  support 
of  the  "  Standing  Order  "  besides  paying  as  their  hearts  would 
impel  them  to  the  church  of  their  choice.  In  1816  Dan  Young, 
of  Lisbon,  a  local  Methodist  minister,  having  been  elected  to 
the  State  Senate,  brought  in  a  bill  repealing  the  old  obnoxious 
laws  by  which  a  town  could  vote  to  settle  a  minister  and  then 
pay  his  salary  by  taxes  ;  and  in  place  of  this  law  offered  a  bill 
"  by  which  all  persons  voluntarily  associating  themselves  to  build 
a  house  of  worship,  or  hire  a  minister  of  the  Gospel,  should 
be  held  to  the  fulfilment  of  their  contract,  but  no  person  should 
be  compelled  to  go  into  such  a  contract."  That  year  he  was 
able  to  secure  only  three  votes  besides  his  own  for  the  bill.  The 
next  year  the  bill  received  exactly  one-half  of  the  Senate.  The 
third  year  it  went  through  by  a  large  majority,  but  was  tied 
in  the  House.  In  1819,  having  been  sent  up  again  from  the 
Senate,  the  House  by  a  majority  vote  carried  it,  and  thus  the 
power  was  taken  from  the  towns  to  assess  taxes  on  all  to  sup- 
port the  ministry,  and  relegate  it  to  such  as  voluntarily  en- 
tered the  church  or  society.  Dr.  Whipplc,  of  AVentworth.  of 
the  House  had  much  to  do  in  framing  the  bill  and  in  its  final 
success,  so  it  is  known  in  some  authorities  as  the  Whipple 
Bill.  Men  of  the  old  ret/ime  deemed  it  a  repeal  of  the  Christian 
religion,  thinking  it  meant  also  an  abolition  of  the  Bible  and  that 
they  might  as  well  burn  that  book.  But  experience  erelong-  taught 
them  the  great  worth  of  the  separation  of  State  and  Church.  The 
matter  entered  largely  into  the  politics  of  the  day,  and  as  the 
"Standing  Order"  was  almost  unanimously  of  the  Federalist 
party,  the  dissenters  —  Methodists,  Baptists,  and  all  —  were  about 
as  unanimously  of  the  progressive,  radical  Democratic  party.1 

In  1820  Lancaster  first  became  a  circuit,  a  slice  from  the  wide- 
spreading  Landaff  circuit.  There  were  now  twelve  circuits  in  the 
New  Hampshire  District,  with  Unity  as  the  headquarters  of  a 
circuit  assigned  to  Vermont  District,  and  Conway  and  Exeter  to 
Maine  District.  At  the  end  of  1820  Landaff  reported  six  hundred 
and  thirty-three  members,  and  Lancaster  three  hundred,  showing 
the  rapid  progress  made  in  this  region.  The  next  year  J.  A. 
Scarritt  and  \Villiam  McCoy  were  sent  to  the  circuit,  reporting  at 
the  end  of  the  year  seven  hundred  and  twenty-live  members. 
They  were  followed  by  David  Culver,  Abraham  I).  Merrill,  and 
S.  Kelly.  In  IS  23  the  circuit  included  Orford,  with  these  preach- 

1  Barstow's  History  of  New  Hampshire,  pp.  442-447  ;  Life  of  Dan  Younp,  eh.  xii.  ; 
Life  of  I'! inner,  pp.  1«5  ,-/  ),ns.tha  ;  K.  I).  Sanborn's  History  of  New  Hampshire, 
p.  287;  and  History  of  the  Free-will  Baptists,  p.  oOl. 


Ecclesiastical  History.  251 

ers,  Dan  Young,  David  Culver,  and  Benjamin  Brown.  The  next 
year  Orford  was  made  a  circuit  by  itself,  and  to  this  circuit  were 
assigned  C.  Dustin  and  Daniel  L.  Fletcher. 

About  1817  William  Berkley  became  a  resident  of  this  town, 
having  moved  from  Lyman  to  Mann's  Hill,  upon  the  farm  now 
occupied  by  Solomon  Goodall.1  For  a  dozen  years  or  more,  while 
he  was  a  resident,  he  sustained  Methodist  meetings  in  his  neigh- 
borhood. At  the  time  for  holding  "four  days'  meetings"  he 
would  kill  a  steer,  so  that  all  could  have  enough  to  eat  and  a 
hearty  welcome.  His  attic  was  divided  by  curtains,  the  men  and 
women  occupying  opposite  sides  for  sleeping.  Those  special  ser- 
vices were  almost  like  our  present  camp-meetings.  In  the  "New 
Hampshire  Register  "  for  1822,  among  the  returns  of  churches,  the 
Methodists  are  reported  as  having  sixty-nine  members  in  Little- 
ton, with  William  Berkley  the  minister.  He  may  have  been 
assigned  by  the  conference  as  an  assistant  of  the  circuit  riders, 
but  probably  a  mistake  was  made  by  the  compiler  of  the  "  Reg- 
ister," in  not  understanding  our  polity  of  local  preachers,  which 
office  William  Berkley  held  and  successfully  filled,  while  all  the 
time  owning  and  conducting  a  large  farm.  He  was  an  ordained 
local  preacher,  since  those  alone  that  are  ordained  are  empowered 
by  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  to  solemnize  marriages  and 
baptize,  both  of  which  he  did.  He  assisted  the  regular  preachers 
in  other  places,  sometimes  being  absent  from  homo  several  weeks 
at  a  time.  In  his  speaking  he  sometimes  stuttered,  but  used  to 
declare  that  unless  he  was  backsliding  he  never  did  this.  His 
house  was  the  home  of  the  itinerants,  who  in  their  constant  pass- 
ing on  horseback  from  one  part  of  their  wide  circuits  to  another, 
lived  among  the  people.  The  sharp  denominational  jealousies  of 
those  times  were  carried  even  into  the  choice  of  companionship, 
as  was  experienced  by  the  young  people  of  Mr  Berkley's  house- 
hold. Associated  with  Father  Berkley  on  Mann's  Hill  were  Jasper 
and  Jason  Bidwell,  and  also  Shubael  Stearns. 

Following  1820  some  interesting  revivals  took  place  at  the 
Shute  neighborhood  and  on  Mann's  Hill.  It  is  probable  that  so 
many  Methodists  could  be  reported  in  the  "'Register"  of  1822 
because  of  those  revival  seasons.  Several  young  men  were  licensed 
as  exhorters  and  went  about  into  neighboring  towns  holding  meet- 
ings. Among  these  were  Otis  Albec,  Joseph  Robins,  Jr.,  Lindsey 
Wallace,  Edward  Kellogg,  his  brother,  Charles  Kellogg,  and  Free- 
man Palmer.  The  second  Kellogg  and  Lindsey  Wallace  became 
regular  preachers.  In  these  revivals  great  interest  was  shown, 

1  The  Kilburn  or  Goodall  farm. 


252  History  of  Littleton. 

the  services  on  Mann's  Hill  being  frequently  so  affecting  that 
persons  would  lose  their  strength  and  fall  prostrate.  Such  scenes 
did  not  attend  the  meetings  in  the  Shute  neighborhood.  In  this 
latter  region  David  Webster  and  Otis  Albee  were  prominent 
Methodists,  doing  much  to  sustain  meetings.  In  Joseph  Robins, 
Jr.,  till  his  brief  life  was  cut  short,  they  found  an  able  helper. 
He  went  to  Maine,  and  in  1829  entered  that  conference  on  trial, 
preaching  one  year  at  Atkinson,  but  seems  to  have  gone  no 
farther  in  that  relation,  owing  to  his  ill  health.  Returning  to 
Littleton,  he  soon  died.  Mr.  Fletcher,  father  of  Arad  Fletcher  of 
North  Littleton,  was  also  an  active  Methodist.  The  Methodists 
had  a  certain  right  with  other  denominations  to  the  use  of  the 
old  meeting-house  at  the  centre  of  the  town,  but  the  itinerants 
used  it  sparingly,  if  at  all,  doubtless  preferring  private  houses 
among  the  Methodist  people. 

The  reports  for  the  State  in  1825  show  nineteen  circuits  and 
thirty-two  hundred  and  eighty-nine  members.  Benjamin  R.  Iloyt 
was  made  Presiding  Elder  of  this  region  and  continued  four 
years.  This  year  Maine  was  set  off  as  a  conference  by  itself,  thus 
making  two  conferences  in  New  England.  From  the  early  years 
of  the  circuit,  Landaff  reported  the  largest  returns  of  any  charge 
in  the  State.  In  1826  this  circuit,  owing  to  its  contiguity,  was 
put  into  the  Danville,  Vt.,  District,  and  Haskell  Wheelock  was  in 
charge.  This  year  Duncan  Young,  who  was  stationed  on  this 
circuit  in  1823,  died  at  his  former  home  in  Lisbon.  He  was  de- 
vout, studious,  and  an  able  pulpit  orator.  His  last  station  was 
Cambridge,  Mass.  The  preachers  in  1827  were  Isaac  Barker  and 
John  J.  Bliss.  In  1828  Charles  Cowen  was  admitted  to  the  con- 
ference on  trial,  and  sent  to  Columbia.  Landaff  reported  six 
hundred  and  thirty  members,  the  preachers  being  L.  Frost  and 
Isaac  Barker.  This  year  Bethlehem  was  set  off  from  Landaff  into 
a  circuit  with  Joseph  Barker  in  charge,  and  it  is  probable,  from 
that  time  till  Littleton  was  made  a  separate  station  in  1850,  the 
statistical  history  of  Methodism  here  was  reported  in  connection 
with  Bethlehem.  In  1829  the  preachers  at  Bethlehem  were  Moses 
(1.  Cass  and  Abel  Heath,  with  a  report  of  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
six  members.  Mr.  Cass  is  remembered  to  have  preached  in  a 
school-house  which  stood  at  the  southwest  corner  of  Pleasant  and 
Cross  Streets  in  Littleton.  N.  W.  Aspcnwall  and  Salmon  Clcason 
were  at  Landai'f.  This  year  New  Hampshire  and  Vermont  were  set 
off  from  the  New  England  Conference  and  made  into  a  separate 
conference.  The  Plymouth  District  —  the  second  in  the  State- — 
was  organized  with  the  circuits  of  this  part  of  the  State  included  in 


Ecclesiastical  History.  253 

it.  The  next  year  the  preachers  at  Bethlehem  were  Charles 
Cowen  and  Harry  W.  Latham  ;  at  Landaff,  N.  W.  Aspen  wall  and 
Otis  Dunbar.  All  the  circuits  in  northern  New  Hampshire  were 
growing  rapidly,  while  the  whole  State  returned  over  six  thousand 
members.  Occasionally  in  these  years  Ozias  Savage  from  Lisbon 
preached  for  the  Methodists  in  the  old  church  at  the  centre  of  the 
town  and  in  the  Congregational  Church  in  the  village.  Jn  1831 
the  preacher  at  Bethlehem  was  Jonathan  Hazelton,  and  those  for 
Landuff  Charles  Cowen  and  C.  Kendrick.  In  1832  this  conference 
decided  on  a  shorter  name  than  the  one  covering  two  States,  and 
was  thenceforward  known  as  the  New  Hampshire  Conference, 
though  for  many  years  to  include  Vermont.  At  Bethlehem,  Hoi- 
man  Drew  and  Clinton  W.  Lord  were  the  preachers,  who  reported 
the  membership  at  two  hundred  and  fourteen.  They  frequently 
preached  at  Mann's  Hill.  At  one  of  these  times,  when  one  of  the 
itinerants  was  to  preach  in  the  school-house  in  that  district,  the 
school  committee  locked  the  doors  of  the  house,  refusing  to  let 
them  enter  for  that  purpose.  But  the  wife  of  Father  Berkley 
would  not  submit  to  that,  and  found  a  way  to  open  the  house, 
and  they  had  their  meeting.  A  justice  of  the  peace  was  appealed 
to  by  the  school  committee  to  issue  papers  to  punish  the  recusant 
lady  for  the  illegal  act.  The  justice  refused,  saying  that  Father 
Berkley  paid  more  taxes  to  support  the  school-house  and  school 
than  any  person  on  Mann's  Hill,  and  told  the  complainant  he 
would  better  go  home  and  the  next  time  attend  the  meeting 
himself.  The  increase  in  the  conference  was  very  rapid  ;  thus 
in  1831  the  net  gain  was  804;  in  1832  it  was  2,011;  the  next 
year  1,133. 

The  preachers  for  1833  were  Hoi  man  Drew  and  J.  Dow.  The 
missionary  collection  reported  for  this  circuit  was  fifty  cents ;  for 
the  whole  conference,  8950.12.  On  the  Landaff  circuit  S.  P. 
"Williams  and  two  others  were  stationed.  The  Bethlehem  circuit 
reported  three  schools,  sixteen  teachers,  sixty  scholars,  and  thirty 
library  books.  A  committee  appointed  by  the  conference  reported 
this  year  in  favor  of  a  Conference  Academy,  to  be  located  at  New- 
bury,  Vt.  The  people  of  that  town  agreed  to  pay  half  the  sum 
($6,000)  needed  for  the  buildings.  This  school  yielded  its  benefits 
for  many  years  to  the  people  of  northern  New  Hampshire  and 
other  sections  of  the  country. 

In  1833  a  young  Englishman  in  almost  destitute  circumstances 
came  down  afoot  from  Canada,  and  after  Irving  some  months  in 
the  family  of  Colonel  Briggs,  a  Baptist,  he  taught  school  in  the 
Shute  neighborhood  and  later  in  the  Briiru's  neighborhood.  He 


254  History  of  Littleton. 

was  devout,  earnest,  and  ready  for  work  as  the  Master  opened 
ways  for  it.  Attending  a  meeting  at  a  private  house  in  the  Pea- 
body  neighborhood  where  Father  Berkley  preached,  the  latter 
called  on  the  young  Englishman  to  offer  prayer.  He  was  so 
earnest  and  eloquent  in  that  prayer  that  the  people  said  he 
prayed  like  a  minister  and  must  preach,  and  so  he  did.  That  was 
the  introduction  of  Daniel  Wise  to  the  ministry.  From  that  day 
to  the  end  of  his  life  he  was  an  important  factor  in  Methodism, 
and  continued  to  advance  until  by  his  writings  he  was  known  the 
world  over.  He  was  in  Littleton  and  contiguous  towns,  teaching 
and  preaching,  for  two  or  three  years.  In  company  with  Charles 
H.  Lovejoy  he  held  meetings  in  school-houses  in  the  west  part  of 
the  town,  where  many  were  converted.  Some  of  the  time  he 
preached  regularly  on  a  local  circuit,  including  Lyman  Centre. 
In  1834  he  preached  one-third  of  the  time  in  the  village  church 
at  Bath.  In  1835  he  improvised  a  circuit  extending  into  Swift- 
water,  Lisbon,  Landaff,  and  Franconia,  co-operating  by  this  means 
with  the  regular  circuit  preachers.  Dr.  Wise  recalls  with  grati- 
tude those  years  in  these  regions,  the  kindness  and  devotion  of  the 
people  ;  the  homes  open  to  him  everywhere  ;  the  "  four  days'  meet- 
ings "  which  were  times  of  power  and  salvation  ;  the  devoted 
labors  of  Father  Berkley  and  others.  From  here  he  passed  into 
the  greater  currents  of  Methodist  life,  to  find  ways  wide  enough 
for  his  great  genius  and  deep  consecration.  The  next  year  (1834) 
F.  F.  Dailey  was  stationed  at  Bethlehem,  and  was  continued  the 
second  year.  In  1836  Holman  Drew  was  the  preacher  again,  and 
next  after  him  J.  H.  Stevens,  and  for  1838  D.  Wilcox  and  an 
assistant.  Opposite  the  present  site  of  Ira  Parker's  residence  on 
Main  Street,  was  for  some  time  an  unfinished  house  in  which  the 
Methodists  held  meetings.  Afterwards  it  was  removed  to  the  site 
of  the  Bellows  store.  Previous  to  1840  Ezekiel  Kellogg,  a  brother 
of  Charles  Kellogg,  and  Levi  Hildreth,  who  died  in  1833,  were 
exhorters  in  this  town. 

In  1838  John  Brodhead  passed  to  his  reward.  He  began  preach- 
ing in  Pennsylvania,  but  was  sent  to  New  England  in  1796,  and 
remained  here  till  his  death.  In  1804-1807  he  was  on  this  dis- 
trict as  Presiding  Elder,  and  from  1813  made  Newmarket,  N.  H., 
his  home.  lie  preached  several  years  in  stations  contiguous  to 
his  home,  was  four  years  in  Congress,  several  times  in  the  State 
Senate,  and  a  man  respected  by  all  the  people.  His  ministerial 
life  covered  forty-four  years,  many  of  the  earlier  being  passed  in  a 
region  where  he  had  to  travel  extended  circuits,  often  swimming 
large  streams  on  horseback  and  preaching  in  his  saturated  cloth- 


Ecclesiastical  History.  255 

ing.    These  exposures  laid  the  seeds  of  disease  that  finally  brought 
him  to  his  death. 

A  glimpse  at  the  financial  report  made  by  the  Bethlehem  cir- 
cuit in  1838  would  convey  an  idea  of  the  way  things  were  done. 
The  salary,  which  was  not  paid  in  full,  was  arranged  as  follows  : 
Travelling  expenses,  $18  ;  house-rent,  $12  ;  quarterage  (salary), 
8200 ;  fuel,  $6,  making  a  total  for  the  minister  and  his  assistant 
of  $236.  A  mission,  called  the  Androscoggin,  was  joined  to  the 
Landaff  circuit.  In  1839  Lisbon  was  organized  as  a  distinct 
charge,  with  J.  Smith  the  preacher.  For  Bethlehem  E.  Pettengill 
was  the  preacher. 

From  1839  onward,  the  tables1  will  show  the  reports  from  this 
circuit  and  the  names  of  the  preachers  stationed  on  it.  Let  it  be 
borne  in  mind  that  the  statistics  reported  any  year  are  not  the 
ones  given  by  the  preacher,  whose  name  is  put  down  for  the  ap- 
pointment for  that  year.  Thus  the  report  for  1839  is  made,  not  by 
Mr.  Pettengill,  appointed  that  year,  but  by  Mr.  Wilcox,  who  was 
the  preacher  the  year  before  and  who  brought  his  report  to  the 
conference  of  1839. 

This  year  was  the  centenary  of  the  existence  of  Methodism. 
The  conference  took  due  notice  of  this  event,  voting  to  raise 
$20,000  as  a  thank  offering.  An  earnest  appeal  also  was  made 
to  the  stewards  of  the  various  circuits  and  stations  to  begin  the 
second  century  of  Methodism  by  meeting  the  full  apportionment 
of  the  preacher's  salary.  During  those  years  the  missionary  spirit 
largely  increased,  the  principal  financial  report,  after  the  preach- 
ers' salary,  being  for  missions.  Resolutions,  which  did  not  end 
with  the  conference  session,  were  passed  by  that  body,  and  were 
followed  with  zeal  in  the  cause  of  missions.  Women  impelled  Ity 
a  sense  of  duty  gave  their  jewelry  ;  others  did  sewing,  —  one,  over 
eighty  years  of  age,  making  thirteen  shirts,  valued  at  $6.60,  for 
missions.  On  this  circuit  in  1840  the  collections  taken  were  for 
the  Bible  Society  Missions  and  the  Tract  Society. 

In  1843-1844  J.  S.  Loveland,  who  preached  at  Bethlehem,  White- 
field,  and  Littleton,  lived  in  this  town  part  of  the  time,  occupying 
the  Hinds  house  at  the  south  side  of  the  bridge  at  one  time,  and 
then  the  house  on  the  west  side  of  Pleasant  Street,  just  above  the 
present  church.  It  is  reported  that  no  stated  preaching  by  the 
Methodists  took  place  in  this  to\vn  until  1843,  but  long  before  this, 
two  classes  were  organized,  —  one  on  Mann's  Hill,  the  other  in  the 
Shute  neighborhood.  Probably  one  was  also  formed  in  the  Carter 
neighborhood.  In  connection  with  these  nuclei  services  were  held 
1  See  table  covering  Methodist  Church. 


256  History  of  Littleton. 

by  the  itinerants  and  their  various  local  assistants.  In  North 
Littleton  the  Rev.  S.  P.  Williams,  who  married  Miss  Persis  Par- 
tridge, of  Littleton,  and  who  was  at  one  time  Presiding  Elder, 
lived  for  some  years  and  sustained  preaching  near  his  home. 
During  this  time  he  was  Bible  Agent  for  New  Hampshire.  In 
1850  he  was  transferred  to  the  Troy  Conference  and  died  in  1874 
at  Marengo,  111.  In  1846  Rev.  Holman  Drew,  who  was  connected 
with  this  town  as  the  preacher  at  Bethlehem,  died  at  Landaff,  and 
as  he  had  longed  to  do,  passed  away  in  his  pulpit.  He  had  settled 
in  that  town  after  many  years  of  hard  work  on  the  circuit  of  this 
part  of  the  State.  He  was  a  very  successful  preacher,  with  a 
peculiar  gift  for  pastoral  visiting,  building  up  churches  and  winning 
souls  to  Christ. 

In  the  region  between  Lower  Waterford  Bridge  and  Monroe 
along  the  Connecticut  River  valley,  was  a  district  called  the  Car- 
ter neighborhood,  which  became  a  stronghold  of  Methodism.  As 
far  back  as  1820,  and  probably  before,  services  were  held  in  that 
region,  generally  in  the  school-house.  Three  brothers,  Daniel, 
Eliphalet,  and  Thomas  Carter,  and  their  sister,  Mrs.  II use,  with 
their  families  were  all  Methodists.  Many  of  their  descendants 
followed  in  the  faith  of  their  ancestors.  Among  these  were  Mrs. 
Amasa  Knapp  and  Mrs.  Dewey,  daughters  of  Thomas  Carter. 
The  son  of  Thomas  Carter,  Jr.,  died  while  studying  for  the 
ministry  at  the  Concord  Biblical  Institution.  His  wife  was  sister 
of  Judge  Ross  of  St.  Johnsbury,  Vt.  Later  she  married  another 
minister  by  the  name  of  Arthur,  whose  ministry  has  been  in  the 
West.  Another  brother,  Enoch,  moved  to  Peacham,  Yt,  when 
his  son  Truman  was  a  child  of  five.  This  son  became  a  Methodist 
minister,  and  in  1865-1866  was  the  stationed  preacher  at  Littleton. 
A  brother  of  Truman  also  became  a  preacher,  as  did  also  a  son  of 
Amasa  Knapp,  Rev.  William  C.  Knapp,  born  in  that  neighbor- 
hood, whose  ministry  has  been  in  Illinois.  Mrs.  Briggs,  with  whom 
Daniel  Wise  found  a  home,  was  of  the  same  family,  a  sister  of 
Daniel  Carter  and  the  others.  Her  husband  was  a  Baptist,  but 
she  was  a  Methodist. 

There  was  also  another  brother  of  the  original  Carter  family 
in  this  town  named  Moses,  whose  descendants  became  Methodists. 
His  son  Ebenezer,  who  lived  near  Partridge  Pond  in  the  Shute 
neighborhood,  was  always  a  Methodist,  he  and  his  family  helping 
vigorously  to  sustain  the  interests  of  the  work  in  that  locality. 
His  son  Ellery  II.  Carter  is  now  of  this  town.  Another  son, 
Alba  B.,  became  a  preacher,  of  whom  mention  will  later  be  made. 
Still  another  son  of  Moses  Carter,  Nathan,  lived  in  the  same  re- 


RKV.  1 1 1  (,n   Mi  >\  K,<  >.MKin 


Ecclesiastical  History.  257 

gion  as  Ebcnezer,  and  with  his  family  did  much  for  the  church 
of  their  choice.  Services  were  held  in  the  school-house  just  beyond 
the  corner,  near  the  Hastings  farm.  The  services  were  greatly 
indebted  to  Michael  Shute,  whose  name  was  attached  to  the  dis- 
trict, and  he  was  probably  the  "  class-leader  "  —  "a  whole-souled 
Christian,"  says  one  who  knew  him.  Charles  Cowen,  Mark 
Streeter,  Father  Berkley,  and  others  used  to  preach  there.  By 
about  1860  so  many  Methodist  families  had  moved  away  from 
these  two  neighborhoods  that  meetings  were  seldom  held.  Many 
of  the  older  people  had  been  gathered  home  to  rest. 

The  conference  which  had  included  both  New  Hampshire  and 
Vermont  was  divided  in  1844,  each  State  thenceforward  consti- 
tuting a  separate  conference.  In  1845  the  Seminary,  now  located 
at  Tilton,  was  organized  at  Northfield,  across  the  river  from  Til- 
ton,  and  from  that  time  this  region  was  greatly  indebted  to  that 
school  for  its  excellent  educational  advantages.  A  committee  had 
been  appointed  the  year  before  at  the  conference  session  at  Ports- 
mouth to  seek  a  location  for  their  seminary.  Northfield  offered 
to  erect  buildings  to  secure  it  there  ;  that  proposition  was  ac- 
cepted and  the  buildings  at  once  erected,  so  that  in  the  year  1845 
it  opened  with  one  hundred  and  thirty  students.  In  1852  the 
charter  was  enlarged  to  include  a  female  college.  The  school 
prospered  greatly  under  its  successive  presidents.  In  November, 
1862,  the  buildings  were  burnt,  and  the  more  commodious  brick 
ones  on  the  north  side  of  the  river  were  at  once  put  up.  These 
were  at  length  outgrown,  and  in  1887  Seminary  Hill  was  cro\vned 
with  the  magnificent  building  which  now  offers  its  advantages  to 
the  Methodists  of  New  Hampshire. 

The  conference  session  of  1846  passed  pronounced  but  well- 
considered  resolutions  on  slavery,  repudiating  the  abolitionism  of 
the  "  Garrison  Party,"  but  reiterating  the  words  of  the  Discipline 
that  slavery  was  "  a  great  evil  and  ought  to  be  abolished." 

In  1848  Littleton  first  appears  among  the  appointments  by 
name,  with  C.  Cowen  as  a  supply.  Preaching  services  were  held  in 
Brackett's  Hall.  The  next  year  Littleton  was  joined  with  White- 
field,  but  the  succeeding  year,  1850,  it  was  named  as  a  mission 
with  Bethlehem,  in  charge  of  Sullivan  Holman  as  pastor,  when  its 
separate  history  as  a  station  begins.  The  following  was  the  finan- 
cial allowance,  which  he  had  to  report  $50  short  at  the  end  of  the 
year  :  Travelling  expenses,  $25  ;  house-rent,  $60  ; 1  quarterage, 

1  This  was  the  amount  paid  as  rental  for  the  Paddleford,  or  Dr.  Tattle  place, 
which  then  included  a  large  tract  of  land  now  occupied  by  buildings  on  Main  and 
Meadow  Streets. 

VOL.  II. —  17 


258  History  of  Littleton. 

$224  ;  fuel,  $16  ;  table  expenses,  850  — total,  $375.  He  reported 
one  hundred  members  and  forty-one  probationers  for  the  two 
places,  with  two  Sunday-schools,  twenty-six  teachers,  and  two 
hundred  and  thirty  scholars.  Mr.  Holman  was  here  two  years, 
during  which  time  the  church  was  erected.  It  was  located  on 

D 

the  northeast  corner  of  Main  Street  and  the  Mann's  Hill  road, 
now  known  as  Pleasant  Street.  The  land  was  sold  in  1850  by 
John  Gilo  to  Levi  P.  Ranlet,  the  deed  bearing  date  of  March  28, 

1850.  The  deed  by  which  Mr.  Ranlet  transferred  it  to  the  First 
Methodist  Episcopal  Society  of  Littleton  bears  date  of  August  12, 

1851.  The  price  paid    by  Mr.  Ranlet  was  §500.      The  lot   was 
about  one  hundred  and  thirty  feet  on  the  Mann's  Hill   road,  fifty 
feet  on  the  north  end,  and  about  eighty  feet  long  on  the  eastern 
side.     The  spot  had  long  been  known  as  the  Curtis  or  Red  Store 
lot.     A  subscription  paper  was  circulated,  dated  May  20,  1850, 
pledging  each  subscriber  to  take  one  or  more  pews  at  a  cost  to 
cover  the  expense  of  building  the  new  church.     Mr.  Ranlet  put 
up  the  house  at  his  own  expense,  and  was  reimbursed  by  the  price 
of  the    pews  sold.     In  this   way   nearly  sixty  pews  were    taken, 
many  of  them  by  persons  still  living  or  whose  descendants  are 
now  in  Littleton.     The  cost  of  the  structure,  after  deducting  some 
bills  allowed  by  Mr.  Ranlet,  was  $4,658.82.    The  trustees  to  whom 
he  submitted  his  accounts,  and  who  reported  them  as  being  most 
satisfactory,  were  George  B.  Redington,  E.   S.   Woolson,  Daniel 
Wilcomb,  and  Charles  Kellogg.     The  old  bills,  subscription  pa- 
pers, plan  of  the  audience  room  and  pews,  etc.,  soiled  and  worn, 
still  remain,  treasured,  eloquent  mementos  of  a  series  of  labors 
which  will  not  be  forgotten.     Mr.  Ranlet's  proposition  follows : 


Original  Proposition  to  build  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
at  Littleton,  N.  II. ,  dated  1850.1 

Levi  F.  Ranlet  proposes  to  build  a  meeting-house  in  the  village  of 
Littleton,  the  spot  to  be  designated  by  the  majority  of  the  subscribers 
for  pews  at  a  meeting  called  for  that  purpose,  the  house  to  be  built 
according  to  the  plan  annexed  and  fully  completed  in  as  substantial 
manner  as  ma}'  be,  using  all  reasonable  despatch. 

When  completed,  the  house  is  to  be  occupied  as  a  place  of  public 

1  It  lias  been  claimed  that  this  church  was  built  with  a  condition  attached  simi- 
lar to  those  embodied  in  the  agreement  for  the  erection  of  the  first  meeting-house 
and  the  Congregational  Church,  to  the  effect  that  it  should  be  open  to  the  use  of  all 
denominations  according  to  the  amount  of  their  pew-holdings.  Such  was  not  the 
fact.  It  was  built  for  the  use  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  Society  only. 


Ecclesiastical  History. 


259 


worship  by  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Society  in  said  village,  and  the 
interest  acquired  by  the  said  Ranlet  in  the  land  whereon  it  stands  is  to 
be  conveyed  to  said  society  if  organized  or  otherwise  to  trustees 
appointed  by  a  majorit}-  of  the  pew-holders,  to  hold  said  land  for  the 
benefit  of  said  societ}*. 

Upon  the  completion  of  the  house,  the  price  of  the  pews  is  to  be  fixed 
by  said  Ranlet  at  a  sum  not  exceeding  in  the  aggregate  the  actual  cost  of 
the  house  and  ground,  conducted  in  a  reasonable  and  prudent  manner, 
graduating  the  price  of  each  pew  according  to  its  character  and  position. 

And  therefore  public  notice  shall  be  given  that  the  choice  of  such 
pews  at  the  price  fixed  as  aforesaid  among  the  subscribers  for  the  pews 
will  be  sold  at  public  auction  at  said  house  at  a  time  named  in  the 
notice,  and  such  right  of  choice  shall  then  be  sold  and  upon  the  pur- 
chasers designating  the  pews  by  them  selected  respectively  in  the 
manner  aforesaid  and  paying  therefor  the  price  fixed  together  with  the 
sum  bid  for  choice,  he  or  she  shall  be  entitled  to  a  valid  conveyance 
thereof  to  be  made  and  delivered  at  the  time  of  said  payment. 

With  the  further  provision  that  in  case  the  sums  realized  from  the 
sale  of  the  pews  together  with  the  prices  bid  for  choice,  shall  exceed 
the  actual  cost  of  the  house  and  ground,  then  the  surplus  shall  be  ex- 
pended in  furnishing  the  house  with  stoves  and  other  necessary  articles 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  house. 

To  induce  the  said  Ranlet  to  erect  the  said  house,  we  the  subscribers 
hereby  engage  and  bind  ourselves  to  take  and  pa3T  for  the  number  of 
pews  therein  set  opposite  our  names,  respectively,  the  pews  to  be 
selected  and  the  prices  fixed  in  the  manner  above  described.1 


Feb'y  20,  1850. 

Subscribers' 

No.  of  Pews  Sub- 

Names. 

scribed 

for. 

H.  A.  Bellows 

One 

Levi  F.  Ranlet 

One 

E.  S.  Woolson 

One 

F.  W.  Gile 

Two 

John  Lindsay 
Otis  Batchelder 

One 

One 

Simeon  S.  Bidwell 

One 

William  Durgiu 
John  L.  Lougee 
Arthur  L.  Russell 

One 
One 
One 

Subscribers' 
Names. 

Abijah  Allen 
II.  W.  Merrill 
D.  P.  Sanborn 
J.  Bellows 
James  Richardson 
Wm.  M.  Morrison 
Amos  Wallace 
James  H.  Angier 
J.  W.  Hale 
Oliver  F.  Nurse 


No.  of  Pews  Sub- 
scribed for. 

One 
One 
One 
One 
One 
One 
One 
One 
One 
One 


1  Tlie  house  contained  sixty-two  pews.  Mr.  Kanlet's  plan  contemplated  that  all 
should  be  pledged  before  work  on  the  building  was  begun.  The  last  pew  remained 
on  his  hands  when  Frye  \V.  Gile  came  to  the  rescue  by  making  his  subscription  two. 
Not  all  subscribers  fulfilled  their  pledges.  John  Gile  died  and  John  Bowman  took 
over  his  right.  J.  W.  Hale  gave  his  to  Gen.  E.  ().  Kenney,  John  Lindsay  disposed 
of  his,  the  Lougees  had  left  town.  When  the  pews  were  auctioned  off,  the  Reding- 
tons,  who  had  furnished  some  of  the  lumber,  took  two  additional  pews  in  part  pay- 
ment, and  Levi  F.  Ranlet  found  five  and  half  of  another  on  his  hands. 


260 


History  of  Littleton. 


Wm.  Burns  One 
(to  be  paid  for  in  timber  on  my 
lots  called  Bonney  &  Oilman 
Places) 

Henry  L.  Thayer  One 

Ellery  D.  Dunn  One 

James  Dow  One 

Alonzo  Weeks  One 

Ebenezer  Stevens  One 

Abram  Mills  One 

Daniel  Bean  One 

C.  M.  Tuttle  One 

C.  H.  Lovejoy  One 

Albert  Lovejoy  One 

J.  J.  Lovejoy  One 

John  Gile  One 

H.  C.  Redington  &  Co.  One 

Amos  8.  Sanborn  One 

L.  T.  Dow  One 

Wesley  Alexander  One 

Lewis  Graham  One 

Elisha  Burnham  One 

Calvin  J.  Wallace  One 


George  Abbott  One 

Elanson  Fan*  One 

A.  B.  Miner  One 

A.  &  J.  M.  Quimby  One 

Oliver  Nura  One 

Jonathan  Nurs  One 

Levi  Wheeler  One 

L.  Parker  &  Hill  One 

Charles  Kellogg  One 

Noah  W.  Raiilet  One 

Moses  K.  Wilcomb  One 

James  Gordon  One 

A.  S.  Annis  One 

John  L.  Martin  One 

E.  D.  Lougee  One 

Douglas  Robins  One 

Stilman  Batchellor  One 

Ilollis  M.  Pearson  One 

Samuel  T.  Morse  One 

P.  Henry  Paddleford  One 
Alexander    Mclntyre   (By    L.    F. 

Runlet)  One 


May  1850.  AVe  consent  that  the  place  of  the  meeting-house  may  be 
so  far  varied  as  to  conform  to  the  plan  drawn  by  Mr.  Boy  den  and  here- 
with exhibited. 


II.  A.  BELLOWS 
II.  L.  THAVKK 
ALONXO   WEEKS 
EUENE/ER  BURNS 


L.  T.  Dow 
JAMES  II.  ANCJIER 
OTIS  BATCH  ELDER 
JOHN  LINDSAY 


H.  C.  REDINIJTON  &  Co. 


The  lumber  for  the  new  church  was  sawed  at  the  mill  of  P.  If. 
Paddleford  at  South  Littleton,  Nathan  Applcbce,  Jr.,  doing  the 
•\vork.  Alexander  Me  I  nt  ire  went  to  the  woods  April  1"),  1850,  and 
drew  the  timbers  for  the  rafters  to  the  mill  through  a  foot  or 
more  of  new  fallen  snow.  Alon/o  Weeks,  not  only  in  building 
the  church,  but  for  years  afterwards,  did  much  to  carry  on  the 
new  enterprise. 

The  church  was  dedicated  January  8,  1851,  the  Rev.  Joseph  E. 
King,  then  Principal  of  Newbury  Seminary,  now  and  for  many 
years  President  of  Fort  Edwards.  N.  Y.,  Institute,  preaching  the 
sermon.  It  was  a  great  day  for  the  few  Methodists  of  this  town, 
and  a  signal  triumph  of  devoted  laborers.  The  aisle  floors  were 


MKTIIODIST    Cm  K<  11. 


Ecclesiastical  History.  261 

carpeted  with  hemp ;  a  fine  bell  was  provided,1  together  with  a 
good  clock  and  a  wood  furnace.  To  cushion  the  seats,  Mrs.  Holman 
did  the  sewing,  while  Mr.  Holman  cut  a  fine  soft  growth  of  rowen 
on  Mr.  Bowman's  meadow,  cured  it  in  the  sun,  and  he  and  Mrs. 
Holman  made  the  cushions  from  this  material.  For  his  activity 
in  temperance  matters,  he  incurred  the  enmity  of  some  people  who 
threatened  him  in  various  ways,  but  Mr.  Holman  did  not  change 
his  course  and  dared  them  to  carry  out  their  threats.  They  never 
accepted  the  challenge.  In  1853  the  trustees  deeded  the  pew- 
holders  the  land  on  which  the  church  was  situated,  which  had  been 
conveyed  to  them  as  representatives  of  the  society  by  Levi  Ranlet 
in  1851.  Soon  after  the  church  was  built,  a  row  of  horse-sheds 
was  erected  where  the  vestry  now  stands.  When  this  addition  was 
made,  the  leases  where  the  sheds  had  stood  were  raised.2 

After  the  dedication  Mr.  Holman's  heavy  labors  were  rewarded. 
Levi  P.  Ranlet  was  made  recording  steward,  with  George  Abbott 
and  Moses  K.  Wilcomb  stewards  for  Littleton.  During  his  second 
year  Mr.  Holman  served  as  superintendent  of  schools.  From  the 
infant  class  in  the  Sunday-school  at  that  time  were  three  who 
afterwards  went  out  as  preachers,  —  Joseph  E.  Robins,  Charles 
W.  Milieu,  and  Warren  Applebee.  A  missionary  appropriation 
for  Mr.  Holman's  first  year  was  made  of  $150  ;  for  the  second, 
$100.  The  people  generously  gave  him  a  donation  of  -$200  the 
first  year,  and  of  $100  the  second  year.  The  Sunday-school 

1  It  was  the  first  church  bell  in  town,  and  after  more  than  half  a  century  continues 
with  its  sweet  tones  to  call  people  to  worship. 

•  The  church,  as  originally  designed  and  huilt,  was  a  somewhat  close  imitation  of 
one  at  Worcester,  Mass.,  and  was  regarded  as  architecturally  one  of  the  finest 
buildings  in  the  State.  In  front  leading  to  the  entrance  was  a  wide  sweep  of  steps, 
buttressed  on  either  hand  by  timbered  walls  surmounted  by  platforms  that  extended 
in  front  and  around  either  side,  breaking  the  effect  of  the  sloping  ground  and  giving 
the  appearance  of  an  extended  and  solid  base  to  the  structure.  At  the  top  of  the 
steps,  within  a  shallow  but  high  recess  or  alcove,  were  two  entrances.  Supporting 
the  entablature  of  the  alcove  were  two  fluted  Doric  columns.  As  seen  from  any 
point  on  the  street  the  church  was  a  most  attractive  structure.  All  this  has  been 
changed  by  so-called  modern  improvements.  The  building  came  into  the  control  of 
utilitarians,  and  the  beauty  of  the  scheme  of  the  architect  gave  way  to  the  needs  of  a 
growing  congregation  who  converted  what  was  designed  for  a  church  into  the 
double  purpose  of  a  church  and  chapel.  In  accomplishing  these  purposes  all  the 
beauty  of  the  structure  was  lost  excepting  that  of  the  fine  belfry  and  spire,  which 
at  their  best  must  be  seen  by  excluding  from  view  the  main  structure. 

The  interior,  unlike  the  exterior,  has  been  improved  in  two  respects.  The  original 
desk  was  an  ornate  and  heavy  structure,  grained  in  imitation  of  dark  mahogany;  this 
was  so  displeasing  to  the  eye  that  an  attempt  to  cure  the  defect  was  in  a  measure 
successful,  by  changing  its  color  to  a  light  cherry.  I5ut  the  desk  was  not  in  harmony 
with  the  interior  and  was  removed  in  two  or  three  years.  The  other  improvement 
was  the  removal  of  the  old-fashioned  singers'  gallery  from  the  south  end  and  placing 
the  choir  behind  the  preacher's  desk. 


262  History  of  Littleton. 

collections  taken  monthly  were  as  follows :  June,  1851,  83  cents  ; 
July,  68  ;  September,  55 ;  October,  49 ;  November,  60 ;  Decem- 
ber, 61;  January,  1852,41;  February,  25  ;  March,  48;  August, 
49.  On  June  14,  1851,  a  local  preacher's  license  was  granted 
Charles  R.  Holman,  of  West  Littleton,  and  the  next  spring  he  was 
recommended  to  the  travelling  connection  and  admitted  into  the 
New  Hampshire  Conference. 

In  1852  Dudley  P.  Leavitt  was  sent  here.  His  whole  claim 
was  rated  at  $250,  of  which  $50  was  a  grant  of  missionary  aid. 
He  was  an  able,  scholarly  man,  and  his  pastorate  a  wise  carrying 
forward  of  the  work  so  successfully  begun  by  Mr.  Holman.  The 
missionary  committee  had  on  it  the  following  elect  women :  Mrs. 
Woolson,  Mrs.  Johnson,  Miss  Ranlet,  and  Mrs.  Charlton.  Thus 
the  ladies  were  set  publicly  at  work.  In  1853  the  sum  of  $10 
missionary  money  was  raised  to  make  Mr.  Ranlet  a  life  member  of 
the  Conference  Missionary  Society.  The  same  year  Calvin  J. 
Wallace  was  elected  steward.  Through  it  all,  the  name  of  Doug- 
las Robins  appears  alongside  that  of  Ranlet  and  other  busy  ones. 
Mr.  Leavitt  was  granted  a  donation  the  second  year  of  his  being 
here,  but  the  results  of  it  do  not  appear  in  the  records. 

Larned  L.  Eastman  was  sent  here  in  1854.  His  pastorate  was 
a  continuation  of  the  success  of  his  predecessors.  The  members 
of  the  Quarterly  Conference  for  1854  were  Levi  F.  Ranlet,  George 
Abbott,  Moses  K.  Wilcomb,  Abijah  Allen,  Calvin  J.  Wallace,  and 
Amos  Bailey  as  stewards,  with  Douglas  Robins,  Calvin  J.  Wallace, 
and  James  Gordon  as  class-leaders.  The  next  year  E.  C.  Kimball 
was  made  steward.  Some  people  who  had  aided  in  building  the 
church  used  their  legal  right  in  the  church  edifice,  when  not  occu- 
pied by  the  Methodists,  to  put  into  it  services  quite  foreign  to  the 
teachings  of  the  New  Testament,  but  their  course  came  to  an  in- 
glorious collapse.  Before  Mr.  Eastman's  time  was  out  in  1856,  he 
reported  to  the  Quarterly  Conference  the  purchase  of  a  seraphine, 
the  first  musical  instrument  owned  by  the  church.  He  reported 
the  Sunday-school  as  having  nineteen  officers  and  teachers,  with 
one  hundred  and  fifty  pupils. 

At  the  end  of  the  second  year  of  Mr.  Eastman's  pastorate 
(1856)  the  New  Hampshire  Conference  held  its  session  here,  in 
accordance  with  an  invitation  extended  by  the  society  and  ac- 
cepted by  the  conference  the  previous  year.  Bishop  Osman  C. 
Baker,  so  long  identified  with  New  Hampshire  Methodism  by  his 
residence  at  Concord  and  in  other  ways,  was  assigned  to  preside. 
Richard  S.  Rust,  later  the  veteran  Corresponding  Secretary  of 
the  Freedman's  Aid  Society,  was  elected  secretary.  The  session 


Ecclesiastical  History.  263 

presented  the  usual  attractions  of  those  great  occasions,  so  that 
the  young  society  of  Methodists  in  Littleton  obtained  a  glimpse  of 
the  great  connectional  interests  of  which  they  represented  a  part. 
The  people  of  the  town  gladly  threw  open  their  homes  to  enter- 
tain the  members  of  the  conference  and  others  present.  Mr. 
Eastman  succeeded  admirably  in  the  arduous  and  delicate  duties 
of  providing  for  the  session.  Only  once  had  its  session  been  as 
far  north  as  this,  —  that  of  Lancaster  in  1849. 

In  1832  James  Gordon  settled  with  his  wife  on  the  farm  since 
occupied  by  Aaron  Edmands,  on  Mann's  Hill,  and  from  that  time 
forward  for  many  years  meetings  were  held  in  their  home.  He 
was  class-leader  most  of  those  years,  and  ministers  of  other  de- 
nominations besides  the  Methodists  preached  there.  When  the 
church  was  organized  in  the  village,  he  and  others  in  that  neigh- 
borhood formally  joined  the  new  enterprise.  The  class  for  1856 
contains  the  following  names :  James  Gordon,  leader,  Sarah  Gor- 
don, Jane  Gordon,  George  Abbott,  Ann  Abbott,  Oliver  F.  Nurse, 
Ruth  Nurse,  Frederic  A.  Bartlett,  Clarissa  Bartlett,  Abijah  Allen, 
Elias  Bacon,  Laonia  Town,  Mary  W.  Annis,  Richard  Jones,  Susanna 
Jones,  Martha  Goodwin,  Olive  Goodwin,  Catherine  Clark,  Sarah 
A.  Bartlett,  all  residents  of  Mann's  Hill.  Many  who  joined  other 
churches  were  converted  in  that  consecrated  house.  Mr.  Gordon 
died  at  South  Littleton  in  1888. 

For  the  year  1856  J.  P.  Stinchfield  was  appointed  here.  He 
stayed  one  year.  On  June  19,  1856,  Damon  Judd  was  recom- 
mended to  the  travelling  connection.  At  the  next  Quarterly  Con- 
ference there  was  a  committee  of  three  appointed  "  to  see  where 
the  singing  school  be  kept,  see  to  the  fires,  etc." 

Following  Mr.  Stinchfield,  George  N.  Bryant  was  sent  here. 
He  remained  the  two  years  then  allowed  by  the  Discipline.  A 
good  donation  was  given  him,  some  conversions  marked  his  pas- 
torate, and  the  various  interests  of  the  charge  were  well  sustained. 

In  1859  Bethlehem  was  again  joined  with  Littleton,  and 
L.  P.  Cushman  was  the  preacher.  Considerable  ingathering  oc- 
curred, for  he  was  able  to  report  in  March  that  he  had  received 
thirty-three  on  probation  and  six  into  full  connection  ;  among 
these  were  Joseph  E.  Robins,  Charles  W.  Milieu,  Warren  Apple- 
bee,  and  Hugh  Montgomery.  The  following  year  Bethlehem  was 
again  separated  from  this  place.  The  sum  of  •'jOO  was  granted 
to  aid  the  charge,  subject  to  the  disposal  of  the  conference. 

In  1860  Hugh  Montgomery  came  into  this  town,  like  Daniel 
Wise,  from  Canada,  afoot  and  alone,  in  search  of  work.  He  found 
work,  and  also  a  chance  to  labor  for  the  Master.  After  being 


264  History  of  Littleton. 

here  a  short  time  he  called  a  prayer-meeting  at  Deacon  Cobleigh's 
house  at  which  several  of  the  young  people  about  there  were  con- 
verted, and  the  religions  life  of  others  renewed,  —  among  them 
Joseph  E.  Robins  and  Deacon  Cobleigh's  daughter,  now  Mrs.  R.  M. 
Cole,  a  missionary  in  Turkey.  Mr.  Montgomery  also  held  meet- 
ings with  much  success  in  the  Jackman  and  Walker  Hill  neighbor- 
hoods. After  he  was  received  into  the  church,  he  felt  called  to 
the  ministry,  and  attended  the  school  in  this  village.  He  was 
granted  a  local  preacher's  license  in  June,  1861.  From  here  he 
went  to  Newbury  Seminary,  where  he  remained  three  years,  being 
received  into  the  conference  in  1867.  He  was  for  many  years 
very  earnest  in  temperance  work  in  Massachusetts.  He  was  the 
author  of  several  published  books.  He  died  in  Marblehead,Mass., 
May  14,  1898. 

At  the  conference  session  of  1856  ringing  resolutions  on  slavery 
were  adopted,  urging  its  destruction  and  pledging  concurrence 
in  any  right  measures  to  that  end.  The  next  year  they  boldly 
declared  that  the  time  of  compromise  was  past.  From  the  local 
papers  of  this  date  it  appears  that  the  burning  questions  of  the 
hour  raised  some  heat  in  the  church  and  congregation  here. 
From  Landaff,  where  lie  was  stationed  in  1862,  Mr.  Cushman  was 
the  Democratic  Representative  in  the  Legislature.  Each  of  the 
two  years  of  Mr.  Cushman's  pastorate  this  charge  was  asked 
to  contribute  $50  toward  the  seminary  at  Sanbornton  Bridge, 
now  Tilton.  The  Wesley  an  University  at  Middletown,  Conn., 
was  patronized  by  the  churches  of  this  conference,  which  in  turn 
received  many  benefits  from  that  oldest  Methodist  college.  The 
New  England  Education  Society,  designed  to  aid  young  men 
preparing  for  the  ministry,  was  also  given  favors  and  returned 
them.  In  1860  Rev.  F.  A.  Howes,  who  was  the  preacher  at  this 
place  and  Bath  in  1846,  died,  a  man  of  deep  devotion  and  success- 
ful work.  The  same  year  this  church  voted  in  favor  of  lay  repre- 
sentation in  the  Annual  Conference.  The  name  of  Daniel  E. 
Wells,  M.D.,  appears  in  the  records  as  a  steward  from  Franconia, 
and  for  several  years  he  and  others  reported  for  that  place,  A 
class  was  formed  there  of  which  Dr.  Wells  was  leader.  He  and 
his  estimable  wife  were  earnest  workers.  Their  house  was  open 
to  meetings,  which  were  continued  as  long  as  they  remained  in 
that  town.  The  ministers  on  this  station  used  to  go  there  occa- 
sionally to  hold  meetings.  After  the  removal  of  Dr.  Wells  the 
class  seems  to  have  been  absorbed  by  the  local  churches  of  other 
denominations.  Calvin  J.  Wallace  was  appointed  a  committee  to 
procure  furniture  for  the  use  of  the  parsonage.  No  house  was  yet 


Ecclesiastical  History.  265 

owned,  but  the  furnishings  were  used  in  whatever  house  the 
preacher  lived.  The  women  worked  in  this  duty  of  course. 

In  1861  George  S.  Barnes  was  sent  here.  His  work  was  not 
marked  by  any  great  change.  It  was  reported  in  August,  1861, 
that  North  Lisbon  was  given  back  to  the  Lisbon  charge,  as  its 
location  demanded.  When  it  was  joined  to  Littleton  does  not 
appear.  The  last  six  months  of  his  year  Mr.  Barnes  served, 
without  leaving  the  State,  as  Chaplain  of  the  Seventeenth  Regi- 
ment of  New  Hampshire  Volunteers. 

After  Mr.  Barnes's  pastorate  Silas  E.  Quimby  was  sent.  He 
retained  his  place  in  the  Newbury  Seminary  till  the  end  of 
the  school  year  in  August.  Increased  congregations  and  Sunday- 
school  attested  success.  A  missionary  society  was  formed  in  the 
Sunday-school,  and  named  the  Wallace  Union  Society,  in  honor 
of  the  faithful  superintendent,  C.  J.  Wallace.  At  the  end  of  the 
next  year  Mr.  Quimby  accepted  a  professorship  again  at  Newbury 
Seminary. 

In  Mr.  Quimby's  pastorate  Still  man  Batchellor  died.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church  at  Bethlehem  long  before  the 
full  organization  in  Littleton,  having  been  a  steward  in  1828-1829, 
and  a  trustee  in  1830,  when,  with  four  others,  he  superintended 
the  building  of  a  church  at  Bethlehem.  As  the  church  at  Little- 
ton was  built,  he  gradually  became  identified  with  this  project, 
being  early  one  of  the  trustees.  In  1858  he  finally  changed  his 
membership  to  this  place,  after  which  time  he  and  his  family  were 
regular  attendants.  He  materially  aided  the  new  church  at  the 
outset  in  building,  and  onward  till  his  death.  His  official  rela- 
tions as  trustee  or  steward  were  of  great  worth  ;  his  sterling  piety, 
which  did  not  yield  to  obstacles  of  spiritual  or  material  import, 
was  always  marked,  and  his  liberality  in  money,  time,  and  labor 
aided  in  giving  the  substantial  success  which  attended  the  church 
from  the  first.  His  home  was  on  what  is  now  known  as  the  Gless- 
ner  place,  about  half-way  between  Bethlehem  and  Littleton.  He 
was  a  soldier  in  1812,  a  devoted  patriot,  a  Jeffersonian  Democrat, 
and  an  ardent  Free-soiler  throughout  the  anti-slavery  struggle. 

The  conference  was  helping  in  those  years  to  support  the  Bib- 
lical Institute  at  Concord,  this  town  doing  its  share  and  reap- 
ing its  due  amount  of  harvest  in  the  improvement  of  its  ministers. 
This  school  was  transferred  to  Boston  in  1867.  The  men  whose 
names  show  they  were  bearing  the  responsibilities  of  official  posi- 
tion here  constantly  were  those  who  began  the  project, —  Levi  F. 
Ranlet,  George  Abbott.  Calvin  J.  Wallace,  E.  C.  Kimball,  Doug- 
las Robins,  Moses  K.  Wilcomb,  Abijah  Allen,  and  others.  The  war 


266  History  of  Littleton. 

made  its  changes  in  the  membership  and  audience.  Thus  the 
books  say,  for  October  3,  1862,  that  a  new  recording  steward  had 
to  be  appointed,  as  the  former  one,  C.  H.  Applebee,  had  gone  to 
the  war.  In  the  Quarterly  Conference  of  January  23,  1863,  a  local 
preacher's  license  was  granted  Charles  W.  Millen.  On  May  9, 
the  same  year,  an  exhorter's  license  was  given  Joseph  E.  Robins. 
In  the  autumn  of  that  year  the  name  of  Comings  M.  Barnes  ap- 
peared as  a  local  preacher.  In  February,  1864,  Warren  Applebee 
was  recommended  by  the  Quarterly  Conference,  after  examination 
in  doctrine  and  discipline,  to  the  Annual  Conference  on  trial.  The 
same  vote  was  passed  in  the  case  of  Coinings  M.  Barnes  at  the 
same  time,  and  he  was  also  recommended  to  the  local  deacon's 
ordination. 

In  1864  Hiram  L.  Kelsey  was  appointed  to  this  station.  During 
those  terrible  years  of  the  war  the  conference  took  strong  ground 
for  the  support  of  the  country  and  other  claims  on  patriotic  Chris- 
tian duty.  Its  members  were  sent  to  the  front  in  the  Christian 
Commission  work  ;  its  pulpit  utterances  were  full  of  enthusiastic 
patriotism.  This  church  had  its  share  of  internal  bitterness  re- 
garding the  issues  involved.  It  was  a  time  when  voters  went 
armed  with  revolvers  to  the  polls.  In  January,  1864,  Rev.  Mr. 
Kelsey  and  Messrs.  Ranlet  and  Palmer  were  made  a  committee 
on  repairing  the  church  building.  On  August  7,  that  year,  a  local 
preacher's  license  was  granted  Joseph  E.  Robins. 

Mr.  Kelsey  was  here  one  year,  and  following  him  came  Truman 
Carter.  By  this  time  what  was  onlv  one  circuit  at  the  bcgiimin«; 

•/  *>  o  «._ 

of  the  century  had  become  eighteen  or  twenty  stations,  all  the 
children  of  the  mother  circuit  at  Landaff.  This  year  an  assess- 
ment of  $25  for  the  Tilton  Seminary  was  laid  upon  this  charge. 
Mr.  Carter  reported  to  the  fourth  Quarterly  Conference,  January 
5,  1867,  that  a  gracious  revival  had  occurred,  from  which  he  had 
received  thirty  on  probation  and  had  baptized  twenty-nine.  At 
the  same  time  a  parsonage  committee  was  appointed,  consisting 
of  Ezra  Hale,  Douglas  Robins,  and  Elisha  Smith,  with  instruc- 
tions to  buy  or  build  at  their  discretion.  From  almost  the  be- 
ginning of  this  church  George  Abbott  was  the  chorister,  till  this 
year,  when  he  passed  its  responsibilities  into  other  hands. 

At  the  end  of  Mr.  Carter's  pastorate  in  1867,  Alfred  E.  Drew 
was  stationed  here.  The  salary  had  increased  from  Mr.  Leavitt's 
$250  to  $600  for  Mr.  Drew's  first  year  and  8700  for  his  second 
year.  In  1868  Joseph  E.  Robins  and  Charles  W.  Millen  were  ad- 
mitted into  the  Annual  Conference.  On  February  17  of  that  year 
it  was  reported  to  the  Quarterly  Conference  that  a  pipe  organ, 


REV.  GEO.  BEEME.  REV.  DUDLEY   P.  LEAVITT.       REV.  HIKAM   L.  KEI.SEY. 

REV.   Si   I.I.I  \  AN     I  I(  i|.  MAN. 

RKV.  MAKTIN  V.  15.  Kxox.  D.I).   REV.  CHARLES  M.  HOWARD.     REV.  LEWIS  I'.  CTSIIMAN. 

PASTORS     M      E.    CHURCH. 


Ecclesiastical  History.  267 

costing  $750,  had  been  placed  in  the  church,  and  that  the  gallery 
had  been  lowered  at  a  cost  of  $142.  In  Mr.  Drew's  pastorate 
a  parsonage  was  bought  on  South  Street,  of  Jame8  J.  Barrett,  for 
$1,600.  The  subscription  list  shows  faithful  paying  of  personal 
indebtedness  to  the  Lord.  The  house  was  not  very  commodious 
or  near  to  the  church,  but  a  good  venture  for  the  Society.  It  had 
seven  rooms,  horse-barn,  and  wood-house,  with  a  small  plat  of 
ground  and  a  fine  stream  of  water  from  the  hillside,  brought  into 
the  kitchen  by  a  lead  pipe.  The  residence  of  the  preachers  before 
this  purchase  had  been  here  and  there  about  the  village,  as  each 
could  find  a  house  io  suit  him.  Eastman,  Cushman,  and  others 
lived  on  Pleasant  Street.  Mr.  Drew,  upon  the  purchase  of  the 
parsonage,  was  its  first  occupant.  In  this  the  succeeding  preach- 
ers lived  till  it  was  sold  in  1886.  In  1869  the  New  Hampshire 
Conference  was  held  at  Lisbon,  and  many  from  here  attended  its 
various  sessions.  James  M.  Bean  was  sent  here  that  year  from 
the  Lisbon  Conference.  In  May,  Charles  Cowen,  once  stationed 
here,  died  at  his  residence  in  Lyman.  His  memory  is  fragrant. 
He  "  was  highly  valued  as  a  citizen,  a  Christian,  and  a  minister. 
In  all  these  relations  he  was  without  reproach."  Mr.  Bean  re- 
mained about  one  year. 

Following  him,  came  John  Currier  in  1870.  Some  money  was 
raised  for  Sunday-school  purposes,  and  a  committee,  consisting  of 
George  Abbott,  George  Gile,  and  J.  C.  Nourse,  was  appointed  on 
the  camp-meeting  to  be  held  at  Bath.  Asa  Phillips,  one  of  the  hard 
workers  for  the  church,  died  September  18,  1870,  and  Ezra  Hale 
in  October,  1871 .  Both  these  men  were  greatly  missed,  and  yet  the 
result  of  their  sacrifices  remains  to  bless  the  community.  Douglas 
Robins  was  elected  to  the  Laymen's  Electoral  Conference  held  in 
connection  with  the  Annual  Conference  at  Bristol  in  1872.  On 
May  18  of  that  year  a  committee  on  vestry  was  appointed,  con- 
sisting of  Moses  K.  Wilcomb,  George  Gile,  and  Charles  II. 
Applebee. 

George  Bcebe  was  sent  here  in  1872.  His  children  still  reside 
among  us. 

Mr.  Ranlet,  who  did  so  much  to  build  the  church,  was  born  at 
Meredith,  N.  H.,  moving  to  this  town  in  1839,  and  died  in  great 
peace  at  Plymouth,  N.  H.,  November,  1873.  Awhile  after  coining 
here  he  and  his  family  became  identified  with  Methodism,  and 
he  was  an  official  representative  for  this  place  when  it  was  only  a 
small  section  of  contiguous  circuits.  As  this  village  was  likely  to 
become  a  separate  station,  much  opposition  arose  from  the  exist- 
ing church,  and  no  doubt  helped  to  create  a  determination  on  the 


268  History  of  Littleton. 

part  of  Mr.  Ranlet  and  others  to  erect  a  house  of  worship  of  their 
own  denomination.  He  encountered  many  difficulties,  but  suc- 
ceeded nobly,  as  we  have  seen.  After  it  was  built  and  dedicated, 
some  of  those  who  aided  by  taking  pews  tried  to  turn  the  enter- 
prise toward  Universalism,  while  others  claimed  its  use  for  Spirit- 
ualism and  other  notions.  But  gradually  the  Methodists  prevailed, 
and  after  a  season  they  were  left  in  undisturbed  control.  Accu- 
sations of  various  kinds  were  made  against  Mr.  Ranlet's  business 
methods  in  the  construction  of  the  church,  but  his  accounts  were 
placed  in  the  hands  of  John  Sargent,  a  skilful  accountant  and  a 
man  of  sterling  integrity,  for  auditing  and  found  to  be  correct. 
He  was  left  with  quite  a  debt  on  his  hands  at  the  end,  owing  to 
the  failure  of  some  to  take  pews  who  had  signed  an  agreement 
to  do  so.  As  the  work  was  finished,  he  rejoiced  in  the  victory 
won.  Important  official  church  trusts  were  given  him ;  his  house 
was  the  home  of  the  preachers ;  his  hand  was  always  open  to 
meet  the  needs  of  the  struggling  society.  Mrs.  Ranlet,  who  died 
also  at  Plymouth,  nine  years  later  than  her  husband,  was  also  a 
willing,  devoted  worker,  always  sustaining  her  husband  in  his 
consecration  to  the  cause.  The  town  honored  him  by  sending 
him  as  a  Pree-soiler  to  the  Legislature.  Methodism  in  general 

ci  O 

stood  almost  a  unit  for  the  freedom  of  the  blacks.1 

Probably  before  1808  a  Ladies'  Society  had  been  formed, 
which  has  since  been  continued  under  one  name  and  another. 
When  the  vestry  was  built,  this  society  paid  toward  it  $126.41, 
besides  much  more  for  its  furnishings.  It  raised  money  and 
did  work  in  various  ways,  its  objective  usually  being  parsonage 
demands. 

In  1874  a  new  feature  was  introduced  into  the  conference 
minutes,  the  Presiding  Elders'  Reports,  in  which  is  preserved 
much  valuable  historical  material  which  could  not  otherwise  be 
retained.  Had  such  reports  been  made  during  the  whole  course 
of  our  conferences,  invaluable  history  would  have  been  preserved 
which  is  now  forever  lost.  Thus  Mr.  Beebe  is  reported  only  in 
that  place  as  having  raised  and  expended  $600  in  church  repairs. 
In  1S74  George  W.  Rnland  was  sent  here.  That  year  the  Sun- 
day-school was  formed  into  a  Missionary  Society  under  the  Dis- 
cipline rules.  The  Young  People's  Society  cleared  $100  in  a  fair, 
the  money  being  used  for  the  new  vestry.  This  was  finally  erected 
as  it  now  stands  on  the  north  end  of  the  church,  the  horse-sheds 
having  been  removed.  The  cost  was  about  Sl,100.  It  was  opened 

1  In  tlie  church  in  this  place  was  a  strong  conservative  element,  with  Elder  Berkley 
at  its  head,  that  by  no  menus  gave  countenance  to  the  Garrison  school  of  Abolitionists. 


Ecclesiastical  History.  269 

for  service  Watch  night,  December  31,  1875,  at  which  time  John 
Currier,  a  former  pastor,  preached.  The  sum  of  $440  was  also 
raised  for  repairs  on  the  church  and  for  old  claims.  On  the  15th 
of  February,  1875,  the  license  of  Charles  J.  Fowler  as  local 
preacher  was  renewed,  he  having  been  received  in  that  capacity 
by  letter.  Union  meetings  were  held  under  the  direction  of  Rev. 
D.  J.  Potter,  and  were  attended  with  some  success.  On  October  2, 
1875,  Douglas  Robins  died,  a  man  whose  wise  and  persistent 
efforts  to  build  up  Methodism  are  shown  by  the  official  records  of 
committees  and  various  meetings  for  business.  He  was  a  native 
of  this  town,  his  family  before  him  being  Methodists,  and  attend- 
ants on  that  service  whenever  held  in  town.  He  was  an  active 
and  persistent  helper  of  Mr.  Ranlet  in  building  the  church.  For 
many  years  he  sang  in  the  choir.  He  was  a  class-leader,  having 
charge  of  a  class  in  that  part  of  the  town  where  he  lived,  on  the 
well-known  Robins  farm.  He  was  for  years  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
marrying  many  couples  and  executing  many  legal  papers.  In 
1861-1862  he  was  sent  to  the  Legislature  as  Representative  on  the 
Democratic  ticket.  One  of  his  last  acts  before  his  death  was  to 
pledge  $50  towards  the  new  vestry.  A  little  more  than  a  year 
later,  his  consort,  Betsey  F.,  also  died.  She  was  a  strong,  hope- 
ful Christian,  and,  like  her  husband,  full  of  good  works  for  the 
cause  they  loved.  In  February,  1877,  the  widow  of  Rev.  Charles 
Cowcn  died  at  Lyman.  Her  life  was  full  of  noble  deeds  and  heroic 
sacrifice  for  Christ,  and  of  gospel  triumphs.  The  same  year,  in 
March,  Rev.  George  Beebe  died  in  great  peace  at  Bethlehem. 
During  Mr.  Ruland's  pastorate  the  society  bought  a  lot  in  the 
circle  of  cottage  spaces  at  the  Weirs  Camp-meeting  ground,  and 
on  it  erected  a  small  cottage,  costing  about  $500.  The  lot  is 
twenty  by  forty  feet.  When  a  camp-meeting  was  started  at  Bath, 
this  church  took  part  in  it,  and  has  also  liberally  patronized  the 
one  near  Groveton.  During  1875-1876  Mrs.  George  Gile  did  valu- 
able service  as  President  of  the  Ladies'  Aid  Society.  Following 
her,  Mrs.  Moses  K.  Wilcomb,  Mrs.  John  W.  Bickford,  Mrs.  George 
M.  Curl,  Mrs.  Richard  Stevens,  and  others  have  served.  On  Febru- 
ary 8, 1877.  Cornelius  N.  Krook  was  licensed  as  a  local  preacher. 

In  1877  N.  M.  D.  Granger  was  appointed  here.  Ill  health, 
which  soon  after  his  leaving  here  resulted  in  his  death,  made  him 
physically  unable  to  do  as  much  work  as  his  eager  spirit  longed 
to  do.  Throughout  the  autumn  and  winter  of  1878  he  was 
prostrated  with  severe  sickness.  The  church  was  painted  dur- 
ing his  pastorate,  hi  a  Quarterly  Conference,  May  27,  1877, 
Alexander  Mclutire  was  approved  as  Sunday-school  superinten- 


270  History  of  Littleton. 

dent,  the  first  record  in  this  church  of  a  disciplinary  requirement 
now  made  every  year.  The  Reform  Club  was  permitted  to  hold 
a  meeting  Sunday  night  once  a  month  in  the  church.  In  the 
beginning  of  the  summer  of  1877  it  was  voted  to  have  but  one 
preaching  service  a  Sunday  for  a  quarter ;  then  in  September 
the  Quarterly  Conference  voted  to  continue  the  same  indefinitely, 
which  custom  has  prevailed  to  the  present.  The  pastor's  salary 
had  formerly  been  raised  by  subscription,  and  now,  to  facilitate 
this  plan,  the  charge  was  divided  into  three  sections  with  a  col- 
lection in  each,  but,  this  method  not  working  well,  it  was  shortly 
abandoned.  In  September,  1878,  a  Sunday-school  Teachers' 
Meeting  was  organized,  and  a  few  months  later  about  two  hundred 
new  books  were  added  to  the  library. 

George  A.  McLaughlin  was  stationed  here  in  1879.  A  large 
ingathering  of  souls  was  one  result  of  his  pastorate.  He  found 
the  communicants,  including  probationers,  to  number  one  hundred 
and  forty-one  and  left  one  hundred  and  sixty-two.  A  meeting  of 
the  pew-holders  and  of  the  society  was  called  February  2,  1880, 
to  take  into  consideration  the  project  of  repairing  the  church. 
The  pew-holders  generally  surrendered  the  pews  held  by  them, 
as  so  much  toward  remodelling  the  interior  of  the  edifice.  New 
pews  were  put  in,  a  new  furnace  was  placed  under  the  house,  it 
was  beautifully  frescoed,  and  other  repairs  done.  During  these 
repairs  services  were  held  part  of  the  time  in  Union  Hall.  Mr. 
R.  D.  Rounsevel  put  in  an  elegant  black  walnut  set  of  pulpit 
furniture  in  memory  of  his  wife.  By  these  various  improvements 
the  inside  of  the  church  was  made  very  attractive.  Ira  Parker 
ably  assisted  the  pastor  in  raising  the  money  and  conducting  the 
changes,  which  altogether  cost  about  #4,000.  The  Ladies'  Society 
paid  over  $400  toward  these  improvements.  April  20,  1880,  it 
was  voted  not  to  rent  the  church  for  other  purposes  than  religious 
services.  At  the  same  date  a  local  preacher's  license  was  granted 
E.  C.  Langford.  Alexander  Palmer  was  elected  to  the  Lay  Elec- 
toral College  in  1880. 

In  1882  George  M.  Curl  was  sent  here.  He  increased  the 
membership  to  one  hundred  and  seventy-nine.  Hard  work  and 
devotion  to  duties  yielded  their  beneficent  results.  On  the  9th  of 
February,  1885,  Mark  Tisdale  was  granted  exhorter's  license,  and 
April  14  a  local  preacher's  license.  Since  then  he  has  been  used 
as  a  successful  supply  at  various  points  in  the  conference.  The 
platform  and  steps  of  the  church  were  repaired  at  a  cost  of  about 
160.  About  New  Year,  1884,  a  new  cabinet  organ  for  use  in  the 
prayer-meetings  and  Sunday-school  was  secured.  In  1884  Rev. 


Ecclesiastical  History.  271 

Alba  B.  Carter  died  on  his  charge  at  Main  Street,  Great  Falls, 
N.  H.  He  was  born  in  Littleton  in  1844.  The  Quarterly  Con- 
ference voted  an  invitation  to  the  Annual  Conference  to  meet 
here  in  1885,  which  was  accepted.  Henry  C.  Libby  was  sent 
from  this  church  to  the  Lay  Conference.  Some  steps  were  taken 
toward  building  a  new  parsonage,  but  no  result  was  reached. 

In  1885  the  conference  met  here  for  the  second  time  in  the 
history  of  this  church.  The  people  without  respect  to  denomi- 
nations gladly  welcomed  the  members  of  the  conference  to  their 
homes.  Bishop  Cyrus  D.  Foss  presided.  It  was  a  rare  treat 
to  the  people  of  the  town  to  gain  thus  a  view  of  the  great  evangel- 
ical forces  and  projects  of  Methodism.  For  Sunday  night,  April 
19,  a  service  was  held  in  Union  Hall  at  which  J.  W.  Adams 
preached,  and  was  followed  in  an  altar  service  conducted  by 
C.  U.  Dunning,  when  about  forty  came  forward  for  prayers,  a 
number  of  whom  later  became  members  of  this  church  and  of 
others  in  this  town  and  elsewhere.  At  the  close  of  the  con- 
ference session  M.  V.  B.  Knox  was  appointed  to  the  church. 
The  revival  spirit  continued,  so  that  large  additions  were  made 
to  the  church  and  Sunday-school.  Clarence  W.  Williams  was 
Sunday-school  Superintendent  for  1885-1886,  when,  leaving  town, 
Henry  0.  Jackson  was  elected  in  his  place.  A  project  to  buy 
or  build  a  new  parsonage  was  set  on  foot  during  the  summer 
of  1885  ;  the  pastor  moved  to  the  Everts  W.  Fan*  House,  on  Pleas- 
ant Street ;  the  old  parsonage  on  South  Street  was  sold  for  $1,000  ; 
a  lot  with  an  old  set  of  buildings  on  Pleasant  Street,  No.  15,  left 
to  her  heirs  by  Laura  Sargent,  of  precious  memory  in  the  church, 
was  bought  for  $1,500.  Simpson  Brothers  of  this  town  were  the 
contractors.  The  work  was  pushed  during  the  summer  and 
autumn  of  1886,  and  the  pastor's  family  occupied  the  house 
January  6,  1887.  It  has  a  two-story  front  and  an  L  of  a  story 
and  a  half,  with  wood-house,  carriage-room,  horse-barn,  and  hay- 
loft. A  fine  double-walled  cellar  is  under  the  whole  house. 
Running  water  from  the  Apthorp  system  is  supplied.  There  are 
twelve  ample  rooms,  all  the  lower  story  being  finished  with  brown 
ash.  The  whole  cost  of  the  house  has  been  $2,320.  Again  Ira 
Parker,  as  chairman  of  the  trustees,  did  much  toward  raising  the 
money  and  planning  the  work.  The  Ladies'  Aid  Society,  under 
Mrs.  Knox's  presidency,  pledged  and  raised  $500  toward  the  build- 
ing and  land.  A  "  Young  People's  Literary,  Musical,  and  Social 
Society"  was  organized  in  1887  with  Belle  Abbott  President. 
Their  object  is  to  help  in  furnishing  the  parsonage.  During  the 
winter  of  each  year  the  pastor  had  a  course  of  free  lectures  in 


272  History  of  Littleton. 

the  church,  being  aided  by  Mrs.  Knox  and  contiguous  preachers. 
These  were  largely  attended.  During  the  summer  of  1886  the 
people  made  up  a  purse  of  $100,  and  voting  a  vacation  to  their 
pastor,  sent  him  to  the  National  Encampment  of  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic  at  Han  Francisco.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  R.  C.  Libby  of 
this  church,  with  the  Department  Commander,  George  Farr  and 
wife,  and  Adjutant-General  H.  J.  Kenney  and  wife  from  this  town, 
were  also  of  the  party.  During  Mr.  Knox's  absence  the  pulpit  was 
supplied  by  George  W.  Anderson  and  others. 

Of  the  pastors  named,  several  have  taken  other  denominational 
connections.  In  this  list  are  the  names  of  Loveland,  Stinchtield, 
Kelsey,  Applebee,  and  Ruland. 

In  1886  a  liberal  benefactor  of  the  Sunday-school  presented 
its  library  with  a  hundred  new  volumes,  and  in  1887  the  church 
made  an  addition  of  two  hundred  and  forty  more.  In  the  spring 
of  1887  Moses  K.  YYilcomb  died.  He  resided  on  Gilmanton  Hill, 
and  was  born  in  1821.  His  father's  family  was  connected  with  the 
Methodist  Church  at  Bethlehem  until  some  time  after  the  new 
church  was  organized  at  Littleton,  though  the  name  of  Daniel  W. 
Wilcomb  appears  as  one  of  the  trustees  to  whom  Levi  F.  Ranlet 
submitted  his  report  of  building  the  church.  .Before  the  church 
was  erected,  while  services  were  held  in  Brackett's  Hall  and  other 
places,  Moses  K.  Wilcomb  attended  the  services  here,  and  was 
one  of  those  who  subscribed  for  a  pew  at  the  time  of  building. 
In  1854  his  name  appears  in  the  list  of  stewards,  from  which 
time  till  his  death  he  was  on  the  Official  Board.  Bethlehem, 
in  which  town  his  farm  was  situated,  elected  him  Selectman  for 
1867-18(38,  and  sent  him  to  the  Legislature  for  1885-1887.  He  and 
his  family  were  constant  attendants  on  the  services  of  the  church. 
Mrs.  Wilcomb  served  some  time  as  President  of  the  Ladies'Society. 

The  first  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society  auxiliary  started 
here  was  organized  the  third  year  of  Mr.  Ruland's  pastorate,  with 
Mrs.  Ruland  President.  In  more  or  less  active  state  it  has  since 
continued,  with  the  following  elect  ladies  as  Presidents :  Mrs. 
George  Gile,  Mrs.,  George  A.  McLaughlin,  Mrs.  George  AI.  Curl, 
Mrs.  John  T.  Simpson,  Mrs.  P.  M.  Frost,  Mrs.  Maria  Mann,  Mrs. 
R.  Sanderson,  Mrs.  C.  M.  Howard,  Mrs.  M.  II.  Moodv,  and  Mrs. 
Mary  W.  Clapp. 

A  Woman's  Home  Missionary  Society  was  organixed  here  in 
1886,  with  Mrs.  Silas  Hatch  President,  Mrs.  Elbridgc  Flint  Re- 
cording Secretary,  Mrs.  A.  E.  Watson  Corresponding  Secretary, 
and  Mi's.  Jennie  Belknap  Treasurer. 

The  last  Quarterly  Conference  of  the  conference  vear  of  1887- 


Ecclesiastical  History.  273 

1888,  held  March  7,  1888,  granted  a  local  preacher's  license  to 
Clarence  W.  Williams. 

Not  alone  those  whose  death  enables  us  fully  to  write  of  their 
deeds  have  nobly  striven  to  build  up  this  strong,  successful 
church.  Some  still  living  have  wrought  just  as  nobly.  Through 
the  whole  history  of  the  church  George  Abbott  was  until  his  death 
connected  with  it  in  one  or  another  official  relation,  sometimes 
with  two  or  three  offices  and  their  attendant  burden  at  the  same 
time.  Side  by  side  with  him  stood  Calvin  J.  Wallace  through  it 
all,  never  shirking  duty  as  leader,  steward,  or  Sunday-school  super- 
intendent. Oilman  K.  Morrison  helped  draw  the  timber  to  make 
the  church,  and  with  his  heart  thus  mortised  into  the  framework, 
could  not  help  coming  to  it  in  membership  after  a  few  years,  from 
a  sister  church,  with  bis  whole  family.  Nor  have  men  alone  toiled 
and  sacrificed,  but  women  have  won  a  place  beside  those  true 
yoke-fellows  of  Paul.  Among  early  toilers  were  Mrs.  Lucy  Burt, 
Mrs.  James  Gordon,  and  Catherine  Clark.  The  feeble,  struggling 
society  of  1850  in  less  than  forty  years  gained  a  commanding  place 
in  the  town  and  the  conference,  with  its  three  hundred  communi- 
cants !  Besides  these  spoken  of,  many  whose  toil  and  money  and 
faith  and  prayers  have  helped  to  make  this  church  what  it  is, 
have  moved  to  other  parts.  And  what  a  fair  body  remains  ! 
Parents  have  seen  their  children  here  converted,  husband  and 
wife  have  knelt  together  for  the  first  time  at  the  altar,  their 
hearts,  by  this  consecration  to  God,  having  been  more  than  ever 
made  one.  The  older  men  and  women  are  passing  to  their  eter- 
nal reward,  and  others  are  arising  to  receive  their  mantle.  A 
strong  group  of  younger  men  and  women  have  come  into  the 
church,  who  are  duplicating  the  sacrifices  and  faith  of  the  fathers 
and  mothers.  Every  department  of  the  church  is  well  sustained.1 

In  compliance  with  the  general  plan  of  this  work,  something 
concerning  the  personality  as  well  as  the  achievements  of  clergy- 
men connected  with  Methodism  is  added  to  the  full  and  clear 
sketch  prepared  by  Dr.  Knox. 

The  first  authentic  knowledge  we  have  concerning  the  planting 
of  that  sect  in  this  town  is  connected  with  the  advent  of  Josiah 
Newhall  in  1701  or  1792.  Its  growth  was  not  rapid  during  the 
first  half-century  of  our  corporate  existence,  though  it  is  evident 
that  from  the  spiritual  awakening  that  characterized  the  first 
years  of  the  nineteenth  century  the  Methodists  gathered  their  full 

1  The  foregoing  history  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  prepared  by  the 
Rev.  M.  V.  B.  Knox  in  the  last  year  of  his  pastorate  in  1887. 

VOL.  II.  —  18 


274  History  of  Littleton. 

share  of  the  harvest,  and  from  that  time  on,  though  they  have  left 
no  recorded  history  of  their  transactions,  we  know  they  were  an 
important  element  in  the  religious  development  of  our  people. 

The  Methodist  Church,  as  a  rule,  evinced  great  wisdom  in  the 
selection  of  agents  for  the  accomplishment  of  its  purposes,  and 
this  attribute  was  manifested  when  it  assigned  Sullivan  Holman 
to  this  town  in  1850.  He  possessed  energy,  devotion,  knowledge 
of  human  nature,  and  a  democratic  spirit  that  made  him  a  con- 
genial companion  with  all  sorts  and  conditions  of  men.  These 
qualities  enabled  him  to  clearly  discern  the  conditions  prevailing  in 
this  town  and  to  gather  up  the  unorganized  and  to  some  extent 
diverse  elements  that  failed  to  find  a  satisfactory  religious  home 
within  the  fold  of  the  Congregational  Society.  The  task  assigned 
him  was  difficult,  but  he  succeeded  in  accomplishing  it  to  the  satis- 
faction of  all  concerned,  —  to  none  more  so  than  to  the  large  body 
of  citizens  who  were  not  associated  with  Methodism  but  who  were 
interested  in  the  highest  welfare  of  this  community. 

Mr.  Holman  was  of  a  family  that  had  four  sons  proclaiming 
from  the  pulpit  the  doctrines  taught  by  the  Wesleys.  These 
sons  were  among  the  influential  members  of  the  New  Hampshire 
Conference,  and  each  possessed  a  dominant  trait  that  was  in  a 
measure  denied  the  others.  Sullivan,  as  has  been  said,  was  an 
energetic  man,  with  a  persuasive  business  instinct,  and  was  noted 
among  his  clerical  associates  as  a  church  builder.  It  has  been 
said  by  one  of  his  biographers  that  lie  began  and  closed  his  active 
ministerial  career  by  building  a  church.  "  When  but  twenty  years 
of  age  he  supervised  the  building  of  a  church  at  Putney,  Vt.,  .  .  . 
and  in  his  sixty-seventh  year  raised  up  a  society  at  Centralville 
near  Lowell,  and  erected  a  church,  a  beautiful  brick  structure." 

In  personal  appearance  Mr.  Holman  was  attractive.  His  form  was 
slight,  but  every  movement  nervous  and  indicative  of  physical  and 
mental  strength  ;  his  features  were  somewhat  irregular ;  the  fore- 
head, broad  and  high,  protruded  over  the  dark  cavernous  eyes, 
and  the  face  narrowed  to  the  chin  ;  his  hair,  light  brown  in  color, 
gathered  about  his  well-formed  head  in  abundant  curling  locks; 
his  voice  was  resonant  and  clear.  The  general  character  of  his  ser- 
mons was  that  of  appeal  reinforced  by  abundant  illustrations,  with 
a  sufficient  theological  basis  for  the  framework,  and  these  were 
so  mingled  and  delivered  with  a  sincerity  and  force  that  led  each 
individual  in  his  audience  to  believe  that  the  sermon  was  intended 
for  his  personal  consideration.  It  was  doubtless  this  power  of 
personal  application  that  led  to  the  very  successful  revival  that 
crowned  his  work  in  this  town.  An  incident  connected  with  his 


Ecclesiastical  History.  275 

pastorate  here  which  he  always  recalled  with  pleasure  was  an 
invitation  he  received  from  a  number  of  the  young  men,  some  of 
whom  were  not  regular  members  of  his  congregation,  to  deliver 
an  address  specially  prepared  for  their  instruction.  This  sermon 
was  delivered  on  the  evening  of  March  30,  1851,  to  a  large  audi- 
ence that  tilled  the  new  church.  It  was  an  appropriate  and  eloquent 
discourse  and  received  the  approbation  of  all  who  heard  it.1 

Mr.  Holman  was  united  in  marriage  in  1840  with  Aseneth 
Stevens  ;  they  had  one  child  who,  when  resident  here,  was  a 
beautiful  boy  of  some  eight  or  nine  years,  who  united  in  his  person 
the  sweetness  and  grace  of  his  mother  and  the  nervous  force  of 
his  father.  He  was  destined  to  an  early  grave  and  passed  away 
soon  after  they  removed  from  town.  The  mother  died  in  1865, 
and  in  1868  Mr.  Holman  married  Harriet  F.  Ayer,  of  Concord. 
Mr.  Holman  died  at  Nashua,  April  16,  1896,  aged  nearly  seventy- 
six  years. 

The  successor  of  Mr.  Holman  at  this  station  was  Rev.  Dudley 
Prescott  Leavitt,  a  quiet,  refined,  scholarly  man  of  fine  ability  and 
great  dignity  of  character.  In  some  respects  he  was  a  strong  con- 
trast to  his  predecessor.  Mr.  Holman  was  of  light  complexion, 
ardent  temperament,  rapid  in  action  and  speech.  Mr.  Leavitt 
was  dark-skinned,  cool,  and  moderate  -in  action,  and  spoke  with 
deliberation.  As  a  preacher,  he  was  given  to  logical  methods, 
and  sought  to  convince  the  judgment  rather  than  to  awaken  the 
emotional  nature  of  his  hearers.  Both  were  successful  preachers 
and  much  liked  in  this  town.  Mr.  Leavitt  was  regarded  as  one  of 
the  strong  men  of  the  conference  and  as  one  of  its  ablest  preach- 
ers. This  was  his  third  assignment;  his  first  was  at  Walpole,  his 
second  at  Chesterfield,  for  one  year  each.  He  remained  here  the 
then  usual  time,  two  years,  and  was  successively  stationed  at 
Whitefield  and  Bethlehem,  Nashua,  Newport,  East  Salisbury,  Mass., 
Portsmouth,  Dover,  and  Concord.  In  1866  he  was  for  a  year 
Presiding  Elder  of  the  Florida  District  of  the  South  Carolina 
Mission  Conference,  and  was  assigned  to  Tilton  (then  Sanbornton 
Bridge)  in  1867  ;  in  1868  he  was  transferred  to  the  Providence 
Conference,  and  was  for  two  years  stationed  at  New  Bedford  ; 

1  "As  a  token  of  gratitude  "  the  young  men  who  extended  the  invitation  presented 
Mr.  Holman  with  a  gold-headed  cane.  The  presenters  were  Albert  Balch,  Horace 
Davenport,  Hiram  Eastman,  L.  A.  Felton,  E.  F.  Green,  Matthew  Hale,  James  K. 
Hatch,  B.  W.  Kilburn,  Edward  Kilburn,  Willis  Martin,  Aaron  Brackett  Miner,  ttobert 
Harvey  Nelson,  George  K.  Paddleford,  Charles  C.  Smith,  Alpheus  Sawyer,  Henry  L. 
Tilton,  Thomas  S.  Underwood,  William  C.  Woolson,  George  S.  Woolson,  Henry 
Bolton,  and  Levi  W.  Sanborn.  It  is  believed  that  all  but  Benjamin  W.  Kilburn,  Henry 
L.  Tilton,  and  T.  S.  Underwood  have  passed  to  their  final  reward. 


276  History  of  Littleton. 

from  1871  to  1873  he  labored  in  Newport,  R.  I. ;  he  was  then  for 
six  years  in  Providence,  three  years  each  at  Chestnut  Street  and 
Trinity  churches  ;  two  years  at  East  Weymouth,  Mass.,  and  two  at 
Willimantic,  Conn.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  General  Conference 
in  1876  and  again  in  1884.  At  the  close  of  his  pastorate  in  Con- 
necticut he  retired  to  Mel  rose,  Mass.,  where  he  passed  to  his  re- 
ward in  October,  1893.  In  the  Methodist  Church  the  character 
of  a  clergyman's  appointments  is  not  always  a  reliable  indication 
of  his  ability  and  power  as  a  teacher  or  preacher,  but  no  one 
could  have  been  uniformly  placed  in  charge  of  such  important 
churches  who  was  not  among  the  first  in  these  respects  in  his 
conference. 

Mr.  Leavitt  was  twice  married,  first  to  Caroline  Frances  Howe, 
May  1,  1850.  She  died  in  1852.  He  married,  second,  while 
stationed  here,  Elvira,  daughter  of  James  Clark,  of  Landaf'f. 

Rev.  Larncd  L.  Eastman,  son  of  James  and  Polly  French 
Eastman,  was  born  in  Canaan,  near  Hanover,  March  12,  1813. 
The  Eastman  family  were  industrious,  frugal,  enterprising,  devout, 
typical  New  Hampshire  farmers  of  the  first  order.  Mr.  Eastman 
was  a  worthy  son.  His  soul,  like  that  of  David,  was  full  of  music. 
Educated  in  the  common  school,  with  a  good  stock  of  common 
sense,  with  a  gift  of  song  and  marked  genial  qualities,  assisted 
by  an  energetic  wife,  he  did  good  work  for  two  years  in  Littleton. 
The  outline  of  his  life  work  is  as  follows:  Ordained  deacon  by 
P>ishop  Morris  in  Newmarket,  May  12,  1850  ;  elder  by  Bishop 
Baker  at  Nashua,  June  13,1852;  preached  in  Alexandria  and 
Hebron,  1848-41);  Warren  and  Wentworth,  1850-51 ;  Lancaster, 
1852-53;  Littleton,  1854-55;  Winchester,  lcS56-57  ;  Raymond, 
1858-59;  Amesbury,  Mass.,  1860-61;  Peterborough,  1802-63; 
Sunapee,  1864-65:  Mcthuen,  Mass.,  1866-68;  Warren,  1*69 ; 
without  appointment,  1870  ;  Moultonborough,  1871-72  ;  Groveton, 
1875;  without  appointment,  1873-74,  1876-96.  His  permanent 
home  was  in  Methuen,  Mass.  For  many  years  he  was  a  trustee 
and  a  liberal  patron  of  the  New  Hampshire  Conference  Seminary. 
He  married,  April  3,  1839,  Lucy  A.  Currier,  of  Enlield,  and  had 
two  children,  James  Henry  and  Mary  Ann. 

The  following  incident  related  by  himself  is  of  personal,  local, 
and  general  interest :  — 

"  Mrs.  Eastman  and  myself  drove  to  the  White  Mountain  House, 
left  our  team,  and  with  guide  rode  on  horseback  to  the  top  of  Mount 
Washington,  where  we  were  to  stop  some  days  with  old  friends  who 
kept  the  hotel  on  the  summit.  There  eame  on  a  terrible  storm,  lasting 
two  days  and  three  nights.  On  that  last  awful  night  the  unfortunate 


Ecclesiastical  History.  277 

Miss  Lizzie  Bourne,  of  Kennebunk,  Me.,  perished  but  a  short  dis- 
tance from  the  Tip  Top  House,  where  we  were  comfortably  sleeping. 
How  painful  the  fact  was  to  us,  I  can  never  describe.  We  were  the 
only  compan}-  present  on  that  beautiful  yet  veiy  sad  morning.  I 
helped  to  cany  in  the  dead  girl.  After  making  every  possible  effort  to 
revive  the  dear  girl  without  success,  and  to  comfort  and  make  comfort- 
able the  uncle  and  his  daughter  who  did  but  just  survive  the  terrible 
night,  our  guide  having  returned,  we  proposed  to  descend.  The 
view  from  the  top  of  the  mountain  was  glorious.  The  storm  had  thor- 
oughly cleared  the  atmosphere.  We  could  distinct!}*  see  the  sun  emerge 
from  the  silver  bosom  of  the  sea.  Then  the  mighty  mountains,  the 
hills,  lakes,  rivers,  with  the  milk3T-white  clouds  floating  far  below,  here 
and  there  giving  glimpses  of  country  and  village,  furnished  a  scene 
transcending  description.  Toward  the  west  the  Green  Mountains,  with 
intervening  countiy,  lay  in  beautiful  quiet  at  our  feet.  North  and 
south  the  view  was  limited  only  by  the  ability  of  the  eye  to  see.  We 
safely  made  the  descent,  found  our  team  awaiting  us  at  the  White 
Mountain  House,  and  returned  to  our  home  and  work  in  Littleton, 
with  impressions  sad  and  beautiful,  never  to  be  forgotten." 

Rev.  Josiah  Prescott  Stincb field,  son  of  Nathan  Morse  and  Ca- 
linda  White  Stinchfield,  was  born  in  Phillips,  Franklin  County, 
Me.,  October  21,  1828  ;  was  educated  in  Farming-ton,  Me.,  and 
the  Biblical  Institute,  Concord,  N.  H.,  from  which  he  gradu- 
ated in  1855.  He  was  ordained  elder  in  the  New  Hampshire 
Conference  at  Manchester,  April  8,  1860,  by  Bishop  Simpson. 
His  fields  of  labor  were  as  follows :  Hillsboro',  Antrim,  Little- 
ton, Piermont,  Southwick,  Manchester  First  Church,  Deerficld, 
London ;  and  in  Maine,  Lowell,  Raymond,  and  Bath. 

Mr.  Stinchfield  was  appointed  to  the  church  in  Littleton  at  the 
session  of  the  conference  held  in  this  town.  He  was  a  man  of 
light  complexion,  nervous  temperament,  gentlemanly  address. 
His  sermons  were  short,  crisp,  and  attractive.  He  remained  but 
one  year,  but  took  from  our  town  for  a  wife  one  of  Littleton's 
finest  daughters,  Sarah  M.,  daughter  of  Ebenezer  Eastman.  There 
were  four  children :  Belle,  Charles  Eben,  Frank  Eastman,  and 
Bertha  L. 

Mr.  Stinchfield  died  at  Brunswick,  Me.,  in  December,  1887, 
and  lies  buried  in  Glenwood  Cemetery. 

In  1857  and  1858  the  Rev.  George  Nelson  Bryant  was  stationed 
here.  He  was  born  in  New  Boston,  May  21,  1824,  and  was  edu- 
cated at  Newbury  Seminary,  Vt.  He  married  Ann  Maria  George, 
of  Newbury,  May  16,  1851.  Their  only  child,  Arthur  P.  Bryant, 
was  horn  at  Newfields  in  1868.  Mr.  Bryant  has  been  connected 


278  History  of  Littleton. 

with  the  New  Hampshire  Conference  from  the  beginning  of  his 
ministry.  He  preached  for  a  time  at  Brookline.  Since  1893  he 
has  been  living  in  a  quiet  way  at  Newbury,  Vt.,  where  he  died 
May  9,  1901. 

Mr.  Bryant  was  a  good  preacher,  clear,  quaint,  honest  in 
expression,  withal  a  little  blunt,  but  a  good  worker  and  faithful 
man.  His  sermons  were  often  listened  to  with  impatience  at  the 
beginning  of  his  several  pastorates,  but  interest  was  sure  to  be 
awakened  before  many  Sundays  passed,  and  in  the  end  his  strong 
logical  methods  and  sincerity  of  purpose  accomplished  much  good 
where  others  who  were  considered  eloquent  preachers  would  have 
left  behind  nothing  but  a  memory  to  mark  their  pastorate. 

He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Lewis  Putnam  Cushman,  who  was 
the  son  of  Ezra  and  Catherine  Cushman,  and  was  born  at  Middle- 
sex, Vt.,  November  22,  1825.  He  united  with  the  church  at 
Middlesex  in  1843,  and  was  soon  after  licensed  to  preach.  He 
joined  the  Vermont  Methodist  Conference  in  1849,  at  Peach  am, 
Vt.  He  was  ordained  deacon  by  Bishop  Janes  in  1851,  and  elder 
by  Bishop  Waugh  in  1853. 

He  married  Miss  C.  A.  Newell  at  Winchester,  N.  IT.,  Novem- 
ber 12,  1849,  Rev.  Jared  Perkins  performing  the  ceremony.  He 
has  had  seven  children,  four  of  whom  are  dead.  His  eldest  daugh- 
ter, Clara,  an  accomplished  Christian  lady,  had  been  in  1889  five 
years  a  missionary  in  China,  and  was  soon  to  return  to  that  field 
of  labor. 

Mr.  Cushman  was  a  member  of  the  New  Hampshire  Legislature 
in  1862  for  Landaff. 

His  ministerial  work  has  been  in  the  following  fields:  1849, 
Derby,  Holland  Margin,  and  Charleston  Circuit ;  1850-51,  Walden  ; 
1852,  Guildhall  Circuit,  embracing  Guildhall,  Middleton,  Bruns- 
wick, Bromfield,  Limington,  Canaan,  Hereford  ;  1853-54,  Marsh- 
field,  Vt. ;  1855,  transferred  to  the  New  Hampshire  Conference 
and  stationed  two  years  at  Bristol;  1857-58,  Lancaster ;  1859- 
60,  Littleton;  1861-62,  Landaff;  1863-65,  Bethlehem  and  White- 
field  ;  1866,  transferred  to  the  Vermont  Conference  and  stationed 
at  Shelburn  ;  1867,  Franklin.  Being  again  transferred  to  the  New 
Hampshire  Conference,  he  was  stationed,  1868-70,  at  Rochester; 
1871-7=3,  Lawrence  (Garden  Street)  ;  1874,  Tilton  ;  1875-77, 
Nashua  (Chestnut  Street);  1878,  Fisherville  ;  1879,  transferred 
to  Texas,  since  which  time  in  Texas  and  Louisiana  he  has  been 
Presiding  Elder,  and  some  of  the  time  editor  of  the  "'  South 
Western  Christian  Advocate."  He  was  a  man  of  giant  frame 
and  robust  health.  During;  the  first  twentv-two  rears  of  his 


Ecclesiastical  History.  279 

ministry  he  lost  but  three  Sabbaths  on  account  of  sickness.  He 
was  an  opportunist,  yet  a  man  of  character.  Though  not  a  pol- 
ished speaker,  he  was  original  and  often  eloquent.  Mr.  Cushman 
was  transferred  to  the  New  England  Conference  in  1885,  and 
filled  important  church  appointments  in  Massachusetts.  He  died 
in  Newton,  Mass.,  in  March,  1904.  He  came  of  a  hardy  stock, 
being  a  nephew  of  Park  Cushman,  who  lived  to  almost  reach  the 
century  mark. 

Rev.  George  Seymour  Barnes  succeeded  Mr.  Cushman  in  18G1, 
and  delivered  his  first  sermon  when  the  people  were  mightily 
stirred  by  war  and  rumors  of  war  and  the  masses  were  more 
concerned  for  the  salvation  of  their  country  than  for  their  souls. 
The  new  minister  was  an  ardent  patriot  and  divided  Ids  time  fairly 
between  the  interests  of  the  church  and  those  of  the  nation.  In 
the  course  of  time  he  came  to  believe  that  duty  demanded  that 
his  personal  services  should  be  given  to  the  cause  of  his  country, 
and  while  considering  the  question  of  enlistment  he  received  an 
appointment  as  Chaplain  of  the  Seventeenth  Regiment  New  Hamp- 
shire Volunteer  Infantry,  and  a  few  days  after  was  tendered  the 
same  position  in  the  Second  Regiment,  which  he  declined.  In 
November,  1864,  he  was  commissioned  Chaplain  of  the  Twenty- 
ninth  United  States  Colored  Troops,  with  which  he  served  until 
after  the  close  of  the  war.  He  received  his  discharge  at  Browns- 
ville, Tex.,  November  6,  1865.  He  left  the  service  with  a  high 
reputation  for  such  soldierly  and  ministerial  qualities  as  his  posi- 
tion required,  and  more ;  for  his  interest  in  the  men  often  lured 
him  to  points  of  peril  that  he  might  minister  to  their  wants,  and 
once,  at  Bermuda  Hundred,  he  was  wounded  in  the  groin  by  a 
fragment  of  a  shell  and  was  compelled  to  pass  several  weeks  in 
the  hospital. 

On  his  return  he  was  assigned  to  Greenland,  and  at  the  close  of 
this  pastorate  removed  to  the  West,  where  his  clerical  duties  were 
prosecuted  under  the  authority  of  a  Michigan  conference. 

Mr.  Barnes  is  a  Green  Mountain  boy,  born  at  Charlotte,  May  24, 
1829.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  Bakersfiekl  Acad- 
emy, and  the  Biblical  Institute  at  Concord  ;  married  Miss  Sarah 
L.  Lamb  in  1854,  who  died  in  1880;  in  1881  he  married  Miss 
Emma  Lamb.  He  had  three  daughters  who  arc  married  and 
reside  in  Michigan. 

The  pastorate  of  Mr.  Barnes  in  this  town(was  cast  in  perilous 
times  and  was  broken  by  bis  services  in  the  war.  lie  is  remem- 
bered as  an  earnest  preacher  possessing  many  attractive  qualities 
both  in  and  out  of  the  pulpit.  Few  residents  of  the  town  gave 


280  History  of  Littleton. 

more  of  their  time  and  energies  to  raising  troops  than  he  did,  and 
if  the  growth  of  his  church  in  his  time  was  less  than  normal,  the 
fact  may  be  attributed  to  what  he  regarded  as  the  supreme  call  of 
his  country.1 

The  conference  in  1863  assigned  to  this  station  Rev.  Silas 
p]verard  Quimby,  then  a  young  man  who  had  been  graduated  from 
Wesleyan  University  with  the  class  of  1859,  studied  divinity,  and 
for  a  time  taught  Greek  and  Mathematics  at  Newbury  Seminary. 
He  came  from  Newbury  to  this,  his  first  charge.  Both  he  and  his 
wife  were  of  Methodist  stock  that  had  been  tried  for  years  in  the 
lire  of  itineracy  and  not  found  wanting,  he  being  the  son  of  Rev. 
Silas  Quimby,  a  zealous  laborer  in  the  Lord's  vineyard  for  more 
than  fifty  years,  while  Mrs.  Quimby  was  a  daughter  of  Rev.  Orange 
Scott,  whose  service  in  the  same  cause  covered  an  equal  period. 
She  too  was  a  teacher  at  Newbury  Seminary  previous  to  her  mar- 
riage and  an  accomplished  Christian  woman.  She  departed  this 
life  at  Tilton  in  1901.  The  pastorate  of  Mr.  Quimby  covered  the 
conference  years  of  1863  and  1864.  He  served  his  people  during 
those  years  with  great  acceptance  ;  he  was  diligent,  studious,  com- 
panionable, and  a  most  instructive  and  helpful  preacher  of  the 
Divine  Word.  At  the  close  of  his  pastorate  he  resumed  his  labors 
as  a  professor  at  the  Seminary  at  Newbury,  where  he  remained 
until  1867 ;  during  the  last  year  lie  was  principal  of  that  institu- 
tion. Upon  leaving  the  Seminary  he  was  located  in  succession  at 
Lebanon,  Plymouth,  Exeter,  Sunapee,  Whitefield,  Laconia,  New- 
market, Exeter  again,  Rochester,  Penacook,  Salem  Depot,  1897- 
1900;  conference  evangelist,  1901  ;  supplied  the  church  in  this 
town  during  the  absence  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cramer  for  study  from 
October,  1901,  to  March,  1902  ;  Milton  Mills,  1902-03.  He"  was  a 
delegate  to  the  General  Conference  in  1885  and  in  1896,  and  has 
been  Conference  Secretary  continuously  since  1877  ;  President  of 
the  New  Hampshire  Conference  Seminary  from  1878  to  1885. 
This  enumeration  indicates  to  some  extent  how  laborious  his  life 
lias  been  for  forty  years. 

Rev.  Hiram  L.  Kclsey,  son  of  Hiram  and  Hannah  Robinson 
Kclsey,  was  born  in  North  Danville,  Vt.,  August  31,  1835  ; 
worked  on  a  farm  until  twenty-two  years  of  age ;  fitted  for 
college  at  St.  Johnsbury  Academy  ;  graduated  from  Wesleyan 
University,  18(51  ;  was  ordained  deacon  at  Haverhill,  Mass.,  April 
12,  18(53,  by  Bishop  Baker ;  elder  at  Dover,  April  16,  1865, 
by  Bishop  Ames;  paid  his  way  through  college  by  teaching  a 


Ecclesiastical  History.  281 

district  school  and  giving  private  instruction.  In  1861  he  taught 
a  preparatory  school  in  Middletown,  Conn.  In  1862  he  was 
pastor  of  a  Methodist  Church  in  Union  Village,  also  in  1863  ;  at 
Littleton,  in  1864  ;  afterward  he  was  stationed  at  Plymouth,  Man- 
chester, Portsmouth,  Claremont,  Nashua  (Chestnut  Street).  He 
was  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  in  Hollis  three  years  ; 
at  Brockton,  Mass.,  five  years  ;  at  Suffield  three  years.  For 
several  years  he  supplied  different  Congregational  pulpits.  In 
1896  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  and  in  the  insurance 
business  in  Worcester,  Mass.  He  married  Sara  E.  Lummis  July 
13,  1861  (deceased  October  19,  1877 ;  buried  at  Littleton) ;  mar- 
ried Mrs.  N.  M.  S.  Moore  June  3,  1879;  has  had  nine  children, 
several  deceased.  Mr.  Kelsey  is  tall,  of  light  complexion,  and  fine 
address,  a  pulpit  orator,  a  man  of  pronounced  views  and  tena- 
cious opinions,  a  radical  in  politics,  and  an  advanced  thinker  in 
theology. 

Upon  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Kelsey  there  came  to  this  station 
a  man  cast  in  an  entirely  different  mental  mould.  Rev.  Truman 
Carter  was  a  native  of  the  town,  a  scion  of  the  family  which 
settled  late  in  the  eighteenth  century  at  the  west  end.  It  mul- 
tiplied and  increased  in  obedience  to  the  Biblical  command 
to  an  extent  that  would  have  given  ample  satisfaction  to  our 
President.  Truman  was  the  son  of  Enoch,  who  was  the  son 
of  Thomas,  the  son  of  Moses,  born  in  Kingston  in  1739.  Thomas 
came  to  Littleton  in  1798,  and  in  1818  removed  to  Peacham, 
Yt.  His  son  Enoch  was  born  in  this  town  in  1807  or  1808  ;  in  1830 
he  married  Mary  Carter,  who  was  probably  of  kin  to  him, 
and  two  of  their  children  were  born  in  this  town.  When 
Truman  was  in  his  twentieth  year,  he  was  converted  and  joined 
the  Methodist  Church  ;  in  1855  he  was  given  a  local  preacher's 
license,  and  seeking  an  education  that  would  qualify  him 
for  a  wider  field  of  usefulness,  attended  Newbury  Seminary  in 
1855-56  ;  in  1857  he  entered  the  Biblical  Institute  at  Concord 
and  completed  his  course  in  1860.  During  this  period  he 
preached  as  supply  nearly  every  Sabbath.  He  was  stationed 
in  Littleton  from  1865  to  April,  1867.  This  pastorate  was 
eminently  successful  both  from  a  spiritual  and  a  business  point 
of  view,  and  the  church  prospered  in  an  unusual  degree  under 
his  administration.  Mr.  Carter  was  not  blessed  with  a  strong 
constitution,  but  was  endowed  with  a  spirit  that  conquered  this 
infirmity  and  enabled  him  to  accomplish  much  for  the  cause  to 
which  lie  devoted  his  strength  and  his  days.  He  strove  with  all 
his  might  to  do  good  to  his  fellow-men,  and  the  results  were  an 


282  History  of  Littleton. 

ample  reward  for  his  labors.  He  was  a  pleasing  and  instructive 
preacher  and  a  pulpit  orator  of  no  mean  endowments.  Like  all 
who  know  they  have  a  message  to  deliver  to  dying  men,  he  worked 
and  pleaded  with  zeal  and  pathos,  and  his  plain  and  direct  words 
found  lodgment  in  the  hearts  of  hundreds  and  bore  fruit  meet  for 
repentance. 

Mr.  Carter  joined  this  conference  after  finishing  the  course 
at  the  Biblical  Institute  in  I860,  and  was  located  first  at  Rumney, 
then  at  Whitefield,  Jefferson,  Littleton,  Lisbon,  Lawrence  (Gar- 
den Street),  Nashua  (Chestnut  Street).  In  1872  he  was  for 
a  season  engaged  in  evangelistic  work  ;  he  then  went  to  Cole- 
brook  and  afterward  to  Laconia  and  East  Kingston.  The  last 
eighteen  active  years  of  his  life  were  passed  in  Kansas,  where 
he  worked,  chiefly  as  supply,  at  Centralia,  Seneca,  Osborn,  Bloom- 
ington,aRd  Marysville  ;  at  these  places  many  were  converted  under 
his  ministry. 

In  1896  he  returned  East  to  pass  the  closing  years  of  his 
life  among  friends  of  his  earlier  days.  On  May  13,  1898, 
while  attending  church  service  at  Ipswich,  Mass.,  he  was  stricken 
and  on  the  19th  passed  to  his  reward.  Of  him  his  conference 
biographer  said  :  "  Brother  Carter  had  a  rich  and  happy  experi- 
ence. He  was  a  very  instructive  and  unctuous  preacher.  His 
glowing  heart  trembled  in  the  pathos  of  his  resonant  voice.  In 
pulpit,  altar,  and  pastoral  work  he  did  with  his  might  what  his 
hands  found  to  do.  ...  If  any  man  wrought  to  the  utmost  of  his 
ability,  Truman  Carter  wras  that  man." 

Rev.  Alfred  E.  Drew,  son  of  Aaron  and  Marion  Drew,  was 
born  at  Fairfax,  Vt.,  September  14,  1841,  and  educated  at  New- 
bury  Seminary,  Yt.,  and  Concord  Biblical  Institute,  graduating 
June  14,  1866,  completing  a  three  years'  course  in  two  years  ; 
ordained  elder  at  Lisbon  April  11,  1869,  by  Bishop  Clark. 
Stationed  at  Littleton,  1867-68,  and  subsequently  at  Bristol, 
Concord,  Haverhill,  .Mass.  (Grace  Church),  at  Lawrence,  Mass. 
(Garden  Street),  and  Manchester.  He  then  was  transferred  to  the 
New  England  Southern  Conference  and  located  at  New  Bedford, 
Mass.  (Pleasant  Street),  in  1883-85.  Mr.  Drew  is  not  at  this 
time  connected  with  any  conference.  He  has  been  engaged 
in  business  in  New  Hampshire  and  Florida,  preaching  part 
of  the  time,  living  in  the  winter  in  Boston.  Mr.  Drew  married 
Anna  E.  Atwood,  of  Newbury,  Vt.,  July  17,  1867,  bringing  his 
bride  to  Littleton  ;  he  has  one  child,  Katie  A.  Drew.  Mr.  Drew 
was  a  good  musician,  and  would  sometimes  sing  rather  than 
speak  a  quotation  from  a  hymn  which  was  used  to  illustrate 


Ecclesiastical  History.  283 

a  point  in  a  sermon  ;  he  was  also  a  diligent  student  and  graceful 
pulpit  orator.  He  pushed  his  work  with  great  energy  and 
was  held  in  high  esteem  by  all.  If  the  promise  of  his  youth- 
ful pastorate  in  this  town  was  fulfilled  in  his  after  assign- 
ments, the  pulpit  was  deprived  of  a  preacher  of  more  than  usual 
accomplishments  when  he  entered  the  crowded  marts  of  trade. 

The  youngest  pastor  was  followed  successively  by  two  of  the 
oldest  who  have  been  appointed  by  the  Methodist  Conference 
to  this  town.  The  first  of  these  was  James  Moers  Bean,  who, 
owing  to  broken  health  and  a  desire  to  try  a  change  of  climate, 
remained  but  one  year.  He  was  born  in  Sandwich  in  1827,  and 
his  early  youth  and  manhood  were  passed  in  the  midst  of 
some  privations  and  constant  work  upon  a  farm.  In  these 
years  not  the  least  of  his  efforts  were  those  put  forth  to  acquire 
an  education.  He  became  a  member  of  the  church  in  1847,  and 
in  1851  was  licensed  to  preach  by  Rev.  Elisha  Adams.  During 
his  preparatory  studies  his  health  failed,  and  it  was  not  until 
1858  that  he  was  able  to  resume  necessary  work  at  the  Institute 
at  Concord.  He  united  with  the  conference  in  1861,  having 
been  ordained  a  deacon  in  1858.  His  first  charge  was  at 
Rumney  in  1861 ;  this  was  followed  by  appointments  to  Landaff 
in  1863,  Haverhill  in  1865,  London  in  1868,  and  Littleton  in 
1869.  In  the  hope  that  a  change  might  improve  his  health, 
in  the  early  summer  of  1870  he  went  to  Illinois,  where  he 
labored  two  years  at  Savanna,  and  three  at  Prairie  Centre, 
La  Salle  County.  Closing  his  ministerial  career,  he  made  his 
home  at  Lanark  in  that  State,  and  from  thence  was  called  to  his 
eternal  home  in  April,  1895.  One  who  knew  him  well l  writes 
that  he  was  "  a  dignified  Christian  gentleman  ;  modest,  faithful, 
and  zealous.  .  He  was  an  able  preacher  and  a  very  successful 
pastor.  He  had  '  gifts,  grace,  and  usefulness.'  With  all  he  had 
the  rare  tact  of  administering  all  the  affairs  of  the  church,  the 
happy  art  of  keeping  his  people  united  and  interested.  He  was 
wise  to  win  souls  and  to  train  them  to  Christian  usefulness.1" 

The  other  and  eldest  of  the  clergymen  of  this  denomination 
assigned  to  Littleton  was  John  Currier,  who  was  born  at  Walden, 
Vt.,  July  23,  1805,  and  entered  into  his  heavenly  heritage 
April  25,  1891. 

Brought  up  on  a  farm  in  a  region  where  the  marks  of  the  axe 
of  the  pioneer  were  still  everywhere  visible,  his  educational  advan- 
tages were  meagre;  but  his  thirst  for  knowledge  was  such  iliat  he 
overcame  the  conditions  of  his  environment,  and  soon  became  a 

1  New  Hampshire  Conference  Official  Journal,  189G,  pp.  170-181. 


284  History  of  Littleton. 

teacher  as  well  as  a  student,  and  in  this  useful  art  he  was  eminently 
successful.  It  should  be  said  that  he  continued  through  life  to 
be  a  diligent  student,  not  only  of  theology,  but  of  history,  litera- 
ture, art,  and  the  useful  sciences.  Converted  in  1828,  the  following 
year  he  was  received  into  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  his 
native  town,  and  the  succeeding  year  was  licensed  to  preach,  and 
soon  after  joined  the  Annual  Conference  ;  was  ordained  deacon 
in  1832,  and  elder  in  1834.  He  was  three  times  married,  —  first 
to  Martha  Foster,  who  died  in  May,  1852.  In  June,  1854,  he 
married  Mary  L.  Howard,  who  died  in  1863,  and  in  1864  he  was 
married  to  Mrs.  Sarah  M.  Wheeler,  of  Newport.  He  had  three 
children,  one  son  and  two  daughters. 

His  first  appointment  was  to  the  Lyndon  and  St.  Johnsbury 
circuit  (six  towns),  1830-31  ;  then  followed  Danville,  Mont- 
pelier,  Danville,  Chelsea,  Rochester,  Barre,  Northfield ;  super- 
annuated, 1844-45 ;  Presiding  Elder  on  Montpelicr  District, 
1846-50  ;  Presiding  Elder  on  Danville  District,  1850-54;  Lebanon, 
N.  H.,  1854-55;  then  at  Sanbornton  Bridge,  Newport,  Manchester, 
Bristol,  Sandwich,  Salem  (Pleasant  Street),  Salisbury,  Mass., 
Littleton,  1870-71,  and  North  Haverhill,  1872-74  ;  supernumerary, 
1875-83  (residence,  North  Haverhill)  ;  superannuated,  1884-91 
(residence,  Montpelier,  Vt.).  In  1845  lie  was  agent  for  the  Ver- 
mont Bible  Societv.  In  1848  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  General 

•/  O 

Conference  at  Pittsburg. 

It  will  be  noted  that  his  appointment  to  this  town  was  the  last 
but  one  he  received,  and  that  he  was  sixty-five  years  of  age  at  the 
time,  —  an  age  when  the  mental  powers  are  supposed  to  have  passed 
their  prime,  but  he  was  seemingly  as  alert  and  vigorous  of  mind 
as  a  young  man  with  his  future  filled  with  ambitious  projects 
before  him.  His  labors  met  with  gratifying  success.  His  was 
the  power  that  reached  all  classes  and  conditions  with  the  word 
he  was  commissioned  by  the  Master  to  preach.  He  appealed 
alike  to  the  head  and  the  heart  with  persuasive  force.  His 
ministry  of  more  than  fifty  years  was  attended  through  its  en- 
tire course  with  spiritual  awakenings  that  bore  eloquent  testi- 
mony to  his  power.  He  believed  the  Methodist  Church  to  have 
been  established  as  a  revival  church,  and  he  never  relaxed  his  zeal 
to  keep  alive  in  the  hearts  of  his  people  the  consecrated  spirit 
of  John  Wesley. 

During  his  pastorate  at  North  Havcrhill  he  served  a  term  as 
Chaplain  of  the  New  Hampshire  Legislature.  At  the  conclusion 
of  that  pastorate  he  was  placed  on  the  supernumerary  list,  and 
continued  to  reside  at  that  place  and  act  as  chaplain  of  the 


Ecclesiastical  History.  285 

county  almshouse  until  1884,  when  he  retired  to  the  superan- 
nuated list,  making  his  home  with  his  only  surviving  child,  Mrs. 
Hinckley,  at  Montpelier,  Vt. 

The  closing  scene  in  his  ministerial  life  is  thus  related  hy  Rev. 
J.  W.  Adams.  When  the  veterans'  list  was  called  at  the  confer- 
ence held  at  Newport  in  April,  1891,  "  no  one,"  he  says,  "  who 
heard  his  farewell  address  can  ever  forget  it.  Heaven's  sunshine 
was  upon  him,  and  his  soul  was  aflame.  As  he  congratulated 
himself  upon  the  grace  that  had  saved  him,  and  upon  having 
shared  in  so  blessed  a  ministerial  work  and  fellowship,  and  upon 
the  soul-rapture  of  this  border-land  of  his  eternal  inheritance,  it 
seemed  as  if  we  could  see  the  stakes  and  cords  of  his  weather- 
beaten  tabernacle  loosen,  and  as  if  he  was  about  to  make  his  trium- 
phant ascension  before  our  eyes.  All  hearts  were  melted.  Bishop, 
ministers,  laymen,  all  wept  as  they  beheld  his  shining  face  and 
heard  his  victorious  shout.  It  was  a  wonderful  testimony.  We 
did  not  know  it,  but  it  was  his  dying  message,  and  it  could  not 
have  been  more  beautiful,  fitting  and  complete." 

At  the  close  of  the  conference  he  went  to  Manchester  to  visit 
his  sister,  and  there  was  soon  stricken  with  pneumonia,  and  expired 
on  the  last  day  of  the  week,  April  25,  1891.  It  can  truly  be  said 
of  this  saintly  man  that  he  possessed  the  confidence  and  respect 
of  all  who  made  his  acquaintance. 

In  1872-73  the  church  was  in  charge  of  the  Rev.  George  Beebe, 
a  full  record  of  whose  life  would  read  like  a  romance  rather  than 
a  plain  tale  of  the  progress  through  this  life  of  one  whose  self- 
appointed  mission  was  to  do  good,  to  promote  the  welfare  of  his 
fellows,  and  to  serve  the  land  of  his  adoption. 

Mr.  Beebe  was  born  in  Bascomb,  Somersetshire,  England,  June 
9,  1828.  When  eleven  years  old  his  mother  died,  and  he  came  to 
America,  and  for  some  years  lived  in  Brooklyn,  X.  Y.  He  attended 
the  schools  of  that  city. 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  war  with  Mexico  he  joined  the  army 
under  the  command  of  General  Scott,  and  participated  in  six  of 
the  seven  engagments  that  marked  the  progress  of  the  army  from 
Vera  Cruz  to  the  city  of  Mexico.  He  received  several  promotions 
in  the  minor  grades  of  the  service  for  meritorious  conduct,  held  a 
sergeant's  warrant,  and  was  awarded  a  silver  medal  for  bravery 
in  action. 

Returning  to  New  York,  lie  entered  the  University  of  that  city, 
and  pursued  his  studies  in  the  Medical  school,  at  the  same  time 
taking  a  special  course  in  the  Academic  department  of  the  Univer- 
sity. Having  been  graduated,  he  began  practice  as  a  physician  in 


286  History  of  Littleton, 

Brooklyn.  He  married,  in  1853,  Minerva  Hunt,  who  was  born  in 
Gilford.  She  was  a  most  devoted  Christian  and  helpmate  in  her 
husband's  work,  both  as  minister  and  physician.  They  had  eight 
children,  three  of  whom  died  at  Newcastle  in  the  spring  or  early 
summer  of  1863.  Mrs.  Beebe  died  at  Chichester  in  March,  1871. 
He  married,  in  1874,  Ardelle,  daughter  of  Charles  C.  Knapp, 
formerly  of  this  town.  Since  Mr.  Beebe's  death  she  has  become 
the  wife  of  Samuel  J.  Meade,  and  they  are  located  as  missionaries 
at  Melange,  South  Africa. 

At  the  time  Mr.  Beebe  received  his  university  degree  he  was 
almost  persuaded  to  forego  the  practice  of  his  profession  and  study 
for  the  ministry,  and  after  some  months  devoted  to  ministering  to 
the  bodily  ills  of  his  patients  in  Brooklyn,  who  patronized  him  in 
sufficient  numbers  to  give  promise  of  a  successful  career,  he  came 
to  regard  the  call  to  preach  the  Gospel  so  distinct  that  it  was  not  to 
be  denied.  Accordingly  he  applied  to  the  agent  of  "  The  Society 
for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel,"  and  under  the  auspices  of  that 
organization  was  given  a  missionary  appointment  to  the  Isles  of 
Shoals,  where  he  was  located  until  the  country  when  in  sore  need 
called  for  the  services  of  every  available  man,  and  in  1863  he  ac- 
cepted a  contract  surgeon's  warrant  and  was  successively  stationed 
in  the  hospitals  at  Manchester,  Concord,  and  at  the  theatre  of  war. 
In  1865  he  resumed  his  duties  at  the  Shoals,  and  for  five  years 
served  the  people  of  the  islands  as  their  pastor,  physician,  school- 
master, justice  of  the  peace,  and  for  four  terms  (1866  to  1869,  in- 
clusive) represented  the  ancient  town  of  Gosport  in  the  Legislature 
of  the  State,  —  a  multiplicity  of  duties  such  as  fall  to  the  lot  of  few 
men,  —  and  he  discharged  each  in  a  spirit  of  entire  self-abnegation, 
and  it  is  safe  to  assume  to  the  material  and  moral  welfare  of  the 
people  among  whom  his  lot  was  cast.  In  1867,  having  been  ex- 
cused by  the  conference  from  the  regular  course  of  study,  he  joined 
the  New  Hampshire  Conference,  and  was  ordained  elder,  and 
under  its  jurisdiction  returned  to  the  Shoals  annually  until  1870, 
when  he  received  an  appointment  to  Chichester,  where  he  remained 
two  years.  In  1872-73  he  was  stationed  in  this  town;  in  1874- 
75  at  Lisbon,  and  in  April,  1876,  he  received  his  last  conference 
assignment,  it  being  to  Bethlehem,  where  he  passed  away  in  March, 
1877.  He  had  long  been  a  sufferer  from  a  disease  of  the  heart. 
His  remains  rest  in  Glenwood  Cemetery. 

Mr.  Beebe  was  a  man  of  strong  personality ;  tall  and  angular, 
slow  of  motion  and  of  speech,  thoughtful,  serious,  and  determined, 
he  was  always  about  his  business ;  if  conditions  did  not  seem  to 
favor  his  purposes,  he  had  a  way  of  so  shaping  matters  as  to  gain 


Ecclesiastical  History.  287 

his  end.  One  who  knew  him  well  while  he  was  stationed  here 
gives  this  estimate  of  the  character  and  attainments  of  Mr.  Beebe, 
and  relates  an  incident  illustrating  his  skill  in  dialectics : 1  — 

"  He  was  a  man  of  incisive  intellectual  powers  and  original  intel- 
lectual methods.  He  found  the  people  of  this  communit}-  entirely 
complacent  on  the  subject  of  religion.  They  agreed  with  him  in  doc- 
trines, approved  of  his  preaching,  and  treated  him  socially  with  marked 
consideration.  But  as  to  concerning  themselves  in  regard  to  the  sub- 
ject of  his  Sunday  discourse  after  the  pronouncement  of  the  benediction, 
they  disclosed  only  a  polite  species  of  indifference. 

'  The  sermon  now  ended, 
Each  turned  and  descended. 
The  eels  went  on  eeling; 
The  pikes  went  on  stealing ; 
Much  delighted  were  they, 
But  preferred  the  old  way.' 

On  the  problem  thus  presented  by  the  parish  Mr.  Beebe  deliberated.  His 
reflections  resulted  in  the  conclusion  that  his  sermons  lacked  the  pene- 
trating quality  ;  that  his  admonitions  and  arguments  rolled  off  the  in- 
different consciences  of  his  auditors  as  water  runs  over  the  duck's  back. 
He  discovered  that  they  never  discussed  his  sermons,  and  never  paused 
in  the  prosecution  of  their  worldly  concerns  to  comment  on  any  occur- 
rence in  the  house  of  worship,  unless  it  might  be  some  incident  out  of 
the  due  course  of  ecclesiastical  conduct  in  connection  with  the  service. 
He  addressed  himself  to  this  particular  aspect  of  the  case.  He  deter- 
mined to  make  people  talk  about  the  sermons.  From  that  time  even" 
sermon  contained  statements,  illustrations,  and  invectives  of  the  most 
startling,  not  to  say  extravagant,  character.  People  did  talk  about  the 
sermons ;  curiosity  led  those  not  accustomed  to  church-going  to  attend 
his  services.  Indifference  was  changed  to  interest,  interest  to  solici- 
tude, solicitude  to  a  religious  awakening  such  as  had  not  been  known 

ZD  O 

in  this  town  for  }-ears. 

"  Mr.  Beebe  and  Harry  Bingham  developed  a  sort  of  intellectual 
affinity,  though  in  their  occupations  and  active  personal  pursuits  they 
were  seldom  on  common  ground  or  in  close  relations. 

"  On  one  occasion  they  fell  into  conversation  on  the  subject  of  fatal- 
ism. Mr.  Bingham  adverted  to  the  doctrines  of  Jonathan  Edwards 
with  quite  marked  manifestations  of  approval.  He  inquired  of  Mr. 
Beebe  how  it  could  be  otherwise  than  that  the  foreknowledge  of  God 
concerning  all  coining  events,  the  most  important  and  the  most  trivial, 
presupposed,  indeed  made  inevitable,  a  sequence  of  occurrences  exactly 
in  conformity  to  that  prescience  ;  and  if  the  Creator's  plans  were  or- 

1  Albert  Stillman  Batchellor. 


288  History  of  Littleton. 

dered  from  the  beginning,  how  could  there  be  any  divergence  from  that 
plan  in  the  progress  of  events  ? 

"  Mr.  Beebe  replied  at  once  that  he  had  never  failed  to  appreciate 
the  force  of  that  logic.  If,  however,  the  plans  and  orderings  of  the 
Creator  are  to  be  sought  in  the  Scriptures  ;  if  it  be  concluded  that 
Christ  is  to  be  regarded  as  the  oracle  of  God  above  all  others,  he  pre- 
ferred to  accept,  even  against  the  inexorable  arguments  of  Edwards,  the 
plain  command  of  the  Bible,  '  Choose  ye  this  day  whom  ye  will  serve,' 
with  all  its  implications,  and  with  its  absolute  elimination  of  the  doc- 
trine of  election  and  foreordination  as  valid  and  tenable  tenets  of  the 
Christian  doctrine.' 

"•  lie  said  further,  'that  he  could  not  believe  that  the  Son  of  God 
would  command  his  children  to  attempt  a  moral  and  intellectual  im- 
possibility; to  choose  what  it  would  not  be  possible  for  them  to 
choose.' 

"  Mr.  Bingham  was  in  a  '  brown  stud)1 '  for  some  minutes,  and  when 
he  recovered  himself,  the  minister  had  gone.  He  remarked,  however, 
in  a  sort  of  soliloquy,  '  The  parson  is  an  adroit  old  cuss  (probably  mean- 
ing customer)  in  dialectics.' " 

As  a  result  of  Mr.  Beebe's  pastoral  work  the  membership  of 
his  own  and  other  evangelical  churches  of  the  town  was  largely 
increased.  He  first  awakened  the  people  and  gained  the  sympa- 
thy and  co-operation  of  pastors  and  members  of  other  religious 
societies  in  the  movement  that  was  carried  on  by  the  Rev.  Charles 
J.  Fowler,  evangelist  in  the  revival  of  1873,  which  brought  within 
the  folds  of  the  several  churches  a  larger  number  of  converts  than 
any  other  religious  awakening  in  the  history  of  the  town,  with  the 
possible  exception  of  that  conducted  by  Rev.  James  Gallaher  in 
1856. 

As  a  Representative  in  the  Legislature,  he  was  diligent  in  the 
discharge  of  the  special  duties  assigned  to  his  charge,  constant  in 
his  attendance  upon  the  sessions  of  the  House,  and  popular  with 
his  associates.  He  was  not  a  frequent  speaker,  and  never  occu- 
pied the  attention  of  the  body  of  which  he  was  a  member  except 
in  explanation  of  some  measure  reported  from  his  committee. 
At  his  first  session  he  was  a  member  of  the  committee  on  educa- 
tion ;  in  1867  he  was  chairman  of  the  committee  on  mileage  ;  in 
1868  was  a  member  of  the  important  special  committee  on  the 
establishment  of  a  state  constabulary,  with  special  reference  to 
the  enforcement  of  the  prohibitory  liquor  laws,  and  at  the  session 
of  1869  was,  at  his  own  request,  excused  from  committee  work. 
During  his  second  and  third  terms  among  his  fellow  legislators 
was  George  Abbott  of  this  town,  one  of  the  most  prominent  mem- 
bers of  the  church  over  which  Mr.  Beebe  was  subsequently  to  pre- 


Ecclesiastical  History.  289 

side  for  two  years,  and  it  was  as  Representatives  that  a  warm  and 
lasting  friendship  was  formed  between  these  gentlemen.  Mr. 
Beebe  was  elected  as  a  Republican,  but  it  sometimes  happened  that 
he  could  not  indorse  the  political  action  of  that  party.  He  took 
great  interest  in  all  measures  calculated  to  promote  the  cause  of 
education,  and  was  especially  interested  in  temperance  matters, 
using  his  best  efforts  to  strengthen  the  laws  in  that  behalf. 

The  career  of  Mr.  Beebe  was  like  that  of  many  another  friendless 
youth  who,  born  in  another  land,  made  his  way  to  honor  and 
usefulness  in  this,  where  opportunity  is  open  to  all  to  rise  above 
the  dead  level  of  common  things.  He  accepted  all  the  obligations 
imposed  by  Christian  citizenship  and  led  the  way  for  others  to 
follow.  He  served  his  adopted  country  with  credit  in  two  wars, 
and  when  his  professional  career  was  full  of  promise  abandoned 
the  paths  that  led  to  material  success  and  for  many  years  devoted 
himself  to  the  spiritual  and  human  interests  of  the  fishermen  on 
a  lonely  isle  in  the  sea,  where  the  rewards  were  such  as  are  only 
bestowed  by  a  consciousness  that  something  has  been  accomplished 
to  ameliorate  the  condition  of  one's  fellow-men. 

Rev.  George  W.  Ruland,  son  of  George  and  Eliza  Ruland,  was 
born  in  Brookhaven,  N.  Y.,  April  29,  1840 ;  took  an  academic 
course  in  Bellport  Military  and  Classical  Institute,  and  a  theologi- 
cal course  at  Concord,  graduating  in  1867.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  and  Odd  Fellows  Societies ;  a  corporal  in  tbe  One 
Hundred  and  Second  Regiment  N.  Y.  Volunteers,  1861-62,  Banks' 
Army  Corps  in  the  Shenandoah  valley  army.  He  was  ordained 
by  Bishop  Janes  in  Rochester,  April  16,  1871.  His  appointments 
were  Raymond,  1866-68  ;  then  at  Hampton,  Laconia,  Amherst, 
and  Milford,  Littleton,  1874-76  ;  then  to  Greenland,  Suncook,  and 
Milford.  He  joined  the  Congregational  Church,  and  has  been 
settled  at  Greenfield,  Westmoreland,  and  Dublin,  and  is  now 
preaching  at  Stoddard. 

He  married,  in  June,  1867,  Mary  E.  Weeks,  of  Patchogue,  X.  Y. 
Children:  Laura  W.,  and  Elliott  C.,  deceased.  During  Mr.  Ru- 
land's  ministry  in  Littleton  the  church  debt  was  paid,  the  old 
horse-sheds  removed,  a  chapel  built  in  the  rear  of  the  church,  and 
a  camp-meeting  house  erected  at  the  Weirs. 

The  Rev.  Nelson  McDonald  Granger,1  son  of  Rev.  P.  N.  and 
Laura  S.  Granger,  of  the  Vermont  Annual  Conference,  was  born 
at  Granville,  Vt.,  August  10,  1840,  and  died  at  Lisbon,  N.  II., 
April  23,  1880,  aged  forty  years,  eight  months,  and  thirteen  days. 

1  From  Memoir  of  Nelson  M.  D.  Granger  appearing  in  tlie  Minutes  of  tlie  New 
Hampshire  Annual  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for  1881,  p.  41. 
VOL.  n. —  19 


290  History  of  Littleton. 

His  early  training  in  a  truly  Christian  home  bore  its  appropri- 
ate fruit.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  at  the  Brookfield  Camp- 
Meeting,  Vt.,  September  1,  1854,  he  gave  his  heart  to  God  and 
received  renewing  grace.  In  1857  he  entered  Newbury  Seminary, 
where  lie  studied  four  years,  thus  fitting  himself  for  the  profession 
to  which  he  subsequently  felt  himself  called.  At  Corinth,  Vt., 
under  the  pastorate  of  his  father,  February  10,  1861,  he  united 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  the  same  year,  June  12, 
at  Lyndon,  Vt.,  he  received  a  local  preacher's  license.  Soon  after, 
he  entered  the  Methodist  General  Biblical  Institute  at  Concord, 
N.  II.,  where  he  remained  two  years.  In  1862  he  became  a  pro- 
bationer in  the  Vermont  Annual  Conference.  He  was  ordained 
deacon  by  Bishop  E.  S.  Janes,  and  received  into  full  connection 
in  that  conference  in  1864. 

He  was  married,  January  28,  1863,  at  Kir  >y,  Vt.,  to  Miss  Lizzie 
P.  Browne.  They  had  five  children. 

On  account  of  ill  health  Mr.  Granger  sustained  a  superannuated 
relation  to  the  Vermont  Conference  from  1868  to  1871,  devoting 
his  time  to  farming,  preaching,  and  the  study  of  medicine.  In 
1871  he  was  transferred  from  the  Vermont  to  the  New  England 
Conference,  and  in  1875  joined  the  New  Hampshire  Conference. 

Mr.  Granger's  ministerial  appointments  in  Vermont  were  as  fol- 
lows :  1862,  at  Lyndon  and  Kirby  ;  in  1868,  at  Northfield  Falls; 
1865,Royalton  ;  1866,  Cornish  ;  1867,  Waitsfield.  As  before  men- 
tioned, in  1868  he  retired  from  the  effective  ministry  until  his 
transfer  to  the  New  England  Conference  in  1871,  when  he  was 
stationed  at  Blanford,  Mass.,  where  he  remained  two  years.  In 
1873  he  was  ordained  elder  by  Bishop  I.  W.  Wiley  at  Lynn,  Mass., 
and  appointed  to  South  Deerfield,  Mass.,  from  which  place,  after 
two  years  of  faithful  service,  he  was  transferred  to  the  New  Hamp- 
shire Conference  and  stationed  at  Greenland.  Here  he  labored 
with  zeal  and  fidelity  two  years,  and  was  then  appointed  to  Little- 
ton, where  he  remained  two  years.  His  next  appointment  was 
Lisbon,  where  he  closed  his  earthly  ministry  after  one  year  of 
earnest  work.  True,  he  received  one  more  earthly  appointment, 
at  Cilmanton,  but  to  this  he  never  went.  A  sudden  cold,  contracted 
when  [lacking  his  goods,  brought  on  typhoid  pneumonia  which  ter- 
minated fatally,  April  23,  1880.  In  the  impressive  words  of  his 
Presiding  Elder  at  his  funeral : 

"His  appointment  at  Gilmanton  stood  eleven  days,  when  the  Great 
Bishop,  to  whom  we' all  reverently  and  submissively  bow,  cancelled  it, 
and  gave  him  one  more  transfer,  the  most  fortunate  and  desirable  of 
all,  to  the  larger  conference  above,  the  City  of  the  New  Jerusalem." 


Ecclesiastical  History.  201 

The  Presiding  Elder  of  his  district  thus  sums  up  his  char- 
acteristics :  — 

(1)  "  As  a  preacher  he  was  fluent,  instructive,  and  somewhat  philo- 
sophical. (2)  As  a  pastor,  he  was  thoughtful,  familiar,  and  polite.  (3) 
As  a  reformer,  he  was  active,  but  was  more  radical  in  practice  than  in 
profession.  (4)  As  a  husband  and  father,  he  was  proud  of  his  family, 
jealous  of  their  reputation,  and  solicitous  of  their  welfare.  (5)  As  a 
friend,  he  was  hospitable,  social,  ardent,  and  true.  He  died  well ; 
not  only  sustained  himself,  but  he  sustained.  He  calmly,  cheerfully 
submitted,  and  exhorted  his  family  to  do  the  same.  Not  a  doubt  or  a 
fear  annoyed  him.  His  faith  was  clear,  steady,  and  strong.  Once  more 
our  holy  Christianity  is  vindicated.  He  is  added  to  the  long  list  of 
witnesses  who  have  proved  'this  is  the  victory  that  overcometh  the 
world,  even  our  faith.'  Let  us  cherish  his  memory  and  imitate  his 
virtues." 

The  Rev.  George  Asbury  McLatighlin,  who  followed  Mr.  Granger 
at  this  station,  was  born  at  Nashua,  October  13,  1851.     He  was  a 
son  of  the  Rev.  John  McLaughlin  of  the  Methodist  persuasion  who 
died  at  Charleston,  S.  C.,  in  1857  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-four 
years.     Springing   from    such    stock,  it  is  not  strange  that  his 
widowed  mother  should  have  directed  his  education  along  lines 
calculated  especially  to  fit  him  for  the  Methodist  ministry.     He 
was  a    student  for  a   time   at  Exeter   and   afterward    at  Tilton 
Seminary  and  was    graduated  with  the  class  of  1868.      Among 
his  classmates  were  A.  S.  Batchellor  of   this  town  and  the  Rev. 
M.  V.   B.  Knox  and  the  Rev.  H.  H.  Haynes,  who  have  presided 
over  churches  here,  — one  as  pastor  of  the  Methodist  Church,  the 
other  as  rector  of  All  Saints  Protestant  Episcopal  Church.     He 
entered  Wesley  an  University  in  1869  and  was  graduated  in  1873. 
He  ranked  well  for  scholarship  through  his  course.     During  the 
years  he  was  occupied  in  acquiring  an  education,  he  in  part  made 
his   way  by  teaching.     In   1875  he   married  Mary  E.  Henshaw, 
of  Middletown,  Conn.     Having  pursued  the  conference  course  in 
theology,  he  was  ordained  a  deacon  at  Dover  in  1877  by  Bishop 
Peck  and  as  elder  at  Plymouth  in  1877  by  Bishop  Foster.     His  as- 
signments have  been  :  Franklin  Falls,  1875-76,  followed  by  those 
at  Whiteficld,  Littleton,  Haverhill,  Mass.   (Wesley  Church),  La- 
conia,  Exeter ;  supernumerary,  1891-1900  ;  supply,  1901.     While 
sustaining  a  supernumerary  relation  he  was  engaged  as  an  evan- 
gelist with  headquarters  in  Chicago.     He  was  also  editor  of  the 
"Christian  Witness"  during  this  period,  and  engaged  in  general 
literary  work;  among   his  published   works  is    a  "Commentary 
on  John." 


292  History  of  Littleton. 

He  is  a  man  of  fine  physique,  handsome  features,  and  persuasive 
voice.  As  may  be  judged  from  his  long  continuance  in  evangeli- 
cal work,  he  is  a  fluent  and  eloquent  preacher  who  -reaches  the 
hearts  of  his  auditors. 

Among  the  ministers  assigned  to  Littleton,  as  a  preacher  and 
administrator  the  Rev.  George  Mitchell  Curl  has  attained  promi- 
nence. He  was  born  in  Elkhart,  Ind.,  October  6,  1848,  and  when 
sixteen  years  of  age,  being  then  a  resident  of  Iowa,  enlisted  in  a 
regiment  from  that  State  serving  in  the  'War  for  the  suppression  of 
the  Rebellion  and  gained  a  creditable  record  in  the  service.  The 
war  ended,  he  resumed  his  studies  and  entered  Carroll  College,  la., 
which  he  left  at  the  close  of  his  sophomore  year,  and  in  1870—71 
was  employed  in  teaching  at  Des  Moines.  Having  decided  to 
enter  the  ministry,  he  took  the  conference  course  and  was  ordained 
deacon  in  187-4  and  elder  in  1876. 

Mr.  Curl  joined  the  Northwest  Iowa  Conference  in  1873,  and 
his  first  appointment  was  to  Sioux  Falls  in  that  year.  Subse- 
quently he  was  at  Lake  City,  West  Side,  and  in  1877  came  to  this 
State,  where  he  supplied  at  New  Ipswich  three  years  and  Antrim 
two  years.  In  1881  he  joined  this  conference  and  was  continued 
at  Antrim;  from  thence  he  came  to  this  town,  where  he  remained 
two  years  (1882-83).  His  succeeding  appointments  have  been  at 
Claremont,  Great  Falls,  St.  Johnsbury  (Vermont  Conference), 
Baker  Memorial,  Concord,  and  in  1895  he  was  appointed  Presid- 
ing Elder  of  the  Concord  District.  After  a  year  he  went  to  Law- 
rence (Garden  Street).  In  1900  he  became  Presiding  Elder  of 
the  Manchester  District,  and  in  1903-04  held  the  same  position 
in  the  Concord  District. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Curl  is  a  strong  man  in  all  respects,  a  good 
executive,  and  an  excellent  preacher.  His  mind  is  active,  his 
memory  retentive,  his  thought  good,  his  expression  vigorous. 
He  aims  at  the  mark  and  hits  it.  He  knows  God  and  men  and 
is  in  favor  with  both.  He  was  a  man  before  he  became  a  preacher, 
and  "  is  a  workman  that  needeth  not  to  be  ashamed." 

The  pastor  of  this  church  in  1895  was  Rev.  Martin  Van  Buren 
Knox,  who  was  born  at  Schroon  Lake,  N.  Y. ,  October  4,  1841, 
Possessing  an  alert,  investigating  mind,  he  early  sought  to  acquire 
a  thorough  education.  Having  mastered  what  was  attainable 
in  the  common  schools  of  those  days,  he  obtained  the  pecuniary 
means  of  securing  a  higher  education  by  teaching  and  was  thus 
engaged  when  war  was  begun  by  the  bombardment  of  Fort 
Sumter.  Young  Knox  was  among  the  first  in  his  section  to 
enlist  for  the  contest.  He  joined  the  Twenty-second  Regiment 


Ecclesiastical  History.  293 

New  York  Volunteer  Infantry,  a  three  months'  organization. 
When  his  term  expired,  he  again  enlisted  in  the  One  Hundred 
and  Eighteenth  Regiment  of  Volunteers  from  his  native  State  and 
was  mustered  as  a  Corporal  in  Company  E.  Having  heen  dis- 
charged, he  was  promoted  and  mustered  as  Second  Lieutenant  in 
the  Twenty-third  Regiment  United  States  Colored  Infantry  in 
March,  1864.  He  was  successively  promoted  First  Lieutenant 
and  Captain  in  the  same  regiment.  While  on  duty  in  Texas, 
he  was  prostrated  hy  sunstroke  from  the  effects  of  which  he  has 
never  entirely  recovered.  After  a  service  of  nearly  four  years 
he  was  honorably  discharged  in  August,  1865.  His  military 
career  was  not  void  of  hazard  to  life  and  limb,  as  he  participated 
in  the  engagements  at  Suffolk,  Bottom's  Bridge,  Wilderness, 
Spottsylvania  Court  House,  North  Anna  Bridge,  Cold  Harbor, 
siege  of  Petersburg,  and  the  Mine.  At  the  last-named  engagement 
he  was  temporarily  disabled  by  a  bullet  which  would  most  likely 
have  terminated  his  career  had  it  not  been  warded  off  by  the 
contents  of  his  pocket.  As  it  was,  he  was  required  to  pass  several 
weeks  in  the  hospital  before  returning  to  duty. 

After  the  war  his  studies  were  resumed  at  the  Fort  Edward 
Institute,  New  York,  the  Biblical  Institute  at  Concord,  the  Semi- 
nary at  Tilton,  and  in  1868  he  entered  Wesleyan  University,  but 
ill  health  compelled  him  to  abandon  this  course  before  the  end 
of  his  freshman  year.  But  he  did  not  relinquish  the  much  desired 
object  aud  finally  obtained  his  bachelor's  degree  at  Baker  Uni- 
versity, Kansas,  in  1873.  He  then  became  Professor  of  Natural 
Sciences  from  1873  to  1877,  and  obtained  his  A.M.  in  1875.  For 
a  year  and  a  half  he  supplied  pulpits  near  Boston  while  he  took  a 
special  course  at  Boston  University,  and  that  institution  conferred 
upon  him  the  degree  of  A.M.  in  1879  aud  that  of  Ph.D.  in  1882. 

In  the  years  between  the  time  he  relinquished  the  course  at 
Wesleyan  University  and  1879,  except  the  time  devoted  to  his 
professorship,  he  supplied  pulpits  at  Warner,  East  Tilton,  and  at 
Barton,  St.  Johnsbury,  Fairlee,  and  Thetford  in  Vermont,  the 
Meridian  Street  Church,  East  Boston,  and  Brookline,  Mass.  He 
was  appointed  to  Clarcmont  in  1879,  where  he  remained  two  and 
a  half  years  ;  in  1882  he  was  sent  for  a  three  years'  service 
to  Lebanon,  and  in  1885  was  appointed  to  this  church. 

In  all  these  years  he  has  been  a  diligent  student  and  volumi- 
nous writer  on  natural  science,  theology,  and  temperance,  —  topics 
in  which  he  is,  both  naturally  and  professionally,  interested. 
Among  these  contributions  may  be  mentioned  '•  Catamites,''  '•  List 
of  Kansas  Mammalia,"  "  Additions  to  Kansas  Mammalia,"  "  Cli- 


29-4  History  of  Littleton. 

mate  and  Brains."  all  published  in  the  "  Proceedings  of  the  Kansas 
Academy  of  Sciences."  Two  papers  published  in  the  "  Alumni 
Proceedings  of  Boston  University  "  were  entitled  "Religious  Life 
of  the  Anglo-Saxon  Race  "  and  "  World  Preparation  for  the  Ad- 
vent of  Christianity."  While  at  Claremont  he  prepared  a  history 
of  Methodism  in  that  town.  More  recent  works  from  his  pen  are 
"  A  Winter  in  India  and  Malaysia,"  a  volume  of  three  hundred 
and  six  pages  ;  "  Aboriginal  Tribes  of  India,"  a  pamphlet  ;  and 
a  paper  in  the  "Methodist  Review  "  entitled  "  Turanian  Blood  in 
the  Anglo-Saxon  Race."  In  1892  he  was  appointed  President  of 
the  Red  River  Valley  University  at  Wahpeton,  N.  D.  His  fond- 
ness for  literary  pursuits  led  him  a  few  years  after  to  resign  this 
position,  and  he  has  since  devoted  his  time  to  study  and  the 
literary  art. 

Dr.  Knox  is  a  man  of  large  physique  and  dark  complexion  ;  of 
a  genial,  fraternal  spirit;  in  temperament  vigorous  and  impres- 
sive ;  in  scholarship  broad  but  not  profound  ;  in  mind  versatile 
but  not  analytical  ;  a  great  lover  of  books,  especially  history  and 
science  ;  a  radical  in  temperance,  an  earnest  advocate  of  woman's 
suffrage,  and  a  great  friend  of  the  poor.  He  is  very  fond  of  out- 
door life  and  an  expert  fisherman.  He  has  travelled  extensively, 
making,  among  other  journeys,  a  trip  around  the  world,  and  his 
services  are  in  demand  as  a  lecturer  on  prehistoric  man  and 
other  scientific  and  historical  subjects.  He  is  a  social  being,  fond 
of  good  companionship ;  he  keeps  in  touch  with  the  people  in 
public  matters. 

It  would  not  be  doing  justice  to  the  wholesome  influence  that 
was  wrought  through  the  ministry  of  Dr.  Knox  were  we  to  omit  to 
mention  the  work  accomplished  by  his  talented  and  cultivated 
wife.  She  not  only  presides  over  the  household  with  efficiency 
and  grace,  but  shares  with  her  husband  the  labors  and  burdens  of 
the  ministry  in  its  various  departments.  A  graceful  and  forceful 
writer,  an  eloquent  speaker,  she  pleads  the  cause  of  temperance 
and  woman's  rights,  and  preaches  religion  "  pure  and  undefiled  " 
with  the  ardor  of  a  prophet  and  the  skill  of  an  accomplished 
dialectician.  She  has  been  an  untiring  worker  for  every  good 
cause,  and  an  aid  to  the  Doctor,  whose  beneficent  influence  has 
received  just  appreciation  in  every  community  in  which  their  lot 
has  been  cast. 

Rev.  Perez  Mason  Frost  was  appointed  pastor  of  this  church  in 
April,  1888,  and  ho  was  successively  reappointcd  in  1889  and 
1890.  He  was  a  Methodist  by  right  of  inheritance  as  well  as  con- 
viction, being  the  son  of  Rev.  Pickering  Frost  of  the  Vermont 


Ecclesiastical  History.  295 

Conference.  The  son  was  born  at  Derby,  Vt.,  in  1840.  He  was 
educated  at  the  Wesleyan  Seminary  at  Springfield,  Vt.,  and  in 
1872  began  the  study  of  theology.  His  first  assignment  was  as 
supply  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Vermont  Conference  at 
Athens  in  that  State,  1872-73  ;  by  appointment  at  Proctorsville, 
1874-75  ;  then  successively  he  was  stationed  at  Putney,  West 
Faiiiee,  and  Windsor.  Under  the  New  Hampshire  Conference, 
his  appointments  were  at  Nashua,  1884  ;  Lebanon,  Littleton,  1888- 
90;  Haverhill,  Mass.  (First  Church),  1891-93;  Newport,  1894; 
supernumerary  from  1895  until  his  death,  in  1899,  which  occurred 
at  his  home  in  Haverhill,  Mass.  In  these  last  years  his  health 
was  much  broken,  and  his  only  ministerial  labor  was  at  Groveland, 
near  his  home,  where  he  served  as  supply  for  several  months. 

He  was  a  man  of  great  good  sense,  thoughtful  and  earnest  as 
a  preacher,  and  all  his  pastoral  work  was  faithfully  discharged 
with  an  eye  single  to  the  great  work  he  had  early  in  life  been 
commissioned  to  perform.  The  church  and  its  cause  had  no 
more  zealous  servant  than  it  found  in  Mr.  Frost. 

Following  Mr.  Frost  came  the  Rev.  Roscoe  Sanderson,  a  man  of 
many  accomplishments  and  one  who  in  his  ministry  was  both 
loved  and  respected  in  an  unusual  degree.  Born  in  Maine,  his 
ministry  was  begun  there  as  a  member  of  the  Western  Conference 
of  that  State  in  1864.  While  under  its  jurisdiction  he  held 
appointments  at  Bath,  Augusta,  Lewiston,  and  Portland,  and  was 
a  trustee  of  Wesleyan  Seminary  and  Female  College.  In  1890  he 
joined  the  New  Hampshire  Conference  and  was  appointed  to 
Plymouth,  Penacook,  Littleton,  Tilton,  Claremont,  and  Suncook 
He  is  a  trustee  of  the  Conference  Seminary  at  Tilton,  and  has  had 
other  official  relations  with  that  institution.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Sander- 
son is  a  man  of  fine  personal  presence  and  dignified  bearing'.  Con- 
servative in  thought,  studious  in  habit,  and  careful  in  expression, 
his  opinions  are  deliberately  formed  and  tenaciously  held.  lie 
is  a  stanch  Methodist,  a  great  admirer  of  the  spirit  and  work  of 
the  fathers.  His  life  is  devoted  to  the  interests  of  his  church  as 
he  understands  them,  leaving  outside  matters  to  others.  As  a 
man,  a  citizen,  and  a  preacher,  he  commands  the  respect  of  all. 

Upon  the  retirement  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Knox  the  Rev.  Charles 
Monroe  Howard  was  appointed  to  the  church  in  this  town.  The 
son  of  a  Methodist  minister  of  renown  in  this  jurisdiction,  he  was 
disinclined  to  follow  in  the  professional  footsteps  of  his  father  ;  but 
upon  the  completion  of  his  academical  studies  at  Exeter  Academy, 
he  was  persuaded  to  change  his  mind  in  this  respect,  and  took  the 
theological  course  at  Boston  in  1883-86,  and  was  ordained 


296  History  of  Littleton. 

deacon  in  1888  and  elder  in  1890.  His  ministerial  career  was 
brief,  covering  but  twelve  years,  with  six  appointments;  but  in 
these  years  he  gave  an  ample  test  of  his  quality  as  a  man,  as  a 
preacher  of  the  word,  and  as  a  Christian  that  placed  him  high  in 
the  ranks  of  his  denomination.  He  resided  here  four  of  these 
years,  and  it  is  no  disparagement  to  his  brethren  who  preceded 
and  followed  him  to  declare  that  in  all  the  qualities  that  combine 
to  make  the  ideal  clergyman  he  has  had  no  superior,  possibly  no 
equal,  in  the  Methodist  Society.  He  bore  in  his  personal  appear- 
ance and  demonstrated  by  every  act  that  in  very  truth  he  held  a 
divine  commission  to  lead  his  flock  heavenward.  His  manner 
was  benign  and  modest  to  the  degree  of  self-effacement ;  he  was 
delicate  in  health,  sensitive  in  spirit,  plain  but  saintly  in  personal 
appearance.  His  mind  was  clear,  well  balanced,  analytical ;  his 
style  calm,  earnest,  and  scholarly  ;  he  always  had  a  point  to  make 
and  made  it  ;  his  nature  was  deep,  conscientious,  and  persistent. 
He  was  an  independent  thinker  and  in  a  quiet  way  was  remark- 
ably successful  in  leading  others  to  adopt  his  conclusions.  He 
was  a  quiet,  positive  Christian  gentleman  of  the  highest  order. 
His  ministry  in  Littleton  was  a  great  success,  and  no  preacher  in 
this  town  ever  won  a  larger  circle  of  loyal  friends. 

After  leaving  this  town  he  was  appointed  to  one  of  the  churches 
of  his  denomination  in  Lawrence,  where  his  health  broke  down. 
He  then  went  to  Bethlehem,  where  he  strove  against  impending 
fate  to  continue  the  work  of  the  Master,  but  finally  was  persuaded 
to  try  a  radical  change  of  climate,  his  family  and  friends  hoping 
for  possible  benefit  from  such  a  course,  and  went  to  California, 
where  he  passed  away  on  Tuesday,  March  17,  190-).  When  the 
intelligence  of  his  death  reached  this  town,  arrangements  were  at 
once  made  for  a  memorial  service  which  was  held  at  the  Metho- 
dist meeting-house  on  Sunday,  March  22.  The  Rev.  T.  E.  Cramer 
spoke  for  the  church  :  the  Rev.  0.  S.  Baketel,  Presiding  Elder,  for 
the  conference  ;  the  Rev.  E.  C.  Langford,  as  a  personal  friend,  and 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Chutter  for  the  community.  The  ceremony  was 
largely  attended  and  very  impressive,  and  in  every  way  worthy  of 
tin-  knightly  soul  it  commemorated. 

The  Rev.  Thomas  Whiteside  came  to  this  church  upon  the 
departure  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Howard.  He  was  a  young  man  of  dig- 
nified address  and  scholarly  attainments.  Korn  in  Ireland,  he 
acquired  a  liberal  education  and  early  manifested  a  purpose  to 
enter  the  ministry.  Joining  the  New  Hampshire  Conference,  he 
was  sent  to  Antrim  in  1889  as  supply  and  appointed  to  the  same 
station  the  two  following  years.  He  was  then  successively  located 


Ecclesiastical  History.  297 

at  Exeter  and  Franklin  Falls,  before  being  assigned  to  this  town  in 
April,  1898,  where  he  remained  until  1900.  He  was  then  sent  to 
Portsmouth,  where  he  still  remains  and  is  highly  appreciated  by 
his  people.  One  who  knows  him  well  thus  describes  him  :  "  He  is 
every  inch  a  minister,  dignified,  studious,  careful,  and  earnest. 
He  lias  fine  qualities  of  head  and  heart.  While  not  lacking  in 
social  qualities,  the  instincts  of  the  scholar  are  especially  noticeable. 
He  makes  friends  slowly,  but  holds  them  tenaciously.  He  is  ever 
on  the  alert  to  advance  the  interests  of  the  kingdom  and  is  a 
most  conscientious  worker  in  the  cause  he  loves.  He  has  a  record 
for  good  works  in  the  lives  of  men." 

As  a  sermonizer  his  chief  characteristic  is  that  he  believes  his 
hearers  are  entitled  to  his  best  thought  after  laborious  and  intel- 
ligent investigation  of  the  subject  he  may  discuss,  rather  than 
to  a  melange  of  possibly  high-sounding  but  indifferent  platitudes. 
Accordingly  his  sermons  are  well  and  carefully  reasoned  out,  and 
presented  in  plain  but  appropriate  language  and  logical  form,  and 
are  instructive  if  not  always  soothing  to  the  mind  wearied  by 
worldly  cares  and  business  vexations. 

The  present  pastor  of  the  society,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Edmund 
Cramer,  came  here  in  1900  and  is  the  first  to  remain  longer 
than  four  years.  He  was  born  in  Johnstown,  Pa.,  October 
4,  1864,  the  son  of  a  Methodist  minister,  and  grandson  of  a 
Methodist  class  leader.  After  graduating  from  the  high  school 
of  his  native  city,  he  passed  t\vo  years  (1886-88)  at  Alleghany 
College,  Meadville,  Pa.,  and  the  two  following  years  in  Ohio  Wes- 
leyan  University,  Delaware,  Ohio,  graduating  in  1890.  He  then 
took  the  theological  course  at  Boston  University,  and  having  com- 
pleted this,  took  a  special  course  at  the  Drew  Theological  Seminary, 
Madison,  N.  J.  He  was  ordained  deacon  in  1892,  and  elder.  April, 
1896.  For  three  years  ending  in  1894  he  was  assistant  pastor  of 
St.  John's  Church,  South  Boston,  when  he  joined  the  conference 
of  this  State  and  was  located  at  Uillsborough  Bridge  and  East 
Decring  in  1894-96;  Hillsborough  Bridge,  1897  ;  Snmersworth, 
1898-99;  then  in  this  town.  In  1901-2  he  was  granted  leave  of 
absence  for  special  study,  October  to  April,  the  Rev.  Silas  E. 
Quimby  supplying  during  his  absence. 

Tbe  Rev.  Mr.  Cramer  has  held  the  position  of  assistant  secre- 
tary of  the  New  Hampshire  Conference  since  1894  ;  was  Secretary 
of  the  New  Hampshire  Conference  Epworth  League  in  1894-95, 
and  president  of  the  Manchester  District  Epworth  League  in 
1896-97.  He  has  not  been  an  extensive  writer  or  publisher,  but 
has  contributed  articles  to  various  denominational  publications, 


298  History  of  Littleton. 

a  mono-  them  sermons  entitled  "  Abundant  Life  in  Christ,"  Homi- 
letic  Review,  February,  1897;  "  A  Personal  Message  and  a  Per- 
sonal Response,"  Home  Review,  1898  ;  "  Christ's  Coming,"  Zion's 
Herald,  December  19,  1900,  and  "  The  Secret  of  an  Earnest  Life," 
Zion's  Herald,  July  22,  1903. 

He  married,  September  5, 1894,  Jenny  C.,  daughter  of  Rev.  G.  F. 
Love,  of  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.  They  have  one  child,  Martha, 
born  at  Hillsbor&ugh  Bridge,  January  5,  1896.  Beside  the  official 
positions  of  an  ecclesiastical  character  referred  to,  he  was  clerk 
in  the  post-office  at  Johnstown,  Pa.,  from  1880  to  1886,  and  for  a 
time  after  graduation,  assistant  postmaster  in  the  same  office  in 
1890-91. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Cramer  is  a  man  of  reserved  spirit  and  quiet 
manners,  devoted  to  his  family,  his  friends,  and  his  church  ;  pos- 
sessing an  occult  vein  of  humor  not  generally  recognized.  His 
written  sermons  are  thoughtful,  systematic,  and  scholarly  ;  he  is 
energetically  persistent  in  his  work,  and  succeeds  in  bringing 
things  to  pass.  His  church  rather  than  the  general  public  is  best 
qualified  to  estimate  his  work.  His  administrative  capacity  is 
large  ;  when  he  was  first  placed  over  the  society,  it  was  encumbered 
with  a  large  debt  which  under  his  pastorate  has  been  discharged. 

A  Sunday-school  was  the  first  organization  to  follow  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  church  in  1848.  It  has  been  successful  from  the 
start,  and  its  prosperity  has  kept  well  in  line  with  that  of  the 
church.  Its  early  records  have  disappeared,  and  the  faulty  mem- 
ory of  man  is  our  only  reliance  for  much  of  the  brief  account  of 
its  history  that  follows. 

The  school  was  organized  by  the  Rev.  Sullivan  Hoi  man  Avhile 
the  church  worshipped  in  the  old  Granite  Hall  connected  with  the 
Granite  House.  The  first  superintendent  was  Levi  F.  Ranlet. 
During  the  first  few  months  the  membership  was  something  like 
thirty  pupils  with  five  or  six  teachers,  among  whom  are  recalled 
the  pastor  who  taught  a  Bible  class  of  adults;  Laura  Sargent, 
Mrs.  Prusia  Jackson,  Calvin  J.  Wallace,  and  for  a  time  Nancy 
M.  Abbott,  a  sister  of  the  late  George  Abbott;  she  was  also 
a  member  of  the  first  choir.  After  the  society  took  possession 
of  its  church,  the  school  received  a  new  impetus  and  was  not  long- 
in  doubling  its  membership.  About  1853  Mr.  Ranlet  resigned 
the  superintendence.  Calvin  J.  Wallace  became  his  successor 
and  continued  to  hold  the  position  many  years.  Under  his  super- 
vision it  increased  in  numbers,  and  it  is  probable  that  by  1860  its 
membership  average  was  near  its  maximum.  The  school  was 
held  in  the  body  of  the  church  at  the  time,  and  not  infrequently 


Ecclesiastical  History.  299 

the  classes  were  compelled  to  occupy  pews  that  were  inconven- 
iently near  each  other. 

In  1867  Charles  H.  Applebee  was  chosen  superintendent  and 
continued  in  office  by  successive  elections  for  three  yekra.  The 
records  are  fairly  complete  from  1877  to  the  present  time,  and 
show  that  Mrs.  Charles  Taylor  was  superintendent  from  1877  to 
1881,  when  she  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Applebee,  who  in  turn  was 
succeeded  the  following  year  by  A.  E.  Joslyn.  Numerous  changes 
were  made  from  1883,  when  J.  S.  Brovvnlow  held  the  position, 
to  1894,  the  occupants  being  George  W.  Cowen,  George  C.  Austin, 
C.  W.  Williams,  two  terms  ;  Henry  0.  Jackson,  two  terms  ;  R.  C. 
Langford,  Mrs.  J.  E.  Robins,  Mrs.  Ira  Parker,  two  terms  ;  Dr. 
George  F.  Abbott,  Mrs.  L.  H.  Parker,  six  terms  ;  A.  VV.  Buffington, 
E.  C.  Langford,  two  terms,  and  John  T.  Lytle  in  1903.  The  school 
started  with  a  small  library  at  a  time  when  books  were  few  in  the 
town  and  those  difficult  to  obtain  by  the  general  reader,  and  the 
Sunday-school  library  was  the  only  available  source  of  supply  of 
reading  matter  for  many  boys  and  girls.  Obviously  it  was  com- 
paratively of  greater  importance  in  those  early  days  than  now 
when  books  are  a  drug  in  the  market.  The  collection  has  been 
constantly  increased,  and  at  present  they  constitute  a  creditable 
Sunday-school  library. 

There  have  been  several  young  people's  societies  connected  with 
the  church  during  its  history,  but  all  have  been  merged  in  the 
Epworth  League,  which  is  not  a  mere  local  auxiliary  organization, 
but  covers  the  land  with  hosts  of  eager  workers  in  the  cause  of 
Methodism.  The  local  chapter  was  established  in  February,  1891, 
when  it  was  officered  as  follows  :  Charles  H.  Stoddard,  president ; 
Wilfred  0.  Smith,  secretary  ;  and  Ethel  Aldrich,  treasurer.  The 
members  who  have  held  the  position  of  president  since  have  been  : 
Wilfred  0.  Smith,  1891-92;  Stephen  Mann,  1893;  W.  0.  Smith, 
1894 ;  Elmer  L.  Winslow,  one  term  in  1895  ;  Mrs.  Jennie  Bedell, 
four  terms,  1895-96;  Ebon  W.  Cole,  two  terms,  1897-98;  Alice 
Eastman,  the  same,  1898-99;  E.  W.  Cole  again,  1899;  E.  C. 
Langford,  a  term  in  1900-;  G.  C.  Cass,  a  term  in  the  same  year; 
and  Alice  Eastman,  two  terms  in  1901  ;  A.  W.  Buffington,  two 
terms;  G.  A.  Veazie,  two  terms;  A.  M.  Higgins,  one  term,  and 
Mrs.  S.  C.  Cass,  the  present  incumbent. 

The  original  church  edifice  was  a  beautiful  structure,  and  it  is 
now  the  boast  of  the  progressives  that  nothing  but  its  timbers  are 
left.  It  has  in  fact  been  rebuilt  and  "  improved  "  until  nothing 
but  its  belfry  crowned  by  one  of  the  superb  spires  of  the  State 
is  left  to  remind  us  of  what  the  edifice  of  1850  mav  have  been. 


300  History  of  Littleton. 

The  original  cost  was  more  than  $4,000.  The  first  improvement 
was  on  the  interior  in  1868  when  the  choir  gallery  was  lowered. 
The  second  was  to  build  on  an  addition  at  the  rear  of  the  house 
for  a  vest-ry.  This  was  done  in  1875  at  a  cost  of  $1 ,100.  In  1881 
the  old  interior  disappeared,  having  been  entirely  reconstructed  ; 
and  again  in  1888  the  building  was  raised  from  its  foundation  in 
order  to  make  room  for  a  vestry  or  assembly  room  for  the  social 
purposes  of  the*  society  in  which  84,000  was  invested.  In  1900 
the  interior  was  decorated  and  stained-glass  windows  substituted 
for  the  plain  glass  that  had  served  for  half  a  century.  The 
windows  are  eight  in  number,  four  being  figure  windows  and  four 
decorative.  All  are  memorials,  as  indicated  by  the  inscriptions 
which  follow:  — 

"  In  memory  of  Moses  K.  Wilcomb  and  wife,  gift  of  their  daughter." 

"  In  memory  of  George  Abbott,  gift  of  Mrs.  Emeline  Abbott." 

"  In  mernoiT  of  Ezra  Hale  and  wife,  gift  of  their  daughter." 

"  In  memory  of  Charles  Kellogg,  gift  of  his  children." 

"  In  memory  of  Herman  T.  Libbey,  gift  of  his  parents." 

"  In  memor}"  of  Dennis  Wheeler,  gift  of  his  wife." 

"  In  memory  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Gile." 

"In  memory  of  the  founders  and  early  supporters  of  this  church, 

including  Levi   Ranlet,  who  led    in  erection  of 

the  house  of  worship  dedicated 

Jan.  8,  1851." 

This  latter  window  was  provided  by  general  subscription,  and 
by  special  gifts  in  memory  of  various  individuals  among  the  early 
supporters.  The  total  cost  of  the  repairs  at  this  time  was  83.000. 
The  society  also  owns  a  fine  parsonage  upon  which  extensive  im- 
provements have  been  made  during  the  past  year.  The  church 
now  has  a  membership  of  230,  the  society  is  free  of  debt,  and 
every  department  of  its  work  is  prosperous. 

In  April,  1900,  the  New  Hampshire  Annual  Conference  for  the 
third  time  came  to  Littleton.  Observers  did  not  fail  to  note  a  great 
change  in  the  composition  of  the  membership  of  the  body  since  it 
last  met  here  in  1885  ;  many  once  familiar  faces  were  no  longer 
seen,  but  the  ranks  were  full.  Bishop  Fitzgerald  presided,  and  the 
sessions  of  the  conference  were  attended  by  large  and  interested 
audiences.  The  visiting  clergymen  and  their  friends  were  hos- 
pitably entertained  by  the  citizens  of  the  town. 

In  October,  1900,  the  society  observed  with  appropriate  services 


Ecclesiastical  History.  301 

the  first  centennial  of  Methodism  in  the  town,  when  the  circuit- 
rider  of  old  and  the  itinerant  of  the  present  received  their  meed  of 
praise.  William  F.  Whitcher,  of  Haverhill,  read  an  historical 
address  which  was  replete  with  the  local  lore  of  the  church.  A.  S. 
Batchellor  gave  an  address  on  Jesse  Lee  as  a  pioneer,  and  brief 
addresses  were  made  by  several  others. 

In  January,  1901,  was  celebrated  the  semi-centennial  of  the 
dedication  of  the  house  of  worship.  Appropriate  addresses  were 
delivered  by  Presiding  Elder  0.  S.  Baketel,  the  pastor,  and  J.  E. 
Robins,  D.D.,  and  local  pastors.  Letters  were  read  from  all 
the  former  pastors  then  living  as  well  as  one  from  the  Rev. 
J.  E.  King,  who  preached  the  dedication  sermon  fifty  years  before. 
When  we  consider  the  means  at  the  disposal  of  the  society  at  its 
organization  and  since,  its  achievements,  both  spiritual  and  ma- 
terial, must  be  regarded  as  having  been  directed  by  a  power  not 
seen  ;  for  mere  human  effort  such  as  they  could  exert  would  be 
unequal  to  the  accomplishment  of  so  great  a  task. 


302  History  of  Littleton. 


XXXIV. 

ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY   (Continued). 

THE   PROTESTANT   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH. 

THE  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  is  one  of  the  ancient  insti- 
tutions of  our  State.  The  first  edifice  erected  in  Ports- 
mouth for  religious  worship  was  an  Episcopal  Church.  It  was 
built  some  time  prior  to  1638,  and  its  first  pastor  was  the  Rev. 
Richard  Gibson.  Stormy  times  were  in  store  for  the  little  band 
of  immigrants  who  thus  claimed  the  privilege  of  worshipping  God 
according  to  the  dictates  of  their  conscience.  In  1641  New  Hamp- 
shire came  under  the  jurisdiction  of  Massachusetts,  and  in  1642 
the  Episcopal  clergyman  at  Portsmouth  was  summoned  to  Boston 
to  answer  to  the  charge  of  having  violated  the  polity  of  the  colony 
which  forbade  the  practice  of  clerical  duties  by  a  minister  of  the 
Church  of  England.  The  charge  could  not  be  denied,  and  was 
substantially  admitted  by  the  statement  made  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Gibson  when  called  upon  to  answer  before  the  authorities.  He 
escaped  imprisonment  by  agreeing  to  leave  the  colony.  This  par- 
ticular instance  of  the  enforcement  of  the  law  seems  to  have  been 
sufficiently  admonitory  to  the  churchmen  of  Portsmouth  to  deter 
them  from  making  further  effort  to  maintain  public  religious 
worship  in  accordance  with  the  form  prescribed  by  the  Book  of 
Common  Prayer,  while  their  chapel  was  transformed  into  a  Con- 
gregational meeting-house,  and  the  ample  acres  voted  to  those 
who  erected  the  first  edifice  also  came  into  the  possession  of  the 
u  State  Church." 

Nearly  a  hundred  years  elapsed  before  a  successful  effort  was 
made  to  re-establish  the  Church  of  England  in  New  Hampshire 
when,  in  1732,  Queen's  Chapel  was  erected  in  Portsmouth,  and 
four  years  after,  the  Rev.  Arthur  Browne  became  its  pastor  through 
the  agency  of  the  London  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel 
in  Foreign  Parts.  This  was  the  beginning  of  a  long  period  of 


Ecclesiastical  History.  303 

prosperity  for  the  parish.  Then  came  the  troublous  times  of  the 
Revolution,  when  the  Crown  and  the  Church  of  England  were 
alike  regarded  by  the  people  with  something  more  than  disfavor. 

About  the  time  Captain  Caswell  was  clearing  his  farm  on  the 
meadows,  in  1770,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Peters,  who  is  remembered  as 
the  author  of  a  notorious  u  History  of  Connecticut "  rather  than 
as  a  devout  clergyman,  was  making  a  clerical  visitation  to  the 
settlements  in  the  Connecticut  Valley  and  came  as  far  north  as 
Haverhill,  where  he  held  service.  The  Rev.  Raima  Cossit,  minis- 
ter at  Claremont,  visited  Haverhill,  giving  to  that  town  about  a 
fourth  of  his  time,  and  as  he  journeyed  up  and  down  the  valley 
held  a  service  when  he  could  gather  an  audience.  There  were  a 
number  of  church  people  at  Haverhill,  among  whom  were  Col. 
Asa  Porter  and  Col.  John  Hurd.1 

At  Holderness,  then  in  Strafford  County,  Samuel  Livermore 
had  settled  before  the  outbreak  of  the  war.  His  stately  colonial 
mansion  stood  where  the  Episcopal  School  for  Boys  now  is, 
just  opposite  Plymouth.  The  Judge,  as  he  afterward  became, 
before  coming  to  the  wilderness  had  resided  in  Portsmouth, 
had  been  a  warden  of  Queen's  Chapel,  and  Mrs.  Livermore 
was  a  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Arthur  Browne,  rector  of  that  chapel. 
These  antecedents  certainly  tended  to  render  him  more  than 
a  passive  churchman,  and  such  in  fact  he  was.  It  was  his 
practice  to  read  prayers  and  a  sermon  each  Sunday,  to  which 
all  his  neighbors  were  invited,  and  not  a  few  attended.  When 
the  war  was  ended,  and  opportunity  was  found  to  give  some 
attention  to  other  matters,  the  Judge  was  instrumental  in  build- 
ing a  church  near  his  residence.  Mr.  Robert  Fowle  officiated 
here  as  lay  reader  for  some  time,  but  in  1789  he,  being  a  deacon, 
took  charge  of  the  church,  and  in  1791,  having  been  ordained 
a  priest,  became  its  rector,  and  held  the  office  until  1847. 
Trinity  Church  was  the  first  organized  religious  society  in 
Holderness,  and  the  first  Episcopal  Church  erected  in  Graf  ton 
County. 

The  progress  of  the  church  in  this  county  stops  here  for 
more  than  half  a  century.  Sometimes,  but  at  long  intervals, 
a  service  was  held  at  Hanover,  and  possibly  elsewhere,  but 
no  church  edifice  was  built,  and  even  that  at  Holderness,  which 
had  withstood  adverse  conditions  so  many  years,  was  in  its 

1  It  lias  been  claimed  that  Colonel  Porter  was  not  a  churchman.  Calvin  R. 
Batchelder  refers  to  him  as  "  a  firm  friend  of  the  church."  See  "  A  History  of  the 
Eastern  Diocese,"  p.  272.  See  also  25  N.  H.  State  Papers,  p.  C2">,  for  a  copy  of  a 
document  indicating  the  animus  of  the  inhabitants  of  Haverhill  toward  Colonel  Hurd 
and  Colonel  Porter  on  account  of  church  relations. 


306  History  of  Littleton. 

wife,  Mrs.  Mary  Bowman,  and  Anna  L.  Brackett  were  among  those 
most  active  in  the  movement ;  but  there  were  others,  subsequent 
communicants,  as  well  as  some  who  never  became  members  of  the 
congregation,  who  rendered  material  aid.  The  movement  was 
successful,  and  plans  of  the  present  church  edifice  were  prepared 
by  Mr.  Upjohn  and  accepted  by  Bishop  Niles.  July  22,  1875,  the 
corner-stone  was  laid  by  the  Bishop,  assisted  by  the  Rev.  James 
Haughton,  of  Hanover,  and  the  Rev.  James  B.  Goodrich,  who  a 
month  previous  had  become  priest-in-charge.  Friday,  November 
19, 1875,  the  church  was  consecrated  by  Bishop  Niles,  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Eames  of  Concord,  the  Rev.  Howard  F.  Hill  of  Ashland,  and  the 
Rev.  J.  B.  Goodrich  assisting.  Sunday,  November  21,  1875,  the 
Rev.  A.  B.  Crawford  held  the  first  regular  service  in  the  church. 
The  presence  of  Dr.  Eames  must  have  been  a  source  of  great 
gratification,  alike  to  himself  and  to  those  who  had  been  instru- 
mental in  building  the  church  edifice.  Nearly  a  score  of  years  had 
come  and  gone  since  he  held  the  first  service  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  in  this  town.  The  seed  then  sowed  was  long 
dormant,  but  events  proved  that  it  had  fallen  on  good  soil,  and 
though  a  tender  plant,  continued  cultivation  by  the  sower,  and  the 
constant  care  and  watchfulness  of  the  Bishop,  nourished  and 
strengthened  it,  until  on  this  day  All  Saints  Church  stood  to 
the  glory  of  God,  fruit  goodly  and  fair  to  look  upon.  This  glad 
fruition  was  attained  by  the  aid  of  the  members  of  the  parish 
under  the  wise  supervision  of  Bishop  Niles. 

The  church  was  greatly  blessed  through  the  influence  which 
Dr.  Eames  exercised  in  its  behalf.  His  was  a  saintly  character, 
modest,  gentle,  brave,  and  persistent  in  well  doing ;  he  believed 
in  the  church,  and  never  faltered  in  his  efforts  to  plant  its  banner 
in  unfrequented  regions.  His  very  presence  was  a  benediction, 
and  no  person  came  within  the  circle  of  its  sway  without  feeling 
that  he  had  received  a  spiritual  blessing.  So  long  as  he  lived 
the  little  band  of  church  people  in  this  town  were  never  beyond 
the  reach  of  his  care  nor  forgotten  in  his  prayers. 

Words  fail  to  convey  an  adequate  estimate  of  the  labors  of  the 
women  of  the  parish,  not  only  in  building  the  church,  but  even 
to  the  present  day.  Few  in  number,  they  have  always  possessed 
that  unity  of  thought  and  movement  by  which  success  is  achieved. 
Mrs.  Charles  Hartshorn,  Mrs.  Henry  L.  Tilton,  Mrs.  George  A. 
Bingham,  Mrs.  Charles  Hodgman,  Mrs.  Chauncey  H.  Greene,  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Lovejoy,  Mrs.  A.  H.  Bowman,  and  Anna  L.  Brackett 
worked  in  season  and  out  of  season,  never  sparing  themselves 
in  their  labors  for  the  church,  and  the  younger  generation  is 


ALL    SAINTS   EPISCOPAL 


Ecclesiastical  H'istory.  307 

animated  by  the  same  spirit.  Bishop  Niles  once  said,  "  Give  me 
the  men  of  the  church  at  Lancaster  and  the  women  of  the  church 
at  Littleton,  and  I  will  show  you  an  ideal  parish." 

The  Rev.  James  B.  Goodrich,  the  first  rector,  the  following  year 
held  services  alternate  Sundays  in  Littleton  and  Lancaster.  The 
next  year  he  had  the  assistance  of  Henry  H.  Haynes,  then  lay 
reader,  so  that  services  were  held  every  Sunday  in  both  Lancaster 
and  Littleton.  Mr.  Haynes  being  obliged  to  resign  on  account  of 
ill  health,  the  Rev.  Anson  R.  Graves  assisted  the  Rev.  Mr.  Good- 
rich from  January,  1877,  until  June,  1877,  when  Mr.  Goodrich 
resigned  the  Littleton  Parish,  but  remained  in  charge  of  the  church 
at  Lancaster.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Goodrich  during  the  two  years  that 
he  had  charge  won  the  hearts  of  his  people,  and  was  ever  "  dili- 
gent in  business,  serving  the  Lord."  The  growth  of  the  church 
in  these  years  was  slow  but  sure,  and  when  Mr.  Graves  took  up 
the  work  alone  he  found  a  good  foundation  for  future  success. 
After  an  absence  of  twenty-two  years  Mr.  Goodrich  again  took 
charge  of  the  parish  at  Littleton  in  1899,  and  has  continued  the 
good  work  he  so  successfully  carried  on  for  the  first  two  years  of 
worship  in  the  beautiful  brick  church.  Mr.  Goodrich  is  a  clergy- 
man in  whom  sense  of  duty  is  paramount.  Courteous  in  manner, 
he  has  a  dignity  of  bearing  which  impresses  all  with  a  respect  for 
his  high  calling.  Zealous,  yet  conservative,  he  drops  into  the 
minds  of  his  hearers  each  Sunday  some  helpful  thought  for  the 
following  week,  and  his  influence  extends  beyond  the  bounds  of 
his  own  parish. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Graves  enthusiastically  took  up  the  labor  in  1877, 
and  for  three  years  faithfully  carried  on  the  work.  During  his 
ministry  a  rectory  was  purchased  on  Pleasant  Street,  which 
was  afterwards  sold,  and  the  Sunday-school  received  an  impetus. 
Mr.  Graves,  from  the  time  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  was 
dependent  on  his  own  exertions  for  an  education.  After  he  had 
been  consecrated  to  the  ministry,  he  travelled  a  year  in  Europe, 
which  broadened  his  horizon  and  increased  his  knowledge  of 
human  affairs.  He  was  very  popular,  not  only  among  his  church 
people,  but  in  the  community  at  large.  He  was  indefatigable 
in  working  for  his  Master's  cause,  holding  services  in  neighboring 
school-houses  and  hamlets.  He  had  great  executive  ability, 
which  met  recognition  later  when  he  was  made  Bishop  of  the 
Platte  in  the  year  1890.  He  went  to  Bennington,  Vt.,  from  Little- 
ton, but  later,  being  called  to  a  larger  field  of  labor,  he  settled  in 
the  West,  as  rector  of  Gethsemane  Church,  Minneapolis.  While 
there  he  was  elected  missionary  Bishop  of  the  District  of  the 


303  History  of  Littleton. 

Platto.  This  jurisdiction  was  enlarged  in  1898,  and  the  new  dis- 
trict bears  the  name  of  Laramie.  There  he  is  still  working  with 
the  same  enthusiasm  for  the  welfare  of  the  church,  performing  all 
the  arduous  duties  of  bishop  in  a  thorough  and  able  manner. 

The  Rev.  G.  C.  Jones  officiated  after  the  departure  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Graves  in  1880  until  October,  1882.  He  was  a  man  of  ability 
and  devotion  to  duty  to  a  degree  of  self-effacement.  He  was  a 
noted  army  chaplain  during  the  War  between  the  States. 

The  Rev.  H.  M.  Andrews  succeeded  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jones  and 
remained  in  charge  two  years.  Previous  to  his  coming  to  Little- 
ton, the  Rev.  Mr.  Andrews  was  a  member  of  the  Congregational 
body.  He  resigned  in  October,  1882,  retraced  his  theological 
steps  to  his  first  communion,  and  the  following  winter  was  received 
into  the  ministry  of  the  Congregational  society  and  was  located  at 
Bethlehem. 

In  1882  the  Rev.  J.  Sidney  Kent  from  the  diocese  of  northern 
New  Jersey  came  as  priest-in-charge  and  remained  two  years- 
During  his  stay  new  prayer-books  and  hymnals  were  procured, 
the  interior  of  the  church  was  furnished  in  some  particulars,  and 
the  church  continued  its  growth.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Kent  had  High 
Church  tendencies.  He  called  himself  a  catholic  churchman.  In 
all  his  dealings  his  marked  characteristics  were  frankness  and 
fearlessness  in  proclaiming  what  he  (irmly  believed  to  be  the  truth. 
He  felt  that  his  special  mission  was  teaching,  and  he  was  emi- 
nently a  teacher  of  doctrine.  His  life  was  spent  for  the  "  greater 
glory  of  God."  At  the  end  of  every  sermon  which  he  wrote  are 
affixed  the  letters  A.  M.  G.  I).,  the  initials  of  the  Latin  phrase 
which  translated  reads,  "  To  the  greater  glory  of  God,"  and  they 
are  now  on  the  simple  cross  which  marks  his  resting-place  in 
the  beautiful  churchyard  of  the  Church  of  the  Redeemer,  Bryn 
Mawr,  Pa.,  where  he  was  laid  in  August,  1890. 

From  the  resignation  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Kent  in  November,  1884, 
until  May,  1885,  the  church  was  without  a  pastor.  During  this  in- 
terval the  bishop  officiated  two  Sundays,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Remick, 
of  Woodsville,  on  several  week-days  in  Lent.  In  May,  1885, 
the  hearts  of  the  people  were  gladdened  by  the  return  of  the  Rev. 
Henry  H.  Haynes,  who  in  1875  had  officiated  as  lay  reader.  He 
remained  only  one  year,  being  obliged  to  resign  on  account  of 
ill-health.  Since  then  he  has  spent  much  time  travelling  in  this 
country  and  in  Europe,  partly  in  search  of  health  and  partly  for 
purposes  of  study.  One  of  his  classmates  says1  of  him:  "All 

1  A.  S.  Batchellor  in  "  History  of  the  Class  of  1868,  New  Hampshire  Conference 
Seminary." 


RKV.  JAMI.S  S.  KKM 
RKV.  ISAAC  PECK. 


Kr.  RKV.  ANSON  R.  GRAVKS,  D.D.  l\i-:\  .  HKNKV  II.  HAYNK 

RKV.  J AMKS    ]5.   CiOODKICH. 

RKV.  I.ccirs  WA-IKKMAN,  D.I").        RKV.  KUC.AK   I-'.  DAVIS. 

EPISCOPAL    CLERGYMEN. 


Ecclesiastical  History.  309 

reasonable  and  practicable  means  of  social  reform  find  in  him 
an  efficient  friend.  He  is  modest  in  demeanor,  faithful  to  his 
church,  persistent  in  every  duty,  a  true  man,  and  a  minister 
whose  future  is  one  of  promise." 

The  church  was  without  a  settled  pastor  from  June  to  October, 
1886,  when  the  Rev.  Isaac  Peck  took  charge.  He  remained  two 
years,  and  the  church  prospered  under  his  administration.  In 
1886  the  house  and  lot  adjoining  the  church  were  purchased 
for  $3,000,  of  Charles  Hartshorn,  whose  wife  was  among  the 
first  communicants  of  the  church.  Out  of  their  love  for  the  cause 
which  had  always  been  so  dear  to  them  they  gave  8200  of 
this  sum.  The  former  rectory  was  sold,  and  a  debt  of  $800 
only  was  incurred  by  this  purchase,  but  Mr.  Peck  before  his 
departure  in  1888  saw  this  indebtedness  paid.  Mr.  Peck  was 
energetic  in  performing  all  the  duties  which  devolved  upon 
him,  and  has  since  been-  rector  of  churches  in  Kinderhook  and 
Eoslyn,  N.  Y. 

The  next  five  years  were  memorable  in  the  history  of  the 
church.  During  these  years  the  pastor  was  the  Rev.  Lucius  Water- 
man, D.D.,  who  was  the  son  of  the  Rev.  Henry  Waterman,  D.D., 
of  Providence,  R.  I.  Possessed  of  high  intellectual  attainments, 
Dr.  Waterman  was  a  power,  not  only  in  the  church,  but  in  pro- 
moting the  moral,  physical,  and  mental  welfare  of  the  community. 
A  devoted  adherent  to  the  tenets  of  his  church,  yet  he  was  an 
energetic  advocate  of  church  unity  along  right  lines,  and  his 
life  has  been  an  epitome  of  educational  and  charitable  endeavor. 
His  sermons  were  masterly  efforts  of  convincing  logic,  models 
of  literary  style,  and  breathing  the  spirit  of  the  Master.  While 
here,  he  was  a  trustee  of  the  Public  Library,  where  his  knowledge 
of  literature  was  of  great  service.  During  his  leisure  hours 
he  devoted  himself  to  the  study  of  music,  and  he  was  for  several 
years  President  of  the  New  Hampshire  Music  Teachers'  Associa- 
tion. He  is  a  prominent  Mason,  Grand  Prelate  of  the  Grand 
Commandery  of  Knights  Templar  in  this  State,  and  was  also 
Chaplain  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  State.  His  literary  ability  and 
extensive  knowledge  of  church  history  have  rendered  his  services 
invaluable  to  the  church  throughout  the  country.  While  he  was 
priest-in-eharge,  many  improvements  were  made  in  the  rectory, 
some  of  them  at  Dr.  Waterman's  expense  ;  the  grounds  were 
regraded,  and  other  improvements  made.  A  noticeable  feature 
of  his  administration  was  the  increase  of  the  amount  paid  for 
missions  by  the  parish.  His  missionary  zeal  led  him  to  resign 
his  work  at  Littleton  and  enter  upon  the  labor  of  organizing 


310  History  of  Littleton. 

a  church  in  Laconia.  Here  he  was  successful,  not  only  in 
building  up  a  parish,  but  in  constructing  a  beautiful  church 
and  organizing  a  vested  choir.  Wherever  he  is  located,  he  is 
a  vital  force  among  his  fellow-men,  and  a  powerful  aid  in  pro- 
moting all  those  things  that  minister  to  the  elevation  and 
advancement  of  mankind.1 

The  'Rev.  William  L.  Himes,  diocesan  missionary,  was  priest-in- 
ch arge  of  this  parish  in  189:3  and  1894;  Rev.  Edgar  Foster  Davis 
was  lay  reader  in  March,  1894,  but  later  was  made  deacon  and 
became  priest-in-charge  of  the  mission.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Davis  was  a 
man  of  versatile  talents,  a  lover  of  books,  and  lacking  in  the 
practical  knowledge  of  business  matters  which  such  a  tempera- 
ment entails.  He  was  an  enthusiastic  worker,  and  never  has 
the  church  progressed  materially  and  spiritually  more  than  while 
he  was  pastor.  A  large  pipe  organ  was  purchased,  a  vested  choir 
of  young  men  and  women  organized,  and  a  great  interest  in  the 
church  awakened.  Through  his  efforts  a  mission  was  established 
at  Whiteiield,  where,  in  addition  to  his  duties  in  Littleton,  he  held 
regular  services,  and  also  officiated  occasionally  at  Lisbon  and 
Bethlehem. 

In  1899  he  resigned,  and  the  Rev.  J.  B.  Goodrich  returned  priest- 
in-charge,  and  has  labored  faithfully.  This  church  is  not  strong 
in  numbers,  but  in  devotion  to  the  cause  and  in  zeal  for  its 
work  its  fifty  communicants  are  a  power  that  is  felt  for  good  in 
the  co  mm  unity. 

The  Rev.  John  Edgar  Johnson,  a  clergyman  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church,  and  minister  of  the  Theatre  Congregation  in 
Philadelphia,  Pa.,  is  a  summer  resident  of  Littleton,  and  one  of  its 
real-estate  owners,  having  within  a  year  purchased  the  old  Annis 
farm  on  Mann's  Hill,  where  he  makes  his  home  several  months  of 
each  year.  The  congregation  over  which  he  presides  is  constituted 
of  people  who  have  no  abiding  church  home  and  who,  but  for  this 
opportunity,  would  seldom  join  in  the  services  of  the  church. 

Though  born  in  Lowell,  Mass.,  in  184-:5,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Johnson  is 
of  Ne\v  Hampshire  lineage,  both  his  parents  being  of  this  State. 
He  was  educated  at  Dartmouth  College.  His  degrees  are  those 
of  B.S.  received  in  1SG5  and  of  I]. A.  conferred  the  following 
year.  He  studied  at  Cambridge  University  Divinity  School,  U.  S.  A., 

1  It  would  require  an  extensive  bibliographical  list  to  give  the  titles  of  the  pub- 
lished reports  compilations,  sermons,  and  books  that  have  come  from  the  pen  of  I)r- 
Waterman.  The  two  best  known  of  his  works  are  "The  1'ost-Apostolic  Age,"  1808, 
and  "Tables  Illustrating  the  Transmission  of  the  Episcopate  in  English  and  Ameri- 
can Lines  for  the  Space  of  Twelve  Hundred  Years,"  i'JOo. 


Ecclesiastical  History.  311 

and  Heidelberg  University,  Munich.  He  was  ordained  deacon  at 
Christ  Church,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  April  14,  1872,  and  for  a 
few  months  was  located  at  Green  Island  (Troy),  N.  Y. ;  then  for 
four  years  and  four  months  at  Hoboken,  N.  J.  (1872-1877). 
Since  the  close  of  that  service  the  Rev.  Mr.  Johnson  has  been  a 
resident  of  Philadelphia. 

Within  recent  years  he  has  sought  health  and  recreation  among 
our  mountains,  having  passed  several  seasons  at  Woodstock,  where, 
in  addition  to  his  services  as  a  minister,  he  became  greatly  in- 
terested in  the  beneficent  work  of  preserving  the  remnant  of  forests 
that  once  adorned  the  mountain  slopes.  In  the  last  two  years  he 
has  passed  much  of  his  time  in  Littleton,  and  has  occasionally 
officiated  at  All  Saints  Church. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Johnson  is  a  preacher  of  fine  ability  and  accom- 
plishments, and  a  pleasing  writer,  who  has  the  great  merit  of 
readily  adjusting  his  style  to  the  understanding  of  those  whom  he 
wishes  to  influence.  Numerous  sermons  and  addresses  delivered 
before  the  Theatre  congregation  have  been  published  and  widely 
circulated;  they  are  couched  in  plain,  every-day  language,  such  as 
those  who  listened  might  use  and  could  easily  understand ;  then 
we  have  "  An  American  Pilgrimage  to  a  Quaker  Shrine"  and  "A 
Prowl  in  the  Fleet,"  printed  in  pamphlet  form,  which  have  tbe 
flavor  of  the  classics,  while  the  "  Boa  Constrictor  of  the  White 
Mountains  "  is  an  appeal  calculated  to  awaken  the  indignation  and 
arouse  to  action  the  lovers  of  nature  who  would  save  from  the 
manufacturer's  axe  the  woods  that  are  threatened  with  extinction. 
His  residence  adds  something  more  than  one  individual  to  the 
community,  for  beside  the  "  improvements"  incident  to  the  "  com- 
ing of  the  summer  citizen  "  he  brings  a  keen  and  richly  cultivated 
intellect. 

The  Sunday -school  numbers  forty,  and  the  teachers  are  six. 
All  Saints  Guild  is  an  organization  of  women  who  never  rest  from 
their  labors.  They  have  helped  to  pay  for  the  organ  used  in 
the  church,  and  have  reduced  the  debt  of  8-3,000  incurred  by 
repairs  on  the  Rectory  to  less  than  8300  in  five  years,  besides  paying 
the  running  expenses  of  the  church  outside  of  the  salary. 

The  church  has  never  maintained  a  salaried  choir.  In  earlier 
years  it  was  in  the  main  composed  of  communicants  who  made 
the  service  of  song  a  part  of  their  worship.  Among  these  were 
Mrs.  Charles  Hodgman,  Mrs.  F.  F.  Hodgman,  Mrs.  F.  G.  Weller, 
Mrs.  Win.  A.  Richardson,  Chauncey  II.  Greene,  Henry  L.  Tilton. 
In  1895  Mr.  Davis  organized  a  vested  choir  of  twenty  men  and 
boys,  which  was  later  supplemented  by  female  voices,  all  giving 


312  History  of  Littleton. 

voluntary  service.  Mrs.  Chauncey  H.  Greene  was  organist  for 
more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century,  and  was  succeeded  by  her  niece, 
Ren  a  Lovejoy,  who  has  since  faithfully  officiated  in  that  capacity, 
the  services  of  both  being  gratuitous. 

The  first  rectory  owned  by  the  parish  was  the  second  house  on 
Pleasant  Street  above  High  Street.  This  was  sold  soon  after  the 
removal  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Graves,  and  the  property  adjoining  the 
church  was  purchased  of  Mr.  Hartshorn,  for  use  as  a  rectory. 
The  building  was  erected  at  the  corner  of  Maine  and  School 
Streets  by  George  W.  Ely,  and  after  him  had  been  occupied  suc- 
cessively by  Moses  P.  Little,  Samson  Bullard,  William  J.  Bellows, 
and  Charles  Hartshorn.  It  was  moved  to  its  present  site,  where 
it,  was  occupied  by  Mr.  Hartshorn  up  to  the  time  he  sold  it  to  the 
parish.  It  was  "modernized"  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Waterman,  and 
remodelled  in  1899  at  an  expense  of  63,500.  This  considerable 
indebtedness  has  been  discharged,  with  the  exception  of  62oO, 
through  the  agency  of  All  Saints  Guild.  It  is  now  a  well-appointed 
residence. 

When  numbers  and  pecuniary  resources  are  considered,  the  con- 
tributions of  the  worshippers  in  this  church  must  be  regarded  as 
remarkable.  The  sums  raised  for  the  annual  expenses  of  main- 
taining the  services  of  the  church,  for  repairs,  for  the  purchase 
and  improvement  of  the  rectorv,  and  incidentals  must  have  been 
a  heavy  tax.  Such,  however,  has  not  been  the  limit  to  their  gen- 
erosity. In  the  matter  of  furnishings,  including  the  oriran,  the 
church  has  been  the  recipient  of  gifts  valued  at  hundreds  of  dollars. 
Mrs.  Eanies,  wife  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Eames.  gave  the  font ;  the  pupils 
of  the  Sunday-school  its  heavv  brass-bound  cover  of  ash,  and  sub- 
sequently a  baptismal  ewer  of  brass;  the  Bishop  chair  was  pre- 
sented by  Harry  Biugham  ;  Mrs.  Caroline  Adelia  Tilton  and  her 
sister,  Mrs.  Laura  B.  Haynes,  gave  a  communion  service  when  the 
church  was  consecrated.  The  beautiful  altar-book  was  presented 
by  Mrs.  William  H.  Mitchell,  and  books  for  the  prayer  desk  by 
Mabel  Weeks.  At  the  time  of  the  formation  of  the  vested  choir 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  0.  C.  Hatch  gave  a  processional  cross  of  richly  orna- 
mented brass,  and  at:  a  later  time  a  paten;  the  chancel  chandelier 
was  a  gift  from  Mrs.  Ida  Goodrich,  and  the  chalice  from  Mrs. 
Caroline  Rice  ;  a  minor  gift  was  a  pair  of  cut-glass  communion 
bottles  presented  by  Harry  B.  Jackson;  the  Helping  Hand  Club. 
an  association  of  young  people  organized  under  the  direction  of 
Mrs.  0.  C.  Hatch,  contributed  funds  for  the  decoration  of  the  in- 
terior walls  of  the  church  and  for  the  purchase  of  the  bow  window 
in  the  rectorv. 


Ecclesiastical  History,  313 


XXXV. 

ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY   (Continued). 

THE   FREE   BAPTIST  SOCIETY. 

WITHIN  the  space  of  about  twenty  years,  in  the  first  part  of 
the  century,  the  Free  Baptists1  effected  church  organiza- 
tions and  made  permanent  local  establishments  in  several  New 
Hampshire  and  Vermont  towns  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of 
Littleton.  In  the  order  of  time  they  were  as  follows :  Water- 
ford,  Vt,  1802;  Concord,  Vt.,  1805  ;*  Lisbon,  1811;  Bethlehem, 
1813;  Jefferson,  1815;  and  Whitefield,  1821.  The  church  at 
Franconia  was  not  organized  until  1834.  The  earliest  Quarterly 
Meeting  in  this  section  took  the  name  of  Sandwich.  In  the  three 
or  four  decades  at  the  beginning  of  the  century  the  Freewill  Bap- 
tists seem  to  have  obtained  very  slight  foothold  in  Littleton.  The 
inhabitants  were  for  the  most  part  not  intensely  religious, 
ecclesiastical  organizations  did  not  multiply,  and  the  ones  exist- 
ing made  slow  progress.  In  181^0  in  a  population  of  one  thousand 
and  ninety-six,  the  communicants  in  church  connection  were 
limited  to  four  denominations  in  these  proportions  :  Metho- 
dists, sixty-nine;  Congregationalists,  forty-seven  ;  Calvinist  Bap- 
tists, nine  ;  Free  Baptists,  six.  Nevertheless  the  foundations 
for  the  Littleton  Freewill  Baptist  Church  of  the  distant  future 
were  being  none  the  less  surely  laid  in  the  religious  convictions 
of  the  people  of  the  adjoining  towns,  whose  sons  and  daughters 
were  destined  at  a  later  day  to  become  a  substantial  element 
in  the  population  of  the  coining  mistress  of  the  valley  of  the 
Ammonoosue.  Latent  influences  were  taking  a  direction  and 
character  which  pointed  to  results  in  church  development  not 
foreseen  by  the  apostles  and  teachers  of  the  new  faith  in  this 
district. 

The  Free  Baptists  represented  the  reaction  against  the  doc- 
trinal tenets  of  the  Puritan  churches  as  distinctly  as  did  the 
Methodists ;  and  they  were  equally  earnest  in  combating  the 

1  The  name  was  changed  from  Freewill  Baptist  to  Free  Baptist  in  1889,  by  a  vote 
of  the  General  Association,  a  national  organization. 


314  History  of  Littleton. 

theology  of  the  ancient  churches  of  New  England.  At  the  same 
time  their  system  of  organization  was  as  democratic  as  was 
that  which  characterized  the  Congregationalist  establishments. 
In  this  they  were  the  antipodes  of  the  Methodists,  whose 
organization  was  centralized  on  a  plan  similar  to  that  of 
of  the  Church  of  England,  with  governing  bishops  vested  with 
ample  powers  and  with  a  discipline  which  rendered  the  central 
legislative  and  executive  authority  superior  over  the  general 
membership,  in  ecclesiastical  relations.  Unless,  therefore,  some 
considerable  number  of  people  in  a  community  where  both 
the  Congregationalists  and  Methodists  were  established  should 
be  ripe  for  a  religious  connection  which  fully  recognized  and 
prescribed  the  two  essentials  in  faith  and  polity  in  which  the 
Free  Baptists  differed  from  these  two  leading  evangelical  Chris- 
tian denominations,  the  prospects  of  success  would  not  be  assur- 
ing. That  the  Free  Baptists  made  successful  headway  in  almost 
every  adjoining  town,  but  meantime  accomplished  little  in  immedi- 
ate results  in  Littleton,  is  a  historical  fact.  That  the  pioneer 
ministers  made  the  effort  is  in  evidence.  In  the  "  Life  of  Rev. 
John  Colby,"  one  of  the  most  successful  of  the  Free  Baptist 
evangelists,  it  is  noted  that  he  preached  in  Littleton  as  he  passed 
through  from  Waterford  to  Lisbon.  Ever  after,  says  Mr.  Robins, 
he  passed  around  and  not  through  the  town.1  AVithout  speculat- 
ing upon  the  causes  and  conditions  which  isolated  Littleton  in  this 
movement,  we  may  recall  the  very  terse  and  comprehensive  speci- 
fication of  the  causes  of  the  great  measure  of  success  and  the 
partial  failure  which  marked  the  first  half-century  of  the  history 
of  the  Free  Baptists,  in  this  connection  for  such  application  and 
comparison  as  may  be  appropriate  to  the  study  of  the  sectarian  or 
denominational  history  of  Littleton. 

"In  closing  this  period  of  our  history  (1780  to  18:50)  [says  the 
historian  of  the  church],  the  mind  naturally  returns  to  the  scenes 
along  our  pathway,  and  asks  the  secret  of  failure  or  success.  Local 
causes  had  their  influence  everywhere,  anil,  in  connection  with  general 
ones,  some  of  which  were  peculiar  to  the  policy  of  the  fathers,  their 
operation  was  various.  With  no  disposition  to  complain  of  their 
work,  but  rather  to  appreciate  their  embarrassments  and  rejoice  in 
their  success,  we  may  look  at  the  disadvantages  under  which  Free- 
will Baptists  labored.  And  they  are  seen,  — 

1.  In  a  depressing,  slanderous  influence,  prevalently  exerted  against 
them. 

2.  In   their  not  establishing   themselves  in   large   towns  and    cities. 

1  Address,  Littleton  Centennial,  p.  l'J5. 


Ecclesiastical  History.  315 

These  centres  of  influence  were  neglected,  while  rural  districts  received 
attention;  for  Neander  says  "Christianity  was  diffused  for  the  most 
part  from  the  cities  into  the  country." 

3.  In    not    perfecting    their  system    of  Itinerancy.     Each    minister 
travelled    wherever  his   own   convictions   of  duty   directed,    and    thus 
were   many   churches   undesignedly    left   with  only  occasional    minis- 
terial labor. 

4.  In    not    calling   to   their   aid    the    power   of  the    Press.       They 
published   few    books  or  tracts,   and   had  no  weekly   organ  for  forty- 
five  years. 

5.  In    not   interesting   themselves    in    Education.      The    heart    was 
cared  for,  but  the  mind  was  neglected,  both  in  the  ministry  and  the  laity. 

6.  In    not   enforcing  the    Scripture    doctrine,   that  the  "laborer   is 
worth)"  of  his  hire."     Sa3"s  Stephen  Parsons,  Esq.,  of  Westport,  Me., 
a  son-in-law  of  Randall,  "  I  have  had  an  eye  on  the  Freewill  Baptist 
denomination   from  the  Quarterly  Meeting  at  Squam  Island,  in  1785, 
when   John  Whitney  was  ordained,  to  the  present  time  (1855),  and  am 
quite  certain  that  the  greatest  lack  has  been  the  want  of  able  preachers  ; 
and  this  has  been  caused  by  withholding  from  them  a  suitable  support, 
and   the  encouragements  of  education."     Because  of  this,   many   left, 
and  entered  the   ministiy  of  other  denominations. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  great  secret  of  the  fathers'  success  lay,  — 

1.  In  their  consecration  to  God,  and  their  reliance  on  his  help. 

2.  In  their  having  "  a  mind  to  work  " —  a  spirit  of  Christian  enterprise. 

3.  In  the  nature  of  their  efforts.     They  were  simple,  direct,  practi- 
cal, energetic  ;  and  in  the  ministry,  greatly  self-sacrificing. 

4.  In    the   dissatisfaction   of  the   people   with    ultra   Calvinism,    and 
their  eagerness  to  hear  and  know  a  free  and  full  salvation. 

The  early  Freewill  Baptists  were  but  men  ;  they  could  not  do  every- 
thing, nor  could  they  at  once  perfect  everything  the}'  attempted.  We 
only  marvel  that,  under  the  circumstances,  they  were  able  to  accomplish 
so  much.  Their  devout  spirit  insured  success,  and  such  a  spirit  will  be 
more  or  less  successful  wherever,  whenever,  and  by  whomsoever  it  is 
cherished." 

The  Freewill  Baptist  Meeting- House  at  Bethlehem  was  located 
in  the  east  part  of  the  West  Hill  District,  on  the  main  road 
leading  from  Littleton  to  Bethlehem  Street.  This  part  of  the 
town  was  always  closely  allied  with  Littleton  on  account  of  its 
proximity  to  our  principal  village  and  in  various  social  and 
business  relations.  That  church  in  its  beginning,  in  its  pro- 
gress and  in  the  final  transfer  of  its  visibility  to  Littleton 
Village,  after  fifty-six  years  of  useful  existence  at  the  original 
seat  in  Bethlehem,  has  developed  an  important  element  in  the 
ecclesiastical  history  of  this  to>vn.  Littleton  may  have  been 
stony  ground  for  the  Free  Baptist  faith,  as  it  was  presented  to 


316  History  of  Littleton. 

the  fathers,  but  by  the  transitions  of  ninety  years  the  Free 
Baptist  Church  now  established  here  is  the  more  notable  by 
the  contrast  with  the  early  conditions.  In  strength,  respecta- 
bility, usefulness,  and  promise  it  is  second  to  none  in  its  own 
denomination  in  northern  New  Hampshire. 

Reference  has  been  made  to  the  attitude  of  the  town  towards 
the  Toleration  Act  of  1819,  and  the  agitation  which  preceded 
it.  The  votes  and  influence  of  her  representatives  in  the  House 
of  Representatives  during  the  half-dozen  years  in  which  the 
contest  was  waged  in  the  Legislature  seem  to  be  in  direct 
antagonism  to  the  position  of  the  people  as  indicated  by  their 
action  and  votes  in  town  meeting  providing  for  the  erection  of 
a  meeting-house  as  early  as  1811.  Their  action  at  that  time  fully 
anticipated  and  discounted  every  demand  embodied  in  the  Toler- 
ation Act,  and  guaranteed  to  the  professors  of  every  religious 
faith  full  and  equal  privileges  in  the  use  and  occupancy  of  the 
town  meeting-house  and  in  exemption  from  involuntary  contribu- 
tions to  the  support  of  any  ministry. 

That  this  senatorial  district  was  represented  by  Dan  Young, 
a  Democrat,  a  local  Methodist  minister,  and  a  leader  in  this  move- 
ment, was  due  in  no  inconsiderable  measure  to  the  extension  of 
the  influence  of  the  Freewill  Baptist  denomination  (contempo- 
raneously with  the  progress  of  Methodism)  in  this  part  of  the  State. 
They  did  not  assume  to  reach  the  wealthy  and  aristocratic  com- 
munities, but  among  the  common  people,  especially  in  the  less 
wealthy  and  less  compactly  populated  sections,  they  were  numer- 
ous and  influential.  This  was  also  characteristic  of  the  Methodists 
as  a  pioneer  sect.  They  were  perhaps  more  successful  in  reaching 
the  people  of  the  old  towns  and  large  villages  than  were  the  Free- 
will Baptists.  Both,  however,  were  necessarily  allies  in  sentiment 
and  interest  with  the  new  departure  in  the  policies  of  the  time, 
which  had  in  Dr.  Thomas  Whipple  and  the  Rev.  Dan  Young  such 
capable  and  devoted  leaders,  and  in  the  Act  of  181!»  such  signal 
triumph. 

An  excerpt  from  Stewart's  "  History  of  the  Freewill  Baptists"  ! 
will  indicate  the  relations  of  the  denomination  to  political  events 
of  that  period  :  — 

"  Revs.  Timothy  Morse,  Samuel  B.  Dyer,  Joseph  Boody,  Jr.,  and 
Ruling  Elder  Joseph  Young,  were  this  year  members  of  the  Legislature, 
and  nil  hoarded  at  the  same  place.  The  following  extract  from  a  letter 
by  Morse  gives  us  a  glimpse  at  these  Christian  legislators.  ;I 

1  Pages  ;-]00,  301. 


-  TfiE  OLD 
BAPTIST 
MEETING 


FKKI:    BAPTIST    Cm  i<( n. 


Ecclesiastical  History.  317 

arrived  at  Concord  on  Tuesda}',  and  pitched  my  tent  at  Mr.  Davis', 
where  there  were  fifteen  boarders,  four  of  whom  were  preachers  of  the 
gospel.  On  Friday,  at  noon,  we  called  a  convention  in  our  boarding- 
house,  Elder  Dyer  chairman,  and  passed  a  vote  to  drink  no  ardent 
spirits  till  the  session  closes.  Immediately  after  this  I  found  the 
Spirit  of  God  had  admittance  among  us.  At  evening  Elder  Young 
sat  and  reasoned  with  the  people  on  death,  judgment,  and  eternity  ; 
and  it  was  a  solemn  hour.  From  that  time  Jesus  has  been  allowed 
the  first  seat  here,  thanks  be  to  God.'  If  we  had  more  men  of  this 
devout  spirit  in  our  legislative  halls,  it  would  be  better  for  the  country. 
But  whether  ministers  should  turn  their  attention  from  their  Divine 
calling  to  the  official  duties  of  civil  and  political  life,  is  a  question  on 
which  good  men  are  divided  in  opinion. 

'•The  year  1819  is  noted  for  the  passage  of  the  Toleration  Act. 
For  thirty-nine  years  had  the  Freewill  Baptists  been  untiring  in  their 
efforts  for  the  removal  of  all  legal  obligations  for  the  support  of  one 
religious  sect  to  the  neglect  of  all  others,  and  their  desires  were  now 
realized.  All  religious  denominations  were  tolerated  in  the  peaceful 
worship  of  God  by  this  act,  and  were  left  equally  dependent  upon 
the  voluntary  contributions  of  the  people  for  support.  Most  violent 
was  the  opposition,  not  only  in  the  Legislature,  but  throughout  the 
State.  It  was  denounced  as  the  repeal  of  the  Christian  religion. 
It  was  iterated  and  reiterated  that '  the  wicked  bear  rule,'  the  '  Bible  is 
abolished,'  &c.  Never  were  the  people  in  greater  agitation,  and  the 
repeal  of  the  Toleration  Act  was  made  the  political  test  at  next  elec- 
tion. Religious  views  and  interests  now  gave  zest  and  direction  to 
political  action,  and  the  people  triumphantly  sustained  the  law,  which 
was  soon  universall}-  approved." 

It  cannot  now  be  easily  determined  who  were  the  first  families 
of  the  Freewill  Baptist  denomination  that  settled  in  the  village 
of  Littleton,  nor  when  they  came  to  this  place.  Churches  of 
that  denomination  had  an  existence  in  neighboring  towns 
at  an  early  date  in  the  present  century,  and  from  some  of  these 
localities,  especially  from  Bethlehem  and  Sugar  Hill,  a  few 
families  had  come  at  different  times,  some  of  whose  members 
united  with  churches  already  established  and  others  retained 
their  connection  with  the  churches  in  the  towns  from  which 
they  had  removed. 

In  the  year  1868  Mr.  Washington  Howland,  formerly  of 
Sugar  Hill  and  still  a  member  of  the  church  at  that  place, 
believing  that  the  time  had  come  for  the  formation  of  a  Freewill 
Baptist  Church  in  this  place,  wrote  to  Rev.  Elijah  Guilford,  then 
at  Burke  Hollow,  Vt.,  asking  him  to  visit  the  place  with  a  view 
to  gathering  into  a  church  the  Free  Baptists  living  in  the 


318  History  of  Liitleton. 

village  and  its  vicinity.  The  church  formerly  existing  in 
Bethlehem,  and  worshipping  in  a  meeting-house  which  at  that 
time  stood  on  the  corner  nearly  opposite  the  present  residence 
of  Orville  B.  Hildreth,  had  become  extinct,  and  many  of  its  former 
members  wished  to  unite  in  a  new  organization.  After  some  cor- 
respondence Mr.  Gu il ford  came  to  Littleton  to  look  over  the 
ground,  and  in  December  of  the  same  year  (1868)  took  up  his 
residence  here  and  began  regular  ministerial  work,  holding  ser- 
vices in  Weeks'  Hall.  Meetings  were  continued  during  the  winter, 
and  in  the  spring  a  council  was  invited  by  those  who  desired  the 
formation  of  such  a  church,  to  convene  and  organize  in  due 
form.  On  the  29th  of  April,  1869,  such  a  council,  consisting  of 
the  Rev.  J.  M.  Durgin,  of  Franconia,  the  Rev.  J.  M.  Russell,  of 
Concord,  Vt.,  and  Deacon  Orrison  Harris,  of  Franconia,  met  in 
Weeks'  Hall  in  this  village,  and  organized  a  church  according  to 
the  established  usages  of  the  Freewill  Baptist  denomination.  Jt 
took  the  name  given  at  the  head  of  this  chapter.  Twenty-seven 
persons,  whose  names  are  given  below,  constituted  the  original 
membership  of  the  church  in  this  town  :  — 

Phineas  Wallace.  Eliza  Willis. 

John  Norris.  Martha  Crane. 

Elijah  Gnilford.  Sarah  Ann  Annis. 

Daniel  B.  Crane.  Sarah  Simpson. 

Lyrnan  Blamlin.  Amoretta  Crane. 

Otis  Crane.  Mary  Kenney. 

Ansel  Ivpnney.  Dolly  Blamlin. 

Reuben  Phillips.  Sarah  J.  Gnilford. 

Lemuel  N.  Phillips.  Abigail  Bnrnham. 

AVilliam  A.  Crane.  Viana  Streeter. 

Washington  I  lowland.  Polly  Lacld. 

Benjamin  Bnrnham.  Caroline  Bnrtlett. 

Leonard  Eudy.  Lucy  A.  Allen. 
Jane  Crane. 

Lyrnan  Blandin  was  chosen  clerk,  Otis  Crane  deacon,  and 
Rev.  Elijah  Gnilford  pastor,  and  the  church  entered  upon  its 
organic  life.  Land  was  immediately  purchased  for  a  church 
site,  and  during  the  summer  the  meeting-house  now  occupied  by 
the  society  was  built.  It  was  dedicated  on  the  first  Saturday 
in  November,  18(50,  at  which  time  a  session  of  the  Lisbon 
Quarterly  Meeting  was  held  in  it.  The  dedication  sermon 
was  preached  by  the  Rev.  George  II.  Pinkham,  then  pastor  of  the 
church  at  Whitefield.  On  Sunday  following  the  pastor  was 
installed,  the  sermon  being  preached  by  the  Rev.  L.  B.  Tasker, 


Ecclesiastical  History.  319 

of  Corinth,  Vt.  Mr.  Guilford  was  born  in  Saco,  Me.,  and  being 
converted  in  early  youth  decided  to  enter  the  ministry.  He 
began  his  studies  at  New  Hampton,  but  his  missionary  zeal  called 
him  to  the  seat  of  war,  and  he  served  for  several  months  under 
the  auspices  of  the  United  States  Christian  Commission.  His 
first  pastorate  was  over  a  Union  Church  at  Burke,  Vt.,  and  his 
second  and  last  at  Littleton,  where  he  remained  from  1868  till 
his  death,  in  1873.  During  this  time  a  strong  and  healthy 
religious  interest  prevailed  in  the  society,  and  seventy  were 
added  to  the  membership  of  the  church.  For  some  months 
previous  to  his  death  Mr.  Guilford's  failing  health  made  it 
necessary  to  employ  a  substitute  in  the  active  duties  of  the 
pastorate,  and  the  Rev.  Burton  Minard  served  in  this  capacity. 
He  was  a  young  man,  a  native  of  Nova  Scotia,  and  was 
studying  for  the  ministry.  In  1874  he  resigned  to  pursue  his 
studies  in  Bates  College,  and  in  1878  was  called  to  be  pastor 
of  the  church  at  Littleton  and  remained  one  year.  He  married 
Emma  J,  Morrison,  a  native  of  Bethlehem,  who  died  in  1879. 
After  leaving  his  pastorate  here,  he  was  settled  over  several 
societies,  and  in  1889  went  to  St.  John,  N.  B.,  and  afterwards 
to  Massachusetts.  He  has  labored  as  an  evangelist  and.  State 
missionary  and  has  been  a  power  for  good  wherever  located. 

When  Mr.  Minard  went  away  in  1874,  he  was  succeeded  by  the 
Rev.  E.  P.  Moulton,  who  was  ordained  at  the  June  session  of  the 
Lisbon  Quarterly  Meeting  held  in  Littleton,  the  sermon  being- 
preached  by  the  Rev.  A.  D.  Smith.  Mr.  Moulton  entered  upon 
his  first  pastorate  filled  with  zeal  and  an  earnest  purpose  to  do 
the  work  of  the  Master.  He  enjoyed  a  successful  pastorate  of 
two  years,  but  received  a  call  to  Alton,  N.  H.,  and  was  settled 
there  for  two  years.  Since  then  he  has  had  charge  over  several 
Freewill  Baptist  societies  in  New  Hampshire  and  Massachusetts. 

Rev.  Ira  Emery  became  pastor  of  the  church  in  the  spring  or 
summer  of  1876  and  remained  two  years.  Mr.  Emery  was  born 
in  Industry,  Me.,  in  1823,  and  was  inclined  to  the  ministry  from 
his  twelfth  year.  He  says  in  a  letter  to  a  friend  that  in  a 
revival  in  1865  he  consecrated  himself  "  to  the  service  of  Christ 
and  went  into  the  active  ministry  in  1866.  Not  a  sensational 
preacher  nor  a  revivalist,  but  have  been  successful  as  a  pastor, 
which  seems  to  be  my  special  calling.  Have  always  actively 
engaged  in  temperance  work.  The  cause  of  my  success  has 
been  attention  to  business  and  God's  blessing.  I  engaged 
somewhat  in  political  affairs  before  I  entered  the  ministry,  but 
not  much  since  only  as  an  intelligent  voter.  In  politics  am 


320  History  of  Littleton. 

a  Republican  —  not  a  mugwump  by  any  means."  During  his 
pastorate  the  parsonage  was  built  and  the  society  grew  spiritually 
and  numerically.  Mr.  Emery  left  Littleton  to  take  charge  of 
a  society  of  this  denomination  in  China,  Me.  In  1885  he  left 
the  Freewill  Baptist  denomination  and  became  a  Baptist,  and 
later  settled  in  Meredith,  where  he  died  in  1895.  A  man  of 
winning  manner  and  pleasing  address,  he  was  loved  and  respected 
wherever  known. 

In  January,  1880,  the  Rev.  Francis  Hubbard  Lyford  was  called 
to  the  pastorate,  and  began  his  labors  in  February  of  that  year. 
Mr.  Lyford  was  a  man  of  uncommon  ability  and  wide  and  varied 
experience.  He  received  an  academic  education  which  began  at 
Pittsfield  in  this  State  and  ended  in  Keytesville,  Mo.,  where  he 
resided  from  1836  until  1841.  He  returned  to  Pittsfield,  his 
native  place.  He  was  among  the  early  emigrants  to  California  at 
the  time  of  the  discovery  of  gold  in  that  State.  After  a  residence 
of  three  years  there  he  returned  to  New  Hampshire,  where  he 
continued  to  reside  until  1857.  Daring  the  Know-Nothing  fiasco 
he  was  an  influential  member  of  the  order.  He  had,  in  fact,  been 
an  active  and  popular  worker  in  politics  from  a  period  antedat- 
ing his  majority,  and  as  a  Democrat  represented  Pittsfield  in 
the  Legislature  in  1846  and  1847.  At  Manchester  he  was 
City  Clerk  and  at  the  same  time  served  as  Railroad  Commis- 
sioner for  the  term  of  three  years.  When,  in  1859,  he  entered 
the  Free  Baptist  ministry,  the  fervor  of  his  political  enthusiasm 
gave  place  in  his  ardent  temperament  to  an  equally  enthusiastic 
zeal  for  the  religious  denomination  whose  cause  lie  had  espoused. 
He  was  settled  over  churches  in  Vermont,  Maine,  and  at  Hamp- 
ton, Laconia,  Meredith,  Contoocookville,  and  Woodstock  in  this 
State,  and  at  Haverhill,  Mass.  He  remained  over  the  society  in 
Littleton  for  five  years.  During  this  time  the  church  was  re- 
modelled and  the  spiritual  life  of  the  people  stimulated. 

He  was  in  early  life  interested  in  the  militia,  and  was  Adjutant 
of  the  Eighteenth  Regiment,  Brigade  Inspector,  and  Captain  of  a 
company.  While  a  resident  of  Missouri  he  held  a  commission  as 
Lieutenant  of  a  company  in  that  State,  and  served  in  the  force 
under  the  command  of  Gen.  Sterling  Price  against  the  Mormons. 

Mr.  Lyford  was  a  student  of  local  history  and  an  interesting 
writer  on  such  topics.  He  Avas  a  man  of  pleasing  address,  an 
entertaining  companion,  and  a  man  of  influence  in  his  denomi- 
nation. His  social  tendencies  led  him  into  several  fraternal 
organizations,  he  having  been  a  Mason  of  high  degree,  an 
Odd  Fellow,  a  Son  of  Malta,  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 


REY.GRANVILLEC.WATERMAX.  REV.  BURTON  MIXARD.  REV.  EDWIN  l>.  MOI-LTOX. 

REV.  ELIJAH  ( a'n.Rwn. 
REV.  IRA  EMEKV.  REV.  FRANCIS  H.  LYFOKO.      RE\-.  Jonx   B.MERRILL, 

FREE    BAPTIST    PASTORS. 


Ecclesiastical  History.  321 

Pythias  and  of  the  secret  temperance  orders.  He  died  at 
Woodstock  in  1891. 

In  the  month  of  March,  1881,  occurred  the  death  of  Deacon 
Otis  Crane,  the  first  deacon  of  the  church.1  In  the  summer 
of  that  year  the  meeting-house  was  repaired  at  an  expense  of 
$2,000.  It  was  rededicated  November  30,  1881,  the  Rev.  C.  E. 
Gate  preaching  the  sermon.  Mr.  Lyford's  pastorate  ended  in 
October,  1886,  after  which  the  church  was  without  regular  preach- 
ing for  nearly  a  year.  The  Rev.  Granville  C.  Waterman  entered 
into  the  pastorate  in  1886. 

Mr.  Waterman,  a  graduate  of  Bowdoin,  was  a  man  of  genial 
temperament,  of  vigorous  intellectual  and  executive  capacity. 
Before  he  came  to  Littleton  he  had  held  long  pastorates  in  several 
towns  and  cities  in  New  York  and  southern  New  Hampshire,  and 
in  each  place  had  served  on  educational  committees  and  aided  in 
every  good  work.  His  efforts  in  these  directions  were  as  marked 
here  as  elsewhere.  During  his  pastorate  a  debt  of  $1,400  was 
lifted  from  the  society,  which  in  the  spring  of  1887  was  free  from 
debt,  and  had  also  made  improvements  in  its  property  costing 
more  than  $200.  Mr.  Waterman's  departure  in  1891  was  deeply 
regretted,  not  only  by  his  people,  but  by  all  with  whom  he  had 
come  in  contact.  He  was  in  Providence  for  four  years,  and  after- 
ward in  St.  Johnsbury,  Vt.  He  has  held  important  positions 
on  the  denominational  boards,  and  from  1881  to  1886  was  editor 
of  the  Sunday-school  Quarterlies.2 

The  Rev.  J.  B.  Merrill  was  chosen  to  carry  on  the  work  laid  down 
by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Waterman.  Mr.  Merrill  had  been  successful  as  a 
missionary  in  the  home  field  before  he  was  ordained  to  the  Free 
Baptist  Ministry  in  May,  1869.  He  had  been  pastor  of  several 
societies  as  well  as  engaged  in  independent  mission  work  at  Old 
Orchard,  Me.,  and  was  Postmaster  there  for  a  time.  In  1891 
he  became  pastor  of  the  society  in  Littleton.  He  was  a  zealous 
worker,  and  for  eight  years  was  a  part  of  the  religious  and  social 
life  of  the  town.  During  his  service  as  pastor  the  church  edifice 
was  raised  and  remodelled,  and  a  vestry  constructed  in  the  base- 
ment. He  resigned  in  1899,  and  now  has  a  pastorate  in  Nova 
Scotia. 

The  Rev.  John  C.  Osgood  was  the  successor  of  Mr.  Merrill.  He 
was  born  in  Randolph,  Vt.,  in  1848.  His  education  was  gained 
in  the  public  schools,  New  Hampton  Institute,  and  later  in  Cobb 

1  The  deacons  who  have  since  held  this  office  are  John  Wallace,  William  H.  Crane, 
Daniel  B.  Crane,  Orin  H.  Streeter. 

2  At  the  time  of  publication  of  this  work  Mr.  Waterman  is  located  at  Hampton. 

VOL.  II. 21 


322  History  of  Littleton. 

Divinity  School.  He  was  ordained  at  Gilmanton  Iron  Works,  N.  H., 
and  preached  in  many  towns  in  Maine,  New  Hampshire,  and 
Vermont,  before  coming  to  Littleton  in  1899.  He  was  a  man  of 
attractive  personality,  of  great  moral  courage,  and  impressed  all 
who  held  intercourse  with  him  that  here  indeed  was  a  follower  of 
the  Master.  He  was  here  for  a  short  time  from  March,  1898,  to 
October,  1901,  but  during  that  period  was  a  prominent  factor  in 
all  movements  for  the  spiritual  and  moral  elevation  of  the  com- 
munity, and  his  departure  was  a  source  of  sorrow  to  many.1 

The  year  following  the  departure  of  Mr.  Osgood  marked  the 
pastorate  of  the  Rev.  V.  E.  Bragdon,  Avho  was  born  in  Sidney,  Me., 
October  19,  1856,  and  was  educated  at  Easton,  Presquc  Isle,  and 
at  the  Cobb  Divinity  School,  Lewiston,  Me.  He  was  located  at 
Mapleton,  Blaine,  Sabattus,  Lisbon  Falls,  Me.,  and  at  East  Roch- 
ester, N.  H.,  before  coming  to  Littleton  in  1901.  His  relations 
with  the  society  were  terminated  in  September,  1902,  and  in  Jan- 
uary, 1903,  Rev.  George  B.  Southwick  became  pastor. 

In  1888  a  debt  of  $1,500  with  which  the  society  was  burdened 
was  paid  by  a  popular  subscription.  The  subscription  paper  bears 
the  names  of  representatives  of  almost  every  known  creed,  together 
with  those  of  persons  with  a  leaning  toward  agnosticism. 

The  church  building  has  seven  handsome  memorial  windows 
given  by  and  dedicated  to  the  memory  of  the  following  persons  : 
By  Cbester,  Eli,  and  Woodman  Wallace,  in  memory  of  their 
grandfather,  Phineas  Wallace ;  by  the  Advocates  of  Christian 
Fidelity  (now  the  Endeavor  Society),  in  memory  of  Ansel  and 
Mary  Kenney  ;  by  Mrs.  Viana  Streeter,  in  memory  of  Deacon 
Orin  H.  Streeter  ;  by  Mrs.  Hannah  Hildreth,  in  memory  of  her 
husband,  Leonard  B.  Hildreth;  by  Mrs.  Dennis  Wbeclcr,  in  mem- 
ory of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lyman  Blandin  ;  by  Daniel  B.  Crane,  in 
memory  of  Amoretta  Crane.2 

The  Sunday -school  was  organized  when  the  first  service  was 
held,  and  has  been  in  active  operation  ever  since,  at  present 
numbering  sixty-five  pupils  and  six  teachers.  The  young  people 
formed  a  society  in  1889,  known  as  the  Advocates  of  Christian 
Fidelity,  and  this  has  been  a  spiritual  help. 

There  is  no  record  of  the  Sunday-school  superintendents  prior 
to  May,  1880.  But  since  that  time  the  following  have  held  that 

1  The  Hev.  Mr.  Osgood  since  leaving  here  has  been  located  at  New  Market,  and  is 
now  (1904)  stationed  at  Gilmanton  Iron  Works. 

-  Substantial  bequests  to  the  society  by  deceased  members  have  been  made,  a 
list  of  which  is  appended:  Reuben  Phillips,  $100;  Lyman  Blandin,  $100;  Mary 
Whiteomb,  ?100;  Phineas  Wallace,  $oOO ;  Joel  Bronson,  $1,000;  Ansel  Kenney 
Fund,  $200. 


Ecclesiastical  History.  323 

office:  Charles  A.  Glovier,  Charles  E.  Baker,  Ellery  H.  Carter, 
William  F.  Andrus,  Warren  E.  Burt,  Horace  J.  Kenney,  Lemuel 
N.  Philips,  Daniel  B.  Crane,  the  Rev.  Granville  C.  Waterman,  Dr. 
George  F.  Martin,  Mrs.  M.  S.  Waterman,  Thomas  H.  Pearson, 
George  F.  Cole,  Ira  E.  Ainsworth. 

A  sketch  of  the  Free  Baptist  Society  in  this  town  would  not 
be  complete  without  mentioning  the  Pettingills,  father  and  son, 
who  both  bore  the  Christian  name  John.  The  elder  resided  from 
1854  to  1857  at  West  Littleton,  in  which  locality  as  well  as 
in  neighboring  towns  he  occasionally  preached.  His  religious 
zeal,  however,  was  manifested  in  the  efforts  he  made  to  suppress 
Romanism.  He  was  the  leader  of  Know-Nothingism  and  the  pre- 
siding officer  of  the  lodge  in  West  Littleton.  After  he  left  this 
town  in  1857  he  was  expelled  from  the  ministry  and  the  church. 
The  younger  John  resided  here  for  a  year  after  his  father's  depar- 
ture, but  became  a  preacher  in  Baptist  and  Freewill  Baptist  de- 
nominations in  Maine  and  New  Hampshire.  Though  a  man  of 
limited  education,  he  was  a  natural  emotional  preacher,  one  of  a 
class  that  exerts  a  powerful  influence  in  times  of  strong  religious 
excitement.  He  is  now  a  resident  of  the  State  of  Maine. 

All  these  years  the  pastors  have  been  ably  seconded  in  their 
work  by  the  women  of  the  parish,  who  in  1870  organized  the 
Ladies'  Beneficent  Society,  with  Mrs.  E.  Guilford  as  President, 
and  Mrs.  William  A.  Cra.ne  as  Secretary  and  Treasurer ;  and 
every  year  since  its  organization  this  body  of  devoted  women  have 
raised  a  goodly  sum  for  the  cause.  A  Woman's  Auxiliary  Mis- 
sionary Society  was  organized  in  1888  with  Mrs.  M.  S.  Waterman 
as  President,  whose  records  show  each  year  a  substantial  sum  for 
missions. 


324  History  of  Littleton. 


XXXVI. 

ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY   (Continued}. 

THE   ROMAN   CATHOLIC    CHURCH. 

OF  the  earlier  history  of  the  Catholic  Church  in  New  Hamp- 
shire but  little  is  known.  The  missionaries  who  were 
engaged  in  the  work  of  converting  the  Indians  were  connected 
with  religious  orders,  Jesuits  and  Franciscans  chiefly,  and  the 
story  of  their  heroic  labor,  suffering,  and  death  has  been  often 
told.  The  priests  were  in  the  habit  of  following  the  Abenaquis 
in  their  wanderings  from  one  hunting-ground  to  another,  and  it 
is  not  improbable  that  more  than  once  they  visited  and  erected 
their  altars  in  this  section,  which  was  a  favorite  resort  of  one  of 
the  tribes  of  this  people.  More  devoted,  self-sacrificing  men  than 
these  priests,  who  for  two  centuries  struggled  to  christianize  and 
civilize  the  savages,  never  lived.  Park  man  has  described  their 
work,  and  draws  this  picture  of  their  journcyings  and  an  incident 
illustrating  their  zeal  :  u  The  way  was  pathless  and  long,  by  rock 
and  torrent  and  the  gloom  of  savage  forests  ;  the  goal  was  more 
dreary  yet.  Toil,  hardship,  famine,  filth,  sickness,  solitude,  insult, 
—  all  that  was  most  revolting  to  men  nurtured  among  arts  and 
letters;"  and  again,  "Their  patience,  kindness,  their  intrepidity, 
their  manifest  disinterestedness,  the  blamelessness  of  their  lives, 
and  the  tact  which  never  failed  them  had  won  the  hearts  of  those 
wayward  savages;"  and  once  more,  "When  we  see  them  in  the 
gloomy  February  of  1637,  and  the  gloomier  months  that  followed, 
toiling  on  foot  from  one  infected  town  to  another,  wading  through 
the  sodden  snow,  under  bare  and  dripping  forests,  drenched  with 
incessant  rains,  till  they  descried  at  length  through  the  storm  the 
clustered  dwellings  of  some  barbarous  hamlet ;  when  we  see  them 
entering  one  after  the  other  those  wretched  abodes  of  misery  and 
darkness,  and  all  for  one  sole  end,  the  baptism  of  the  sick  and 
dvinjr." 


Ecclesiastical  History.  325 

Such  were  some  of  the  hardships  endured  by  those  who  first 
traversed  northern  New  Hampshire. 

The  first  known  Roman  Catholic  in  Littleton,  other  than  the  St. 
Francis  Indians  and  the  missionaries  who  sometimes  accompanied 
them  in  their  excursions  into  this  region,  was  Joseph  Du  Clarett, 
who  married  a  daughter  of  Capt.  Peleg  Williams.  He  probably 
located  here  as  early  as  1785  and  remained  until  1802  or  1803, 
when  with  his  family  he  returned  to  Canada,  his  native  country, 
and  settled  in  Compton.  Little  is  known  of  him,  except  that  he 
accompanied  a  party  of  St.  Francis  Indians  on  one  of  their  jour- 
neys to  the  Lower  Cohoes,  where  General  Bayley  persuaded  him 
to  come  to  this  town  to  work  during  a  season  for  Captain  Wil- 
liams, and  that  he  died  in  Canada  prior  to  1815. 

The  first  influx  of  Roman  Catholics  was  in  1840,  when  the 
Woollen  Factory  was  put  in  operation.  Among  the  first  operatives 
employed  in  that  mill  was  John  Smith,  an  Irish  Catholic  and  a  man 
of  character  and  more  than  average  education  for  one  in  his  posi- 
tion. He  was  soon  joined  by  two  or  three  other  workmen  of  the 
same  religious  convictions  who  were  without  families.  When  John 
Ilerren  became  insolvent  in  1843,  Mr.  Smith  and  William  Jackson, 
the  finisher  in  the  Woollen  Factory,  together  purchased  a  farm  in 
Cabot,  Vt.,  to  which  town  they  moved.  After  a  season  Mr.  Smith 
purchased  the  interest  of  his  partner,  and  was  the  owner  of  the 
farm  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

It  was  at  this  period,  1840-1843,  that  the  town  was  first  visited 
by  a  Catholic  priest.  All  New  England  was  then  under  the 
jurisdiction  of  Bishop  Fenwick,  of  Boston.  The  Rev.  Jeremiah 
O'Callaghan,  a  missionary  priest,  was  located  at  Burlington,  Vt., 
as  early  as  1830.  II is  field  of  labor  embraced  all  of  Vermont 
and  that  part  of  this  State  lying  in  the  valley  of  the  Connecticut 
River,  and  it  fell  to  his  lot  to  become  the  guest  of  Mr.  Smith 
in  1841  and  on  one  or  two  subsequent  occasions.  No  service,  bow- 
ever,  was  held  on  these  occasions.  There  is  a  tradition  that  the 
Rev.  Father  O'Reilley,  who  was  associated  with  Father  O'Callaghan, 
also  visited  the  town  during  these  years. 

In  1840  the  factory  was  again  in  operation  under  the  proprie- 
torship of  the  Hales,  and  John  Smith  was  in  his  old  place  at 
the  woolsorters'  bench.  In  the  spring  of  1847  he  was  joined 
by  his  family.  They  occupied  the  easterly  tenement  in  the 
double  house  at  the  southwesterly  corner  of  Main  and  Brook 
Streets,  and  in  the  parlor  of  this  house  in  the  late  summer  of 
1847  was  said  the  first  mass. 

For  some  time  it   was  believed  that  the   Rev.  Hector  Antoine 


326  History  of  Littleton. 

Drolet  was  the  officiating  clergyman  on  that  occasion.  Informa- 
tion, the  result  of  recent  investigation,  renders  it  improbable,  if 
not  impossible,  that  such  was  the  fact.  Father  Drolet  was  a 
French  priest,  and  the  writer,  who  was  then  a  lad  of  about  nine 
summers  and  a  near  neighbor  of  Mr.  Smith,  clearly  recalls  the 
event  and  much  of  the  talk  occasioned  by  it,  and  is  clear  as  to 
the  point  that  the  officiating  priest  was  an  Irishman.  The  view 
that  it  was  some  one  other  than  Father  Drolet  is  supported  by 
the  records  in  the  archives  of  Quebec  relating  to  the  Canadian 
clergy.  These  state  that  from  1839  to  1849  Father  Drolet  "  was 
a  missionary  at  Caraquet,"  Canada ;  that  in  "  1849  he  was  sent 
to  Montpelier  Vt.,"  in  the  same  capacity.  This  date  of  his  first 
appearance  at  Montpelier  is  supported  by  a  writer  in  Hemenway's 
"  Vermont  Gazetteer,"1  who  states  that  Father  Drolet  came  to 
Montpelier  "  about  1850,"  where  he  remained  until  near  the  close 
of  1854.  From  this  evidence  it  is  clear  that  Father  Drolet  in 

1847  was    stationed    at  a  Mission  in  Canada,  and   that    he  was 
not  appointed  to  Montpelier  until  1849,  two  years  after  the  first 
mass  was  celebrated  in  Littleton. 

All  ascertainable  facts  indicate  that  this  mass  at  the  house 
of  John  Smith  was  celebrated  by  the  Rev.  Father  John  B.  Daly, 
a  missionary  priest,  whose  headquarters  were  at  Claremont,  and 
whose  field  covered  all  the  central  and  western  part  of  this  State 
at  that  time,  the  Rev.  Father  Canovan  having  immediate  charge 
of  the  eastern  part,  with  headquarters  at  Dover.  The  period 
of  the  activity  of  Father  Daly  extended  from  1845  to  1856.  He 
journeyed  from  place  to  place,  being  constantly  on  the  move,  and 
it  was  his  "  boast  never  to  have  slept  more  than  one  night  under 
the  same  roof."  The  "  History  of  the  Catholic  Church  in  New 
England  "  discloses  the  extent  of  his  visitations  in  these  years, 
and  how  important  a  factor  he  was  in  the  upbuilding  of  his 
church  in  this  region.  He  was  at  Concord,  Claremont,  Keene, 
Laconia,  and  Lebanon  in  1845;  Littleton  in  1847;  Walpolc  in 

1848  ;  Nashua,  Milford,  and  Hinsdale  in  1849;  Fenacook  in  1850, 
and  Tilton  in  1854.     This  statement  covers  only  "  first  visits  ;" 
the    intervening    years    were    filled    with    abundant    evidence    of 
the  extent  of    his  travels  and   his  tireless  zeal.2     This  territory 
was  within  his  mission,  and    the    description    given    by   Colonel 
Linehan  of    his  personal  appearance  corresponds  to  that  of  the 
clergyman  who  visited  John  Smith  in  1847,  and  his  nationality 

1  Vol.  iv.  pp.  289,  422-423. 

2  History  of   the  Catholic  Church   in  the  New  England   States.     Boston,  1899. 
Hurd  &  Everts  Co.  Pub.     Vol.  ii.  pp.  596-675. 


;  H 


Ecclesiastical  History.  327 

answers  the  requirements  of  the  case.  The  evidence,  though 
not  all  given,  renders  it  wellnigh  certain  that  Father  Drolet  did 
not  visit  the  town  prior  to  1850,  while  there  is  abundant  evi- 
dence extant  that  Father  Daly  was  here  several  times  in  1847- 
1848  and  1849,  as  was  also  Father  O'Callaghan  in  some  of  these 
years. 

An  incident  may  be  related  that  had  its  origin  in  the  celebra- 
tion of  this  mass.  The  Protestant  neighbors  and  associates  of 
Mr.  Smith  from  this  time  gave  him  the  title  of"  Deacon,"  -  —  a  bit  of 
playfulness  which  he  resented,  holding  its  application  to  himself  to 
be  sacrilegious.  After  a  time  the  title,  though  always  used  in  re- 
ferring to  Mr.  Smith,  was  seldom  applied  in  his  presence. 

Rev.  John  B.  Daly  J  was  a  native  of  Ireland.  He  received  his 
education,  classical  and  theological,  at  the  Franciscan  College 
and  Seminary  located  in  the  city  of  Galway,  in  the  county  of  the 
same  name,  in  Ireland.  He  was  ordained  a  priest  about  1836. 
This  supposition  is  based  on  a  statement  contained  in  a  letter 
written  by  him  in  "1855,  where  in  speaking  of  his  duties  as  a 
priest  he  said,  "  This  I  have  not  neglected  these  nineteen  years 
on  all  •Sundays  and  festival  days,"  which  undoubtedly  covered 
the  period  of  his  priesthood.  Of  his  family  nothing  is  known, 
no  relatives  were  with  him  during  his  sojourn  in  New  Hampshire  ; 
but  that  he  came  of  good  stock  his  name,  which  was  one  of  the 
most  noted  in  his  native  land,  as  well  as  his  personal  appearance 
and  actions,  gave  proof. 

He  was  one  of  the  pioneer  priests  of  the  Catholic  Church  in 
this  State  ;  and  little  as  is  known  of  his  contemporaries,  still 
less  is  known  of  him.  His  first  professional  duties  were  per- 
formed in  Ireland  ;  for  how  long  is  not  known,  neither  can 
the  date  of  his  coming  to  America  be  given.  In  October,  1854, 
he  was  sent  to  Concord  to  take  charge  of  the  Catholic  con- 
gregation in  that  city  and  of  other  adjacent  localities. 

His  mission  extended  as  far  north  as  Lebanon  and  Littleton. 
An  idea  can  be  formed  of  the  Catholic  situation  in  those  days 
from  the  knowledge  that,  according  to  the  census  of  1850,  there 
were  but  two  Catholic  churches  in  New  Hampshire.  Before  his  set- 
tlement here  he  had  labored  in  Maine  and  Vermont,  for  how  long 
or  to  what  extent  is  not  known.  One  of  his  missions  was  Fisher- 
ville,  now  Penacook,  and  when  visiting  there,  religious  services 
were  held  in  the  houses  of  the  few  Catholics  then  resident  there  ; 
among  them  that  of  John  Linchan,  the  father  of  John  C. 
Linehan.  The  latter  was  then  but  fourteen  years  of  age,  and 

1  By  Col.  John  C.  Linehan. 


328  History  of  Littleton. 

can  well  remember  his  appearance.  To  him  he  seemed  about 
forty-five  or  fifty  years  old,  five  feet  eight  in  height,  robust  in 
health,  erect  in  form,  and  in  possession  of  a  pair  of  bright  blue 
eyes,  which  looked  full  at  any  one  with  whom  he  conversed. 
He  had  a  varied  experience,  extending  over  three  States,  and 
ho  was  in  constant  intercourse  with  the  turbulent  spirits  who 
were  at  that  time  engaged  in  building  the  railroads,  digging 
the  canals,  or  putting  in  the  foundations  of  the  great  mills  and 
shops  that  have  since  then  made  New  England  famous.  He 
was  a  good  preacher,  blest  with  a  vigorous  flow  of  words,  which 
issued  from  his  lips, -either  in  English,  Gaelic,  French,  or  Latin, 
as  the  occasion  required,  and  a  severe  as  well  as  faithful  guar- 
dian of  those  committed  to  his  charge. 

He  had  his  full  share  of  the  wit,  humor,  and  repartee  natural 
to  so  many  of  his  countrymen,  and  woe  to  the  man  or  woman 
who  attempted  to  cope  with  him  in  this  line.  A  second  trial 
was  never  desired  by  his  contestants.  He  was  merciless  to 
those  who  would  occasionally  try  to  be  "  Yankeefied  "  in  tongue 
and  in  dress,  especially  if  the  money  which  in  his  opinion 
ought  to  go  into  the  contribution-box  had  been  expended  on 
fineries  for  their  personal  adornment.  In  such  cases  ho  would 
lash  them  unmercifully,  often  before  the  altar,  to  the  mortification 
of  his  victims,  but  to  the  intense  enjoyment  of  the  members  of 
the  congregation  who  were  not  so  far  advanced  in  speech  or 
raiment. 

"I  would  rather,"  said  be,  "have  a  man  with  a  sugawn  l 
around  his  middle  to  hold  bis  coat  together,  and  a  brogue 
that  you  could  n't  cut  with  a  knife,  and  who  is  true  to  his 
obligations  to  his  God  and  to  his  neighbor,  for  a  member 
of  this  congregation,  than  a  barnful  of  brass-buttoned,  swallow- 
tailed,  nosey-voiced  dandies  who  are  as  destitute  of  money  as 
of  brains,  and  who  are,  in  consequence  of  their  love  of  dress, 
unable  to  meet  their  obligations  to  either  God  or  man."  He 
remained  in  Concord  for  about  two  years,  and  during  that  time 
celebrated  mass  in  Suncook,  Hooksett,  and  the  towns  along  the 
railroads  running  north  from  Concord  within  the  limits  of  the 
State.  Arery  few  of  those  who  enjoyed  his  visitations  are  living 
to-day,  but  those  who  still  survive  have  good  reason  to  bless 
his  memory,  for  no  storm  was  too  severe  to  prevent  his  coming 
when  sent  for  in  times  of  sickness  or  death.  He  was  one  of 
the  most  tender-hearted  and  liberal  men  living,  though  his 
experience  had  been  such  as  to  give  him  a  rough,  blunt  exterior. 

1  A  rope. 


Ecclesiastical  History.  329 

He  assumed  the  duties  of  his  mission  in  troublesome  times. 
The  storm  of  religious  hatred  which  had  been'  inaugurated  by 
the  native  American  party,  and  still  further  enlarged  by  its 
successor,  the  Know-Nothing  party,  had  swept  all  over  New 
England,  the  Middle  States,  and  as  far  south  and  southwest 
as  Virginia  and  Kentucky.  The  most  ridiculous  and  senseless 
charges  were  made  against  the  church  and  its  followers.  The 
following  letter  will  show  the  nature  of  some  of  them,  and  is 
at  the  same  time  a  good  illustration  of  the  ability  and  vigor 
which  Father  Daly  displayed  in  refuting  them. 

During  the  heated  Know-Nothing  campaign  in  the  spring  of 
1855  a  statement  was  made  in  the  columns  of  the  "  Manchester 
American"  that"  Mr."  Daly,  the  Catholic  priest  in  Concord,  had 
received  $7,500  to  be  used  "  for  political  purposes."  In  reply  to 
this  charge  "  Mr."  Daly  addressed  to  the  editor  of  the  "  American" 
a  letter,  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy.  The  letter  was  refused 
publication,  and  it  was  therefore  printed  in  the  "  New  Hampshire 
Patriot"  of  March  7,  1855. 

COXCORD,  N.  II.,  28th  of  February,  1855. 
To  the  EDITOR  OF  THE  "  DAILY  AMERICAN,"  Manchester,  N.  H. 

SIR, — On  my  arrival  here  yesterday,  a  friend  handed  to  me  your 
paper  of  the  27th  inst.  containing  an  article  relative  to  me.  which  was 
headed  "  Popery  in  the  field  :  Money  in  the  hands  of  Catholic  priests." 

I  beg  leave  to  call  your  attention  to  said  article,  and  to  lay  before 
you  whatever  information  you  may  require  of  me,  in  order  that,  the 
next  time  you  introduce  to  your  readers  the  above  subject,  you  need 
not  make  an}*  mistake.  I  am  willing  to  impress  on  your  mind  the  fol- 
lowing statement  on  the  true  and  certain  facts  characteristic  of  me  : 
Firstly",  that  I  am  no  politician.  Secondly,  that  during  nineteen  years 
I  am  in  America,  I  never  attended  any  political  caucus,  or  club,  for  an}' 
purpose  whatever. 

Thirdly,  that  I  never  attended  on  any  day  of  election,  nor  ever  voted 
for  any  candidate,  nor  influenced  others  to  vote  in  favor  of  any  person 
or  party.  Fourthly,  that  1  have  never  received  any  money  here,  or 
in  any  other  place,  for  ant/  political  cause  or  purpose. 

Fifthly,  that  I  know  of  no  Catholic  priest  in  America  receiving  money 
from  any  fund,  or  from  any  society,  established  for  that  purpose. 

Sixthly,  that  I  am  confident  there  is  no  such  fund  or  society  estab- 
lished in  the  Catholic  Church  in  America  to  forward  political  design,  or 
interest,  of  any  particular  party.. 

Seventhly,  that  I  am  not  associated  with  any  political  club,  or  party 
in  America,  nor  in  any  other  part  of  the  world. 

Eighthly,  that  no  Catholic  —  much  less  a  Catholic  priest  —  can  be- 
long to  any  society  in  which  there  is  a  secret  password,  or  sign,  as  a 


330  History  of  Littleton. 

means  of  brotherly  recognition,  or  an  unlawful  oath  tendered  as  a  test 
of  qualification. 

I  might  easily  extend  this  enumeration,  but  I  presume  what  I  have 
said  is  sufficient  to  satisfy  you;  and,  as  such,  I  lay  them  before  you  as 
my  candid,  true,  and  sincere  expressions.  When  I  see,  therefore,  that 
you  place  me  in  an  unfavorable  position  before  the  public,  I  have  a  just 
right  to  complain  of  your  unprovoked  act  of  injustice  against  my  char- 
acter and  profession.  You  are  well  aware,  sir,  that  your  journal  has  a 
wide  circulation,  and  that  thousands  will  believe  whatever  you  may  say 
—  no  matter  how  false -—of  me,  where  my  voice  in  contradiction  can 
never  be  heard.  Now,  in  this  time  of  great  and  unusual  excitement, 
and,  in  particular,  of  the  political  conflict  of  the  contending  parties, 
anything,  however  false,  you  may  say  against  me,  my  creed,  religion, 
or  profession,  will  be  received  by  many  as  gospel  truths,  who  have  no 
other  source  of  information  except  the  columns  of  interested  papers  ; 
and  you  well  know,  from  your  own  experience,  that  many  misstatements 
figure  in  such  journals.  You  accuse  me  of  receiving  $7", 500  for  some 
political  purpose.  Let  me  assure  you  that  there  is  not  a  sha<to/r  of 
truth  in  yoy,r  assertion.  I  have  got  no  money — not  a  cent  —  now,  nor 
at  any  other  time,  with  respect  to  politics.  This  money  affair  is  easily 
answered  :  I  was  sent  here  last  October  to  take  charge  of  the  Catholic 
congregation  of  this  city  and  of  other  adjacent  localities.  About 
three  weeks  ago,  the  Catholic  papers  announced  the  appointment  of  a 
new  bishop  to  the  Episcopal  See  of  Portland,  Maine,  whose  jurisdiction 
will  extend  to  the  state  of  New  Hampshire.  I  hold  a  mortgage  on 
property  in  the  state  of  New  York  for  the  amount  specified,  and  I 
called  for  that  mortgage  in  order  that  I  would  be  enabled  to  present  it 
to  the  new  bishop  as  my  subscription  to  a  church  which  I  am  disposed 
to  build,  either  in  this  city  or  Nashua.  I  fear  that  I  should  trespass  too 
much  on  ^your  columns  were  I  to  give  a  lengthened  explanation  of 
other  matters  necessary  to  be  known.  One  thing  I  will  say,  in  as  few 
words  as  possible.  I  see  tio  motive,  nor  cause,  for  me  to  interfere  in 
politics.  If,  in  the  frenzy  of  the  present  political  excitement,  any 
person  be  found  to  prefer  his  temporal  to  his  eternal  interest,  he  cannot 
impute  such  misfortune  to  the  pastor.  The  pastor  is  called  F«th<  r  on 
account  of  the  paternal  care  and  solicitude  he  must  have  alike  for  all, 
without  any  distinction  of  persons.  The  priest's  duty  is  to  implore  a 
blessing  on  all  persons  —  even  upon  his  enemies.  This  I  have  not 
neglected,  these  nineteen  years,  on  all  Sundays  and  festival  days;  and 
if  you  were  a  president,  governor,  mayor,  magistrate,  or  in  any  other 
station,  or  situation,  in  the  government  connected  with  the  administra- 
tion of  the  laws,  you  could  hear  me,  and  every  other  priest  in  America, 
before  lie  commences  his  mass,  earnestly  petitioning  God  in  your  be- 
half, that  He,  in  the  exercise  of  His  infinite  mercy,  may  assist  you 
with  the  Holy  Spirit  of  counsel  and  fortitude,  and  enable  you  to  dis- 
charge the  duties  of  your  station  or  calling,  with  honesty  and  ability. 


Ecclesiastical  History.  331 

Such  is  the  chit}'  and  such  is  our  practice,  whom  }'ou  misrepresent,  and 
against  whom  3-011  are  endeavoring  to  excite  bad  feelings  in  the  com- 
munity. Now,  Sir,  the  only  fact  or  intimation  of  truth,  which  your 
article  relative  to  me  contains,  is,  that  I  board  in  this  city  at  the 
American  Hotel,  the  proprietor  of  which  is  Mr.  Gass  ;  and  I  would 
respectfully  ask  of  you,  would  you  deny  me  the  right,  or  the  privilege, 
to  .board  where  I  consider  to  be  the  most  advantageous  to  myself?  or 
to  travel  iu  this  free  country  where  the  calls  of  the  people  confided  to 
my  care,  or  the  interests  of  religion,  may  require  nrry  presence?  Be- 
lieving that  you  have  received  your  information,  that  led  to  the  publi- 
cation of  the  article,  from  some  interested  source,  or  renegade  Catholic, 
that  alwa3'S  fears  as  much  as  he  hates  a  Catholic  priest,  I  freely  ex- 
onerate you  from  all  blame  and  culpability  :  should  you  be  pleased  to 
let  this  reply  appear  in  the  columns  of  the  "  Daily  American"  you  will 
confer  a  favor  on  your  very  obedient,  humble  servant, 

JOHN  B.  DALY, 

Catholic  Priest. 

In  a  little  over  a  year  from  the  time  this  letter  was  written,  the 
bad  feelings  which  Father  Daly  charged  had  been  excited  by 
the  misrepresentations  he  called  attention  to  were  so  much 
increased  by  a  continuation  of  them,  that  bloody  riots  had 
occurred,  with  great  loss  of  life  and  property  in  Louisville. 
Baltimore,  and  New  Orleans.  New  Hampshire  was  not  even 
exempt  from  it.  There  was  no  loss  of  life,  but  the  church  in 
Manchester  was  attacked  and  considerable  injury  clone.  Father 
Daly  left  New  Hampshire  before  1860;  where  he  went  to,  or 
among  whom  he  labored  after  his  departure  to  the  time  of  his 
death,  is  not  known.  It  is  fair  to  presume  that  it  might  have 
been  in  Troy,  N.  Y.,  for  he  died  in  that  city  sometime  during 
the  year  1863. 

The  first  public  service  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  was 
held  in  Brackett's  Hall1  in  1848  or  1849,  the  officiating  priest 
being  the  Rev.  Father  Jeremiah  O'Callaghan,  who  came  here 
at  that  time  upon  the  invitation  of  John  and  Richard  Smith. 
The  small  hall  was  nearly  filled,  several  non-Catholics  being 
present.  Father  O'Callaghan  preached  a  rather  lengthy  sermon, 
much  of  it  relating  to  theological  questions.  The  Reverend 
Father  visited  the  town  two  or  three  times  after  this  event.  He 
was  a  strong  man.  of  great  courage  and  pertinacity,  who  had 
many  somewhat  original  ideas  on  economical  questions  which  he 
advocated,  sometimes  to  the  exclusion  of  more  interesting,  if  not 
more  important  matters.  Like  Father  Daly,  he  was  an  untiring 

1  In  what  is  now  Calhoun's  Block. 


332  History  of  Littleton. 

worker,  and  for  many  years  traversed  in  all  sorts  of  weather 
and  varying  conditions  of  travel  his  vast  mission,  which  was 
practically  under  his  sole  supervision,  and  which  he  ruled  with 
the  iron  hand  of  an  autocrat.  He  was  born  in  Ireland,  and 
educated  and  ordained  to  the  priesthood  there.  He  was  for  a 
time  connected  with  the  diocese  of  Cork,  where  he  had  a  misun- 
derstanding with  his  bishop  on  the  subject  of  usury.  The  trouble 
grew  out  of  a  disagreement  as  to  the  terms  upon  which  he  re- 
ceived a  sum  of  money  from  the  bishop  to  be  used  in  building 
a  church.  The  priest  regarded  it  as  a  gift,  the  bishop  as  a  loan, 
and  in  time  demanded  its  payment  with  compound  interest,  at 
which  Father  O'Callaghan  demurred  and  visited  Rome  to  defend 
his  contention,  but  without  success.  The  subject  was  ever  after 
a  fruitful  theme  with  him  both  in  the  pulpit  and  in  the  press. 
Upon  coming  to  this  country,  Bishop  Fen  wick  sent  him  to 
Burlington,  Yt.,  in  1830,  where  he  remained  until  1852,  when 
he  was  assigned  to  Holyoke,  Mass.,  as  a  missionary.  There  he 
built  St.  James  Church,  and  was  the  first  pastor  of  the  parish. 
He  was  a  priest  of  the  primitive  type,  a  father  to  his  people,  by 
whom  he  was  much  beloved  and  over  whom  he  possessed  unusual 
influence.  As  a  preacher,  he  was  pungent  and  practical,  going 
direct  to  the  point  and  seldom  dealing  in  sentiment  or  permitting 
a  public  or  private  wrong  to  pass  unrebuked  while  it  was  still 
fresh  in  the  minds  of  his  people. 

He  was  a  prolific  writer  on  controversial  subjects,  especially 
such  as  pertained  to  religious  and  economic  questions.  He  pub- 
lished several  works  which  attracted  attention  in  their  day,  but 
arc  now  mostly  forgotten  or  remembered  for  the  merciless  char- 
acter in  which  he  attacked  his  opponent.1  Father  O'Callaghan 
passed  to  his  reward  in  1868,  at  the  age  of  eighty -three  years,  and 
is  buried  in  the  grounds  of  the  church  he  built  at  Holyoke. 

It  was  the  custom  then,  as  now,  for  the  bishops  to  send  among 
the  people  speaking  different  languages  clergymen  who  would 
preach  to  them  in  their  native  tongue.  The  French  population 
of  this  section  was  at  that  time  increasing  rapidly,  and  probably 
for  this  reason  a  priest  of  that  nationality  was  sent  among  them 
in  the  person  of  the  Rev.  Hector  Antoine  Prolet,  of  Mont- 

1  Among  the  titles  :ire  "A  Critical  Review  of  Mr.  J.  H.  Convers's  ("alvinistic 
Sermon,"  a  pamphlet  of  58  pages,  IGmo,  Burlington,  18.'J4  ;  "  Usury,  Funds,  and 
Banks;  also  forestalling  Traffic  and  Monopoly;  likewise  Pew  Kent,  and  (irave 
Charges,  etc.,"  8vo,  pp.  380,  Burlington,  1884;  "The  Creation  and  Offspring  of  the 
Protestant  Church  ;  also  Vagaries  and  Heresies  of  John  Henry  Hopkins,  "  etc  ,  1-irno, 
pp.328,  Burlington,  1837;  ''Exposure  of  the  Vermont  Banking  Companies,"  pam- 
phlet, pp.  32;  "Atheism  of  Bronson's  Review,"  etc.,  8vo,  pp.  <)OG,  Burlington,  Iboli. 


Ecclesiastical  History.  333 

pelier,  Yt.,  who  for  two  or  three  years  alternated  with  Father 
O'Callaghan  in  visiting  this  town.  Father  Drolet  was  born  in 
Quebec  in  January,  1806;  ordained  January  24,  1830,  vicar  of 
St.  Roch  in  Quebec;  1831,  of  St.  Gervais;  1833,  of  Yercheres ; 
1835,  of  St.  Hyacinthe;  1838,  missionary  of  Nipissiquit ;  1839, 
of  Caraquet ;  1849,  missionary  at  Montpelier,  Yt.  ;  1855,  of  St. 
Charles  Chambly  ;  1856,  of  St.  Jude,  where  he  died  in  June,  1868, 
aged  fifty-five  years. 

He  is  said  to  have  been  an  exceptionally  devout  and  amiable 
man,  greatly  devoted  to  his  work  and  endowed  with  the  true 
missionary  spirit.  Hard  work  and  exposure  on  his  travels 
weakened  his  constitution,  and  while  in  Montpelier  ill-health 
so  added  to  his  burdens  that  he  was  finally  compelled  to  return 
to  his  old  home,  where  he  was  appointed  to  work  that  was 
deemed  more  suited  to  his  feeble  health. 

After  his  departure  came  the  Rev.  John  Brady,  missionary  at 
Claremont,  who  had  succeeded  Father  Daly  in  the  mission.  All 
these  priests  held  their  services  at  private  houses,  usually  at  the 
house  of  Richard  Smith,  but  sometimes  at  those  of  Matthew 
Powers  or  Daniel  Harrington. 

Father  Brady  was  born  in  Curryroe,  County  Cavan,  Ireland, 
in  1828.  His  parents  were  in  good  circumstances,  and  assisted 
two  of  their  sons  to  obtain  an  education  and  enter  the  priesthood. 
Father  Brady  was  educated  partly  in  Ireland,  but  coming  to 
Canada  entered  Montreal  College,  and  subsequently  began  the 
study  of  theology  in  1858,  and  was  graduated  from  Grand  Semi- 
nary in  1855,  and  the  same  year  ordained  by  Bishop  Bacon  at 
Portland,  and  appointed  to  the  Claremont  Mission,  where  he 
remained  about  a  year. 

Father  Brady  was  located  at  Lebanon,  Keene,  Houlton,  Me., 
and  in  1870  became  pastor  of  St.  Mary's  Church,  Biddeford,  Me., 
where  he  remained  twenty  years.  After  his  retirement  lie  con- 
tinued to  reside  in  the  parish  until  1895,  when  he  returned  to 
Ireland  to  make  his  home  with  a  brother  in  the  house  where 
he  was  born.  He  was  a  man  of  many  accomplishments,  a  fine 
scholar,  a  poet  of  no  mean  ability,  and  a  persuasive  pulpit  orator. 
His  successor  at  St.  Mary's,  the  Rev.  Father  Timothy  P.  Linehan, 
says  of  him :  "  I  do  not  believe  that  he  ever  spoke  an  unkind  word 
to  his  people  during  all  the  years  of  his  ministry.  He  was  exact 
and  faithful  in  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  the  priesthood.  He 
talked  little  of  himself,  was  most  simple  and  unaffected  in 
manner,  and  loved  retirement.  In  speech  he  was  direct,  always 
quite  to  the  point,  but  always  most  charitable/'  Much  of  his 


334  Hiistory  of  Littleton. 

own  personal  revenue  lie  turned  into  the  parochial  treasury, 
and  when  he  was  departing  ho  crowned  his  generosity  by  a  gift 
to  the  parish,  through  Father  Linehan,  of  $5,000  for  school 
purposes. 

The  life  of  a  missionary  priest  at  that  time  could  not  have 
heen  very  much  lighter  than  that  of  his  Jesuit  predecessors  twro 
centuries  before.  Railroads  in  this  section  were  unknown,  and 
th«;  travelling  from  one  mission  to  another  in  rude  sleighs, 
carts,  or  on  foot,  while  the  priest  was  fasting  in  preparation 
for  the  coming  sacrament,  must  have  made  the  existence  of 
the  missioner  one  of  inconceivable  hardship.  The  life  of  Catho- 
lic, priests  at  the  best  is  one  of  hard  toil  and  loneliness.  There 
is  little  cluing*;  for  them  from  the  hot,  stifling  confessional,  where 
cramped  in  one  position  they  must  sit  for  hours  late  into  the 
night-,  listening  to  the  sins  and  sorrows  of  their  spiritual  chil- 
dren: later  they  retire  to  rest  only  to  be  called  again  to  some 
distant,  sick  one,  perhaps  driving  or  walking  through  the  rain 
or  snow  lo  administer  the  last  sacrament  without  which  no 
Catholic,  willingly  undertakes  the  journey  to  "-the  undiscovered 
countrv,  from  whose  bourne  no  traveller  returns,"  and  then 
returning  home  only  in  time  to  celebrate  the  early  mass.  Even 
in  our  day  it  is  not  uncommon  for  a  priest  at  Christmas  to 
s;iv  a  midnight  mass  at  one  mission,  drive  twelve  miles  in  an 
open  sleigh  over  rough  roads  to  repeat  the  same  at  live  A.M. 
at  another,  and  then  continue  to  drive  eight  miles  farther  to 
celebrate  the  third  mass  at  ten  A.M.,  not  breaking  his  fast 
until  noon. 

But  after  all,  these  physical  hardships  were  the  least  of  those 
endured  by  a  priest  in  the  beginnings  of  the  faith  in  New 
Hampshire.  The  State  was  first  settled  by  Puritans  and  Scotch 
Irish  ;  the  latter,  stern  Covenanters  and  bitter  foes  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  faith,  who  had  no  fellowship  for  Catholics.  Famine, 
however,  was  driving  the  children  of  Ireland  to  this  country, 
as  the  Acadians  had  been  driven  from  their  well-loved  homes, 
and  they  were  scattered  here  and  there.  Railroads  were  being 
built,  and  mills,  which  called  for  much  labor,  and  so,  in  spite  of 
opposition.  Catholics  were  here  to  stay,  and  churches  and  priests 
must  necessarily  follow,  even  at  the  cost  sometimes  of  life  itself. 
These  missionary  fathers  of  Burlington,  then  in  the  diocese  of 
Boston,  were  followed  by  one  who  may  be  called  the  Apostle  of 
Littleton,  the  Rev.  Father  Isadore  11.  Noiseux. 

Among  the  families  connected  with  the  church  under  the 
care  of  these  priests,  beside  the  Smith  brothers  and  Lewis  Coutreau, 


Ecclesiastical  History.  335 

were  John,  James,  and  William  Truland,  Dennis  Murphy,  Joseph 
Lucia,  John  Legacy,  Joseph  and  Frank  Mozrall,  Lewis  Biron 
(Bero),  and  others.  When  the  railroad  was  completed  to  the  town 
in  1853,  there  was  added  to  the  citizenship,  not  only  in  this,  but 
in  neighboring  towns,  a  number  of  Catholic  families,  such  as  the 
Donovans,  Powers,  Nihans,  and  Callahans,  who  strengthened  the 
people  belonging  to  this  church  and  rendered  it  necessary,  in 
order  to  minister  to  their  spiritual  wants,  to  provide  a  more 
regular  service. 

The  see  of  Portland  was  erected  from  that  of  Boston  in  1853, 
but  it  was  not  until  1855  that  the  diocese  obtained  its  first 
bishop,  the  Rt.  Rev.  D.  W.  Bacon,  the  first  candidate  having 
declined  the  office  and  returned  his  papers  to  Rome.  The  diocese 
embraced  the  States  of  Maine  and  New  Hampshire ;  Little- 
ton was  then  a  part  of  the  Claremont  Mission.  Bishop  Bacon 
divided  that  mission,  and  Littleton  came  under  the  charge  of 
the  Rev.  Father  Noiseux,  of  Lancaster.  He  visited  here  once  a 
month  for  sixteen  years,  and  then  twice  a  month  for  four  years 
longer.  Rev.  Father  Noiseux  was  born  in  Canada,  in  the  diocese 
of  St.  Hyacinthe,  October  15,  1815.  He  was  educated  at  the  College 
of  St.  Hyacinthe,  and  after  leaving  there,  entered  the  Grand  Semi- 
nary of  St.  Sulpice  at  Montreal,  for  the  purpose  of  studying 
philosophy  and  theology.  He  was  ordained  there  to  the  priest- 
hood in  Holy  Week,  1843.  The  Reverend  Father  began  his 
labors  in  Canada,  and  was  stationed  at  St.  Hyacinthe  as  assistant 
for  two  and  one-half  years,  and  then  transferred  from  there  to 
St.  Dominick  as  resident  pastor  for  six  years,  and  from  there 
to  St.  Gregoire,  three  years.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  came 
to  the  States  to  assist  the  Rev.  Father  Boyce  at  Worcester,  Mass., 
having  special  charge  of  the  French  Canadians  in  the  parish.  Hear- 
ing, however,  of  the  great  need  of  priests  in  the  new  diocese  of 
Portland,  the  missionary  spirit  moved  him  to  leave  the  more 
comfortable  city  parish  and  offer  his  services  to  Bishop  Bacon. 
The  bishop  immediately  assigned  him  to  take  charge  of  Lancaster 
and  the  whole  Connecticut  River  mission,  —  this  district  extended 
from  Colebrook  to  Ashuelot  and  included  also  the  White  Moun- 
tain district.  It  is  unfortunate  that  so  little  is  known  of  the 
Reverend  Father's  toils  in  his  large  mission.  His  visits  to  the 
lumber  camps  and  other  unsettled  places  would  doubtless  be 
most  interesting  and  edifying.  Good  men  do  not  care  to  tell 
about  those  things,  and  there  is  only  one  allusion  in  his  papers 
to  those  hardships.  He  says :  '•  Many  times  I  slept  in  old 
shanties.  There  were  no  railroads,  and  I  had  many  cold,  hard 


336  History  of  Littleton. 

drives.  On  one  of  my  visits  to  Laconia  I  was  thirty-six  hours 
at  the  mercy  of  a  pitiless  storm  and  without  anything"  to  eat." 

Father  Noiseux  began  his  labors  here  in  a  time  of  bitter 
animosity  against  the  church.  New  Hampshire  by  her  Consti- 
tution prohibited  Catholics  from  holding  seats  in  the  Legislature 
and  from  all  other  offices  of  the  state.  The  spirit  that  destroyed 
the  Catholic  Church  in  our  cathedral  city  of  Manchester  was  still 
rife.  What  volumes,  then,  docs  it  tell  of  the  saintly  character 
of  the  man  to  hear  him  say,  "  I  have  never  met  with  any  opposition 
or  persecution  from  non-Catholics  of  any  kind  ;  on  the  contrary, 
Catholics  have  been  always  esteemed,  and  I  have  received  much 
help  from  them  for  church  charities,  etc." 

To  build  a  church  in  Littleton  was  a  desire  that  lay  very  near 
the  heart  of  Father  Noiseux.  At  a  time  when  the  contributions 
were  insufficient  to  defray  his  personal  expenses,  he  formulated 
a  plan,  which  was  executed  some  years  after,  for  the  erection  of 
such  an  edifice.  Immediately  prior  to  1875  the  Roman  Catholics  in 
the  parish  had  received  large  and  important  accessions.  John  M. 
Mitchell,  Stephen  Ouvrand,  and  his  son  Phileas  F.,  Timothy 
Murphy,  and  the  Carbonneaus,  the  father  and  four  sons,  were 
of  this  number.  Father  Noiseux  thought  the  hour  had  struck 
for  the  consummation  of  his  long-cherished  plans,  and  with  great 
zeal  began  to  raise  funds  to  render  them  effective.  Before  de- 
cisive action  was  taken,  however,  he  was  transferred  to  Bruns- 
wick, Me.,  in  1877,  and  it  was  decreed  that  another  should  build 
where  he  had  prepared  the  ground. 

The  lit.  Rev.  Bishop  Bacon  paid  his  first  visit  to  this  mission 
and  administered  the  sacrament  of  confirmation  for  the  first  time 
in  1805.  He  died  in  1874  at  St.  Vincent's  Hospital  at  New  York 
City,  and  the  Rt.  Rev.  James  A.  Healey  was  consecrated  as  his 
successor. 

During  Father  Noiseux's  absence  in  Maine,  the  Rev.  Father 
Francis  Xavicr  Trudel  was  appointed  in  his  place.  Father  Trudel 
was  born  at  Three  Rivers,  P.  Q.  He  received  his  primary,  classi- 
cal, philosophical,  and  theological  training  in  the  schools  and 
seminary  of  that  town.  He  was  ordained  to  the  priesthood  by 
Bishop  Bacon  at  Portland,  Me.,  in  1872,  and  was  appointed  to  the 
charge  of  Madawaska,  Me.  Afterwards  he  was  transferred  to 
Lebanon,  and  from  this  parish  attended  Littleton,  which  was 
one  of  its  missions.  In  1876  Bishop  Healy  visited  Littleton  and 
administered  the  sacrament  of  confirmation  in  Union  Hall. 

Father  Trudel  was  an  energetic  administrator,  and  his  pastorate 
was  noted,  among  other  things,  for  the  erection  of  the  church. 


REV.  DENNIS  F.  HTKI.EV. 


REV.  Loris  M.  LAPLAXTE. 


REV.  ISIDOKE   H.  NI usEr.x. 


ROMAN     CATHOLIC     PRIESTS. 


REV.  CVKII.I.E  J.  I'AKADI- 


Ecclesiastical  History.  337 

At  the  first  service  held  in  July,  he  announced  that  a  meeting 
of  the  parishioners  desirous  of  building  a  church  would  be  held 
after  the  mass  service  of  July  23,  1876.  This  meeting  was 
largely  attended,  and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  consider 
the  matter  of  a  church  edifice,  provide  funds  therefor,  and 
report  when  their  investigation  was  completed.  Their  report, 
which  was  favorable,  was  made  within  a  few  weeks,  and  in 
September  the  lot  on  High  and  Clay  Streets  was  purchased  and 
a  contract  executed  with  Dunn  &  Simpson  for  building  a  church 
in  accordance  with  the  plans  submitted  by  Father  Trudel.  The 
edifice,  a  handsome  structure,  was  finished  in  February,  1877,  and 
the  first  service  held  in  it  on  Sunday,  March  4,  the  Rev.  Father 
Trudel  officiating.  During  his  administration  was  also  held  the 
first  service  known  as  the  "Forty  Hours'  Devotion"  beginning 
on  Sunday,  September  17,  1876.  In  February,  1878,  Father 
Trudel  was  recalled  to  Maine.  His  ministry  in  this  town  had 
covered  less  than  two  years,  but  his  work  in  those  months 
was  rich  in  achievement  and  left  an  enduring  impress  on  the 
parish. 

The  Rev.  Patrick  J.  Finnegan  succeeded  Father  Trudel  in 
this  mission,  and  gave  about  half  his  time  to  the  church 
here.  He  labored  with  much  zeal  to  elevate  the  spiritual 
character  of  his  people,  and  held  frequent  devotional  services 
for  that  purpose.  A  mission  productive  of  much  good  was  held 
by  the  Oblate  Fathers  in  the  winter  of  1879.  The  people  had 
labored  hard  and  subscribed  liberally  to  pay  off  the  debt 
incurred  in  building.  The  church  was  dedicated  by  Bishop 
Healy,  August  30,  1880.  It  was  named  in  honor  of  the  first 
American  saint,  St.  Rose  of  Lima.  The  bishop  administered 
confirmation  and  preached  in  French.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Brann, 
of  New  York  City,  was  present  and  preached  in  English.  The 
Rev.  R.  Dee,  Rev.  Father  McKenna,  and  Rev.  Father  Finnegan, 
pastor  of  the  parish,  were  also  present.  Father  Finnegan  came 
from  Lebanon  twice  a  month  to  officiate  at  Littleton.  He  was 
appointed  pastor  of  Claremont  in  1881,  where  lie  remained  until 
he  went  to  Portsmouth,  where  he  is  at  the  present  time. 

Father  Finnegan  was  born  in  Ireland  in  March  20,  1843.  He 
came  to  Boston  with  his  parents  in  infancy,  and  received  his 
early  education  in  that  city.  When  sixteen  years  of  age,  he 
entered  the  order  of  the  Society  of  Jesus.  He  studied  and 
taught  in  the  colleges  of  that  order  in  the  New  England  and 
Middle  States,  and  was  ordained  by  Bishop  Bailey  of  the  diocese 
of  Baltimore  in  1875.  He  came  to  the  diocese  of  Portland  in 

VOL.  ii.  —  22 


338  History  of  Littleton. 

the  same  year,  and  began  his  work  at  St.  Dominick's  Church 
in  the  city  of  Portland,  whence  he  was  appointed  to  the  church 
at  Lebanon,  of  which  this  church  was  a  mission. 

Father  Finnegan  is  an  indomitable  worker,  and  has  had 
much  success  in  building  up  the  waste  places.  While  at  Leba- 
non, he  built  the  present  Sacred  Heart  Church  in  that  town  ; 
while  at  Claremont,  he  rebuilt  its  church  and  established  a 
convent  and  parochial  school  which  are  well  housed  and  in 
a  flourishing  condition.  Father  Finnegan  is  a  member  of  the 
bishop's  council. 

When  Father  Finnegan  was  transferred  to  Claremont,  this 
mission  was  placed  in  the  care  of  the  Rev.  Father  Louis  La 
Plante,  who  had  been  appointed  to  Lebanon  in  July,  1881,  and 
continued  in  charge  until  Littleton  was  severed  from  that  church 
and  made  an  independent  parish  under  the  ministry  of  Father 
Noiseux. 

The  Rev.  Father  La  Plante  was  born  at  Three  Rivers,  Canada, 
in  1855.  He  was  educated  in  the  schools  at  that  place,  and 
afterwards  made  his  course  in  Classics  and  Theology  in  the  Semi- 
nary there.  He  was  ordained  to  the  priesthood  by  Bishop  La 
Flech  in  1879.  He  remained  in  Canada  for  a  short  time,  and 
then  came  to  the  States  in  1880.  He  was  first  stationed  as  assistant 
in  the  parish  of  St.  Augustine,  Manchester,  for  a  year,  and  then 
appointed  pastor  at  Lebanon,  where  he  remained  until  1888. 
In  October  of  that  year  he  became  pastor  of  Hooksett  and 
Pittsfield,  and  in  April,  1890,  was  transferred  to  Rochester, 
where  he  was  in  charge  of  the  church  of  the  Holy  Rosary, 
which  he  greatly  improved,  and  built  a  rectory.  In  1890  he 
was  appointed  to  St.  Ann's  at  Berlin.  Father  La  Plante  is 
an  efficient  priest,  and  is  greatly  liked  by  his  people  wherever  he 
has  been  stationed. 

With  his  departure  from  this  mission  at  the  close  of  1882, 
Father  Noiseux  returned  from  Brunswick,  Me.,  and  assumed 
charge  of  the  church,  and  the  same  year,  January  5,  had  the 
great  pleasure  of  seeing  Littleton  raised  from  a  mission  to  the 
position  of  an  independent  parish.  Age  had  written  its  traces 
on  his  formerly  robust  figure  and  handsome  and  benignant  coun- 
tenance. His  courage  and  zeal  were,  however,  as  strong  as  in 
the  earlier  days  when  he  had  visited  the  thriving  villages  as  well 
as  hundreds  of  obscure  hamlets  in  the  Connecticut  valley,  from 
the  headwaters  of  that  river  to  the  mouth  of  the  Ashuelot, —  a 
region  that  forty  years  before  was  a  part  of  his  mission,  —  but 
in  1887  he  was  compelled  to  retire.  In  1885  the  parish  was  free 


Ecclesiastical  History.  339 

from  debt,  but  had  no  other  property  than  its  church  edifice. 
He  continued  to  reside  here  for  some  time,  but  finally  removed 
to  Montreal,  where  he  passed  to  his  reward  in  1893.  This  vener- 
able patriarch  of  the  Northern  New  Hampshire  missions  spent 
the  golden  anniversary  of  his  ordination  to  the  priesthood  in 
this  town,  and  found  his  final  resting-place  in  the  Catholic  ceme- 
tery here,  where  among  those  to  whom  he  ministered  for  so  many 
years  he  awaits  the  resurrection. 

The  successor  of  the  venerable  prelate  was  the  Rev.  Denis 
Francis  Hurley,  who  came  to  the  parish  from  Portsmouth,  where 
he  had  administered  affairs  during  the  absence  of  the  Rev. 
Father  O'Callaghan  in  Europe.  The  Rev.  Father  Hurley  was 
born  in  Ireland  February  5,  1851.  While*  still  a  child  he  was 
carried  by  his  parents  to  Salem,  Mass.,  and  attended  the  schools 
there  during  his  boyhood.  He  made  his  classics  at  St.  Charles 
College,  Maryland,  and  afterwards  entered  the  Seminary  at  Mill 
Hill  Missionary  College,  London,  Eng.,  where  he  took  his  course 
of  theology  and  philosopby.  He  was  ordained  to  the  priest- 
hood by  Cardinal  Vaughan  July  25,  1875. 

His  first  work  in  this  country,  from  the  time  of  his  ordination 
until  coming  to  Manchester,  was  among  the  colored  Catholics 
of  Baltimore,  Md.,  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  Charleston,  S.  C.  He 
came  to  the  diocese  of  Manchester  in  1884,  and  began  his  work 
at  the  Cathedral.  Afterwards  he  was  placed  at  different  times  at 
Keene,  Portsmouth,  and  Franklin  Falls,  and  was  appointed  pastor 
at  Littleton  in  1887.  The  Rev.  Father  Hurley  bought  a  house 
near  the  church,  which  he  enlarged  and  improved,  making  it  a  very 
suitable  priest's  house.  He  also  decorated  the  church,  and  in 
1888  bought  a  tract  of  land  on  the  Bethlehem  road  beyond  Ap- 
thorp  for  a  cemetery,  which  was  dedicated  in  1889  by  Bishop 
Bradley. 

When  Father  Hurley  came  to  the  church  of  St.  Rose  of 
Lima,  his  health  was  so  broken  that  he  was  regarded  as  a  con- 
firmed invalid  whose  days  were  to  be  short  in  this  world ;  but 
his  spirits  were  high,  and  his  ambition  to  achieve  something 
for  the  Church  in  this  field  was  strong,  and  in  this  he  was 
not  to  be  denied,  as  his  record  of  things  done  abundantly 
shows.  In  November,  1893,  he  was  ordered  to  Penacook,  which 
was  to  be  his  final  charge,  and  where  he  gave  renewed  evi- 
dence of  his  great  reserve  power;  for  within  a  few  days  after 
assuming  his  duties  he  purchased  a  large  estate  and  made 
plans  for  a  new  church,  parish  house,  and  rectory,  all  of  which 
lie  lived  to  see  built  and  paid  for.  He  departed  this  life  in 


340  History  of  Littleton. 

1901.     At  this  time  the  Rev.  Cyrille  J.  Paradis,  then  pastor  at 
Lebanon,  was  appointed  to  this  parish. 

The  Rev.  Father  Paradis  was  born  at  Quebec,  P.  Q.,  in  1857. 
He  came  to  Manchester  in  his  childhood,  and  was  taught  in 
the  parochial  schools  of  that  city,  afterwards  entering  college 
at  Sherbrooke  in  Canada,  where  he  studied  philosophy  and  the 
classics.  For  his  theological  studies  he  entered  the  Seminary 
at  Quebec.  He  was  ordained  to  the  priesthood  by  Cardinal 
Taschreau  at  Quebec  in  1885.  He  began  his  ministry  as  assist- 
ant at  St.  Augustine's  Church,  Manchester,  and  was  subsequently 
pastor  at  Lebanon,  where  he  remained  until  1893,  when  he  was 
appointed  pastor  at  Littleton. 

The  missions  then  attended  from  Littleton  were  those  at  Beth- 
lehem and  Lisbon. 

Father  Paradis  built  a  church  at  Bethlehem  Junction.  He 
offered  the  Holy  Sacrifice  there  once  in  two  weeks,  and  every 
other  Sunday  at  Bethlehem  during  the  summer  season,  and  at 
Lisbon  once  in  three  months.  Since  then  a  church  has  been  built 
at  Woodsville,  and  that  mission  detached  from  this  parish  and 
annexed  to  another  where  the  Roman  Catholic  population  was  less 
in  number,  and  the  duties  devolving  on  the  priest  necessarily 
less  arduous. 

Father  Paradis,  like  all  his  predecessors,  was  ambitious  for 
the  material  as  well  as  the  spiritual  advancement  of  his  people, 
and  labored  unceasingly  to  that  end.  His  care  for  the  physical 
needs  of  the  parish  was  a  marked  characteristic  of  his  pastorate. 
He  rebuilt  the  rectory,  repaired  and  decorated  the  interior  of 
the  church,  and  established  the  Rosary  Society.  In  1899  he  was 
transferred  to  Rochester,  where  he  is  now  pastor  of  the  church  of 
the  Holy  Rosary. 

The  present  (1903)  pastor  of  St.  Rose  is  the  Rev.  Father  James 
Henry  Riley,  who  was  born  in  Keene  August  7,  1865  ;  was  edu- 
cated in  the  schools  of  that  city,  graduating  from  its  high  school, 
and  pursued  his  classical,  philosophical,  and  theological  courses  at 
the  schools  connected  with  Laval  University,  Quebec.  He  was 
ordained  at  Nashua  in  June,  1888,  and  was  curate  at  the  Church 
of  the  Immaculate  Conception  from  his  ordination  to  April,  1891, 
when  he  was  appointed  curate  at  St.  Mary's,  Dover,  where  he 
remained  until  February,  1892,  when  he  was  appointed  pastor  at 
Whitefield.  He  came  to  Littleton  in  1899,  which  has  since  been 
his  home  and  where  his  time  has  been  filled  to  full  measure  with 
good  deeds,  —  ministering  to  the  spiritual  necessities  of  the  sick, 
consoling  the  afflicted,  composing  differences,  and  being  in  deed  as 


Ecclesiastical  History.  341 

well  as  name  a  father  to  his  people.  Nor  has  his  kindly  influence 
been  confined  to  those  who  bow  before  his  altar;  it  is  pervasive, 
and  Christians  of  all  denominations  and  pagans  of  none  have 
felt  its  social  and  manly  quality,  and  esteem  it  a  privilege  to  count 
Father  Riley  as  a  friend. 

The  growth  of  Roman  Catholicism  in  New  England  is  well 
illustrated  by  the  constantly  diminishing  jurisdiction  of  the  origi- 
nal diocese  and  of  the  mission  with  which  this  town  has  been 
connected.  The  diocese  over  which  Bishop  Cheverus  presided 
embraced  all  New  England,  and,  had  Bishop  Carroll  had  his  way, 
it  would  also  have  included  New  York,  but  the  modest  bishop 
of  Boston  demurred,  and  his  wish  prevailed.  Within  sixty  years 
this  diocese  has  gradually  diminished  territorially  by  the  crea- 
tion of  the  new  jurisdictions  of  Hartford,  Providence,  Burlington, 
Portland,  Springfield,  and  Manchester. 

The  first  mission  with  which  Littleton  may  be  said  to  have 
been  connected  was  that  of  Burlington  in  1830,  then  in  charge 
of  Father  O'Callaghan,  with  whom  were  subsequently  associated 
Fathers  Daly,  O'Reilley,  and  perhaps  others.  Then,  in  1856, 
Father  Noiseux,  who  resided  at  Lancaster,  was  appointed  to  the 
mission  which  embraced  the  New  Hampshire  side  of  the  Connec- 
ticut River  between  Colebrook  and  Massachusetts.  As  the  Roman 
Catholic  population  increased,  the  mission  was  again  divided  at 
Lebanon,  which  place  came  within  Father  Noiseux's  jurisdiction. 
In  1876  this  mission  was  divided,  and  Grafton  County  was  placed 
in  charge  of  Father  Trudel,  of  Lebanon,  and  remained  a  mission 
of  that  parish  under  its  successive  pastors  until  January,  1882, 
when  this  town  became  an  independent  parish  with  missions 
which  included  the  Ammonoosuc  valley  between  Carroll  and 
Haverhill. 

From  1815  to  1840  there  were  no  resident  Roman  Catholics 
in  the  town.1  It  is  probable  that  an  occasional  wanderer  from 
Canada  in  search  of  work  strayed  -hither,  but  he  did  not  remain 
a  sufficient  length  of  time  to  have  his  name  entered  in  the  list 
of  taxable  polls.  In  the  spring  of  1840  there  was  one  family 
of  two  persons  and  two  or  three  single  men  of  this  faith  living 
here,  all  of  whom  were  employed  in  the  woollen  factory  and 
had  left  before  1844.  From  1846  the  tide  of  Catholic  emigration 
has  constantly  increased  in  volume.  In  1850  there  must  have 

1  The  census  of  1830  states  that  there  were  six  foreign-born  residents  in  this 
town.  These  were  Robert  Charlton,  and  the  eldest  five  children  of  Nathaniel  Hix, 
who  were  born  while  he  was  residing  in  Stanstead,  Canada;  none  of  these  were 
Catholics. 


342  History  of  Littleton, 

been  nearly  a  hundred  of  the  faith  among  our  residents,  and  each 
passing  year  has  served  to  swell  the  number  until  at  the  present 
time  it  reaches  nearly  twelve  hundred  souls.  It  should  be  added 
that  in  this  number  have  been  included  some  of  the  best  and 
most  influential  citizens  of  the  town,  —  men  who  have  left  the 
impress  of  their  influence  not  only  on  the  town,  but  on  the  State, 
and  on  the  transactions  and  legislation  of  both.  These  people 
have  been  industrious,  self-respecting,  and  respected  in  the  years 
that  have  witnessed  their  growth  from  a  condition  of  feebleness 
to  one  of  power. 


Ecclesiastical  History.  343 


XXXVII. 

ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY   (Continued). 
THE   UNITARIAN   SOCIETY. 

IT  is  not  known  that  the  denominations  included  in  the  term 
"Liberal  Christianity"  had  any  representation  in  Littleton 
prior  to  1823,  when  George  Little  became  a  citizen  of  the  town. 
He  was  a  Unitarian  given  to  advocating  his  theological  as  well  as 
his  political  views.  His  aggressive  methods  do  not  seem  to  have 
been  very  effectual  in  advancing  the  cause  which  he  had  at  heart. 
Between  1825  and  1832  quite  a  number  of  people  who  were  inter- 
ested in  these  denominations  settled  here  ;  of  these  Albert  Little, 
Henry  A.  Bellows,  George  B.  Redington,  and  Truman  Stevens 
were  Unitarians,  and  among  the  Universalists  were  Otis  Bachelder, 
Enoch  Hazeltine,  E.  S.  Woolson,  and  Enoch  Merrill  Pingree,  — 
the  last  mentioned  a  young  man  who  in  after  years  became  a  large 
figure  in  the  Universalist  denomination  in  this  country.  All  these 
wished  to  have  a  minister  of  liberal  faith  settled  in  the  town,  and 
through  the  efforts  of  Henry  A.  Bellows  and  his  uncle,  an  emi- 
nent merchant  in  Boston,  the  Rev.  Cazneau  Palfrey  was  sent  here 
from  Massachusetts. 

The  date  of  his  coming  is  not  known,  but  it  was  previous  to  the 
erection  of  the  first  village  meeting-house.  Henry  A.  Bellows, 
George  Little,  Albert  Little,  George  B.  Redington,  and  Truman 
Stevens  gave  one-fourth  of  the  amount  raised  by  subscription  for 
building  this  first  house  of  worship,  and  George  Little,  Henry  A. 
Bellows,  E.  S.  Woolson,  and  Truman  Stevens  became  pew-holders 
when  it  was  finished.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Palfrey  preached  in  the 
pulpit  of  the  new  edifice  for  such  time  as  his  flock  were  entitled 
to  its  use  because  of  their  subscriptions  to  the  fund  for  its  erec- 
tion. His  stay  was  brief,  covering  a  period  of  not  more  than  two 
years.  He  was  a  man  of  fine  attainments  and  high  character, 
and  stimulated  the  minds  as  well  as  the  hearts  of  his  hearers.  He 
was  graduated  from  Harvard  College  in  1826,  and  from  the 
Divinity  School  in  1829.  After  his  service  in  Littleton  he  be- 
came pastor  of  a  Unitarian  society  in  Washington,  D.  C.,  and 


344  History  of  Littleton. 

later  of  societies  in  Grafton  and  Barnstable,  Mass.,  and  finally 
was  established  in  Belfast,  Me.,  where  he  faithfully  labored  for 
the  society  there  until  his  retirement  after  twenty-five  years  of 
service  in  that  city.  He  lived  in  Cambridge  after  this  until  his 
death  in  1888. 

The  successor  of  Mr.  Palfrey  was  the  Rev.  William  Pitkin 
Huntington,  a  graduate  from  Harvard  College  in  1824.  He  studied 
medicine,  and  received  the  degree  of  M.  D.  in  1835,  after  he  had 
been  ordained  a  minister  of  the  Unitarian  denomination.  He 
came  to  Littleton  about  1836,  and  occupied  the  pulpit,  as  did  his 
predecessor,  on  certain  Sundays  as  agreed  upon. 

We  get  a  glimpse  of  his  character  as  a  preacher  and  of  his  the- 
ological views  from  the  journal  of  Enoch  Merrill  Pingree,  who 
refers  to  him  more  than  once.  Sunday  evening,  August  21,1836, 
he  makes  this  entry  in  his  journal:  "Attended  Mr.  Hunting-toil's 
meeting  to-day :  was  much  pleased  with  the  exercises,  espe- 
cially with  the  afternoon  sermon.  Text  1  Cor.  i.  13,  '  Is  Christ 
divided?'  The  discourse  was  directed  against  division,  conten- 
tion, and  intolerance  in  the  Christian  Church.  He  handled  the 
subject  ably.  It  included  the  subject  of  forming  churches  sepa- 
rate from  societies,  and  excommunication  for  religious  belief.  He 
disproved  all  this."  In  regard  to  Mr.  Hunting-ton's  religious 
views  he  writes  under  date  of  September  3  :  "  Mr.  Huntington 
bos  called  at  our  house  and  remains  over  night.  We  have  had  a 
pleasant  conversation  on  the  subject  of  religion.  He  tends  a 
little  to  the  annihilation  of  the  wicked  after  having  been  raised 
and  punished  some,  for  their  sins.  He  believes  in  future  retribu- 
tion, which  will  probably  not  be  endless.  On  the  whole  his  ideas 
seem  to  be  rather  vague  as  to  man's  future  condition." 

He  was  a  man  of  ability,  and  his  departure  was  much  regretted. 
His  after  life  was  spent  in  missionary  work  and  in  teaching. 

The  Rev.  William  Dexter  Wilson  was  secured  to  succeed  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Huntington,  and  remained  here  during  1839  and  1840. 
He  was  a  man  of  parts,  and  widely  known  as  a  scholar.  While  re- 
siding here,  he  delivered  a  lecture  before  the  Anti-Slavery  Society 
on  Slavery  which  w^as  printed  in  pamphlet  form.1  This  was  his 
first  and  last  pastorate  as  a  minister  of  the  Unitarian  denomina- 
tion. Two  years  later,  he  took  orders  in  the  Episcopal  Church, 
and  subsequently  became  Professor  of  Philosophy  in  Hobart  Col- 
lege, Geneva,  N.  Y.,  and  afterward  in  Columbia  College.  Later 
he  became  a  Professor  in  St.  Andrews  School  of  Divinity  in  Syra- 

1  A  copy  of  this  pamphlet  is  in  the  public  library. 


UNITARIAN    CIH.-RCH. 


Ecclesiastical  History.  345 

case,  N.  Y.,  where  lie  still  resides  as  professor  emeritus,  and  is 
the  author  of  many  works  on  varied  subjects. 

The  loss  of  Mr.  Wilson  and  the  removal  from  town  of  the 
Littles,  if  they  did  not  lessen  the  zeal  of  the  Liberal  Christians, 
retarded  their  progress,  for  there  is  nothing  to  indicate  that  they 
held  any  service  for  many  years,  except  when  some  eminent 
divine  of  their  faith,  a  chance  visitor  in  the  mountains,  was 
secured  for  a  single  service. 

When  Asa  Weller  and  his  son  Franklin  G.,  devoted  Univer- 
salists,  became  residents,  interest  in  that  cause  was  awakened, 
and  through  their  efforts  Rev.  Mr.  Barren,  of  Concord,  Vt,  and 
Rev.  B.  F.  Tillotson,  of  St.  Johnsbury  in  the  same  State,  both 
distinguished  and  eloquent  Universalist  ministers,  held  occasional 
services  in  Rounsevel  Hall.  The  Universalist  membership  received 
still  further  accessions  when  H.  H.  Metcalf  became  a  resident  of 
Littleton  and  Luther  D.  Sanborn  returned  from  Lancaster  in 
1872,  and  again  an  effort  was  made  to  establish  regular  services, 
and  Rev.  Mr.  Tillotson  officiated  through  the  summer  of  1873. 
A  meeting  was  held  in  the  office  of  Franklin  G.  Weller,  and  Mr. 
Weller,  H.  II .  Metcalf,  and  Luther  D.  Sanborn  were  appointed 
a  committee  to  engage  a  regular  supply,  and  they  secured  the 
services  of  Rev.  J.  P.  Atkinson,  of  Laconia,  a  Universalist  clergy- 
man. He  held  services  every  other  Sunday  in  Farr's  Hall  for 
nearly  a  year,  at  the  end  of  which  period  this  society,  which 
took  the  name  Liberal  Christian,  ceased  to  exist,  probably  from 
lack  of  funds. 

Mr.  Atkinson  entered  the  ministry  at  a  very  early  age,  and 
held  pastorates  at  Hingham,  Marblehead,  Stoneham,  and  Orange, 
Mass.,  in  Westbrook,  Me.,  and  in  Weare  and  Dover,  N.  H.  He 
died  December  27,  1888.  Mr.  Atkinson  resided  in  Laconia  and 
passed  little  of  his  time  in  Littleton.  He  was  exceedingly  amia- 
ble, with  the  manners  of  a  gentleman  of  the  old  school,  and  won 
the  confidence  of  his  society  and  the  respect  of  our  people. 

Another  interim  of  five  years  without  services  followed,  but 
in  1881  Rev.  Joseph  H.  Pardee,  the  Unitarian  State  missionary, 
came  to  Littleton  and  held  services  two  successive  Sundays.  Rev. 
James  B.  Morrison  took  up  the  work,  and  every  other  Sunday, 
after  he  had  preached  in  Lancaster,  drove  to  Littleton  and  con- 
ducted a  service  here.  His  followers  were  few  in  number,  but 
resolute  in  spirit,  and  in  1884  organized  a  religious  society  of 
which  the  leading  members  were  Dr.  Charles  M.  Tuttle,  George 
T.  Cruft,  Porter  B.  Watson,  and  Joseph  S.  Frye.  For  two  years 
the  society  met  fortnightly,  at  first  in  Union  Hall,  and  subse- 


346  History  of  Littleton. 

quently  in  Opera  Hall,  their  numbers  gradually  increasing,  and 
thus  for  seven  years  the  Rev.  J.  B.  Morrison  ministered  to  them 
as  well  as  to  the  church  in  Lancaster.  He  was  a  man  of  pleasing 
address  and  an  untiring  worker.  An  edifice  for  worship  was 
erected  with  contributions  secured  by  Mr.  Morrison  from  organi- 
zations outside  the  State.  Fifteen  hundred  dollars  of  the  sum 
was  given  by  the  Second  Church  in  Boston,  Rev.  Edward  A. 
Horton  pastor,  and  a  large  portion  of  the  remainder  by  different 
branches  of  the  Woman's  Alliance  throughout  New  England. 
The  beautiful  building  was  erected  under  the  guiding  spirit  of 
Joseph  S.  Frye,who  brought  to  the  task  all  the  vigor,  enthusiasm, 
and  practical  knowledge  of  detail  which  were  such  marked  features 
of  all  his  undertakings.  He  was  ably  seconded  by  Dr.  Charles 
M.  Tuttle  and  George  T.  Cruft,  who  gave  liberally  of  time  and 
money.  The  building  was  dedicated  August  3,  1887.  Rev. 
Edward  H.  Horton,  for  whom  the  hall  was  named,  preached  the 
sermon.  Rev.  J.  B.  Morrison  delivered  the  keys  to  George  T.  Cruft, 
and  the  audience,  led  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  C.  Bean,  recited  the 
formal  dedication.  It  was  not,  however,  until  the  following  June 
that  the  Rev.  L.  D.  Cochrane  became  the  first  settled  pastor. 

The  Rev.  Lorenzo  Darwin  Cochrane  was  born  in  Saline,  Mich., 
in  1854.  Early  in  life  he  was  thrust  upon  the  world  to  earn  his 
own  living  and  that  of  a  younger  brother  ;  with  great  indus- 
try and  perseverance  he  managed  to  educate  himself  and  aid 
his  brother  to  become  a  teacher.  Mr.  Cochrane  says  in  his 
autobiography :  — 

"  As  Lorenzo  was  emerging  into  manhood,  he  had  the  rare  good 
fortune  to  fall  under  the  influence  of  Mnrtin  V.  Rork.  one  of  those  rare 
instructors  whose  personality  infuses  into  all  receptive  }'oung  minds 
within  its  sphere  floods  of  intellectual  and  moral  life. 

"Under  the  inspiration  of  this  man  he  went  quickly  through  the 
high  school,  attended  one  year  at  Albion  College,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  Michigan  University  in  1879,  though  he  was  obliged  in  order  to 
pay  his  way  in  school  to  stop  almost  every  year  to  teach  a.  term  of 
district  school  or  give  a  large  part  of  his  time  to  teaching  some  division 
of  graded  schools.  When  Professor  Rork  opened  the  College  of 
Practical  Education,  he  secured  the  services  of  Mr.  Cochrane  as 
instructor  in  the  physical  sciences  and  of  modern  languages.  During 
all  the  time  of  his  teaching  heretofore  he  had  done  much  reading  and 
studying  outside  the  regular  school  work.  Here  in  this  new  field,  owing 
to  his  having  only  three  to  five  classes  a  day,  he  found  very  much  more 
time  to  read,  and  a  good  part  of  this  time  was  occupied  in  a  careful 
reading  of  Herbert  Spencer's  works,  the  writings  of  Huxley,  Darwin, 
Tyndall,  and  others  of  the  new  school  of  physical  philosophers,  lie 


Ecclesiastical  History.  347 

was  gradually  forced  to  the  conclusion  that  Darwin  was  essentiall}- 
right  as  to  his  position  with  reference  to  the  evolution  of  the  life  of  the 
earth.  This  fifteen  years  ago  was  a  dangerous  heresy  for  a  teacher 
to  hold  in  an  institution  that  aspired  to  the  name  of  college,  especially 
if  it  ever  crept  into  his  teachings.  In  this  case  it  came  boldly  out  in 
all  the  classes  dealing  with  the  physical  sciences.  Evolution  was  the 
watchword  of  the  young  men  and  women  in  these  classes.  Another 
teacher  in  the  school  was  also  becoming  an  evolutionist.  This  would 
not  do.  The  president  began  to  seriously  apprehend  that  he  would  be 
doing  a  wrong  to  longer  keep  two  such  teachers  so  dangerous  to  the 
higher  life  of  the  young  men  and  women  entering  the  school.  Owing 
partly  to  this  fact,  and  partly  because  the  school  seemed  upon  a  rather 
poor  financial  basis,  the  two  young  men  resigned  their  positions.  It  is 
only  fair  to  Professor  Rork,  who  was  always  a  very  good  friend  to  both 
of  the  teachers,  to  say  here  that  he  came  and  offered  most  warmly  the 
positions  back  to  both  the  young  men,  and  too  without  any  conditions 
tending  to  hamper  the  freest  exercise  of  their  minds  in  their  work. 

"  Mr.  Cochrane  had  from  the  first  of  his  going  to  school  to  Mr.  Rork 
looked  forward  to  the  time  when  he  could  preach  the  gospel,  and  now 
to  have  the  consciousness  creep  over  him  that  possibl}*  he  was,  by  be- 
coming a  believer  in  evolution,  outside  the  realm  of  religion,  as  all  the 
religious  power  about  him  felt,  if  they  did  not  tell  him  so,  was  indeed 
disheartening.  And  he  owes  very  much  of  his  subsequent  happiness 
and  power  of  usefulness  to  his  attending,  when  the  darkest  hour  of  this 
period  had  come,  a  Unitarian  conference,  and  being  told  by  one  of  the 
principal  speakers  how  one  could  be  an  evolutionist  and  at  the  same 
time  be  a  true  minister  of  the  Gospel ;  moreover  that  the  majority  of 
the  clergymen  of  that  denomination  had  accepted  the  doctrine  of 
evolution. 

kt  About  this  period  Mr.  Cochrane  married  Cora  Sexton,  a  young 
woman  whose  mental  and  religious  development  was  so  much  like  his 
that  thereafter  their  inner  lives  flowed  in  one  stream.  They  both  went 
to  Meadville  Theological  School',  where  they  graduated  the  summer  of 
1888,  and  at  once  Mr.  Cochrane  became  the  pastor  of  the  Unitarian 
Church  of  Littleton.  And  though  their  first  child,  Kingsley,  was  born 
that  autumn,  Mrs.  Cochrane  was,  nearly  the  whole  of  the  four  and  a  half 
years  of  laboring  in  Littleton,  president  of  the  Ladies'  Society  of  the 
church,  taught  Sunday-school  class,  preached  frequently  in  the  church, 
and  for  nearly  three  years  of  this  time  was  the  pastor  of  the  Unitarian 
Church  at  Bath,  and  preached  two  summers  at  Swiftwater.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Cochrane  did  the  work  in  these  three  places  so  together  that 
each  of  the  three  churches  virtually  had  two  pastors.  A  Methodist 
minister  of  Littleton  of  that  time  used  to  say,  '  Those  preachers  can 
exchange  without  shooting  at  random.' 

"  The}'  organized  a  class  of  young  people  into  a  literary  club  which 
did  much  good  work.  Though  the  first  winter  there  was  only  one  other 


348  History  of  Littleton. 

person  save  themselves  in  the  club,  the  last  year  of  their  stay  in 
Littleton  the  seating  capacity  of  their  house  was  sometimes  not  a  little 
strained  to  accommodate  the  members  of  the  club,  which  studied  the 
masters  of  English  literature,  ending  with  a  hard  study  of  Goethe's 
Faust.  Mrs.  Cochrane  also  had  a  class  of  girls  who  worked  with  her 
for  the  church  in  man}-  ways  and  met  with  her  to  read  winter  evenings. 
Whether  or  not  these  study  classes  were  of  much  benefit  to  the  young 
people  of  the  village,  they  were  of  great  good  in  getting  much  work  out 
of  the  preachers  and  giving  their  minds  the  right  kind  of  intellectual 
stimulants. 

"Mr.  Cochrane  was,  from  the  beginning  of  his  preaching  in  Littleton 
till  his  last  sermon  there,  a  bold  preacher  of  what  might  be  called  the 
rational  side  of  Christianity.  Though  he  was  always  reverent  and 
deeply  religious,  yet  his  very  boldness  made  him  appear  to  many  relig- 
ious people  a  veritable  destoyer  of  the  best  things  in  religion.  To-day, 
only  four  years  later,1  it  is  safe  to  say  one-fourth  of  the  city  preachers  in 
orthodox  pulpits  are  Sunday  after  Sunday  saying  as  radical  things  as 
Mr.  Cochrane  uttered  in  Littleton.  The  fact  is,  his  preaching  was 
truly  conservative  of  the  verities  of  religion. 

"  It  was  during  his  stay  here  that  Mr.  Cochrane  wrote  the  essay 
called  '  The  Revelation  of  God  in  ^Nature,'  which  together  with  the 
other  six  essays  written  by  other  ministers  of  the  Unitarian  denomina- 
tion constituted  the  book  'In  Spirit  and  in  Truth.' 

"Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cochrane  resigned  their  pastorates  in  Littleton  and 
Bath  in  1892,  and  began  a  larger  work  at  Ellsworth,  Me.,  and  in  the 
villages  on  Frenchman's  Bay.  Toward  the  close  of  the  }'ear  1895 
they  made  their  headquarters  at  Bar  Harbor,  Me.,  in  order  to  bring 
their  personal  services  more  directly  to  bear  upon  The  Liberal  Christian 
Church  of  Bar  Harbor,  a  vigorous  young  church  which  they  planted 
while  at  Ellsworth  in  the  year  1893." 

Mr.  Cochranc's  successor  was  Rev.  Ure  Mitchell,  who  remained 
two  years.  He  was  the  son  of  a  Scottish  preacher  of  Universal- 
ism,  was  born  in  Glasgow,  and  at  fourteen  years  of  age  came  to 
America  to  finish  his  education.  He  was  graduated  from  St. 
Lawrence  University,  was  ordained  a  Universalist  preacher  in 
1880,  and  followed  his  chosen  calling  in  Oxford,  Fort  Plain,  and 
Cortland,  N.  Y.  In  1890  he  became  interested  in  the  Baptist 
denomination  and  preached  for  a  short  time  to  a  society  of  that 
faith,  but  in  1892  came  to  Littleton  as  pastor  of  the  Unitarians. 
He  remained  here  two  years  and  was  well  liked  by  most  of  his 
people,  though  considered  a  little  eccentric.  Then  he  went  to  a 
mission  station  at  Gouverneur,  N.  Y.,  where  in  1894  he  abandoned 
Unitarianism,  became  a  communicant  of  the  Episcopal  Church 

1  Written  in  189G. 


REV.    L()KMN/()    I). 


Ki:v.  LI;I«>Y   F.  S.\. VIM- 


UNITARIAN    MINISTERS 


Ecclesiastical  History.  349 

and  later  entered  its  priesthood,  in  which  he  has  since  remained, 
having  apparently  gained  a  theological  resting-place. 

In  Sadlersville,  Md.,  in  the  year  1893,  a  young  man  whose 
father  was  a  Methodist  minister  and  whose  mother  was  the 
daughter  of  a  minister  of  the  same  denomination,  was  preach- 
ing to  a  Methodist  congregation.  But  his  heart  was  not  at 
rest  in  preaching  the  doctrines  advocated  by  this  church,  and 
he  was  drawn  to  the  North  and  came  directly  to  the  Unitarian 
society  at  Littleton.  This  young  man,  the  Rev.  Leroy  Fletcher 
Snapp,  was  popular  with  the  people  under  his  charge  in  Littleton. 
He  was  a  typical  Southern  gentleman,  courteous  in  bearing,  but 
with  the  courage  of  his  convictions.  It  was  with  regret  that 
his  parish  received  his  resignation,  and  at  a  meeting  called  to 
consider  it  resolutions  were  adopted  from  which  we  quote  the 
following :  — 

"  He  has  served  faithfully  for  more  than  two  years,  laboring  with 
conscientious  interest  and  zeal  toward  the  work  of  the  parish.  We 
shall  always  gratefully  remember  his  valued  service  and  the  cordial 
personal  relations  which  existed  between  him  and  the  different  mem- 
bers of  the  parish.  We  extend  to  Mr.  Snapp  our  sincere  good  wishes 
for  his  personal  happiness  and  for  success  in  his  future  ministry." 

Mr.  Snapp  resigned  in  1896,  and  it  was  not  until  November  that 
Rev.  W.  C.  Litchfield  accepted  a  call  to  minister  to  the  society 
in  Littleton  and  faithfully  labored  for  its  interests  until  Decem- 
ber, 1898.  He  had  been  settled  previously  over  societies  in 
Hobart,  Ind.,  Berlin,  Gardner,  Middleborough,  and  Athol,  Mass., 
and  Tiverton,  R.  I.  In  Berlin  and  Gardner  houses  of  worship 
were  erected  during  his  ministrations.  He  has  held  several 
town  offices  and  educational  appointments  in  Massachusetts,  and 
was  a  Representative  in  the  Legislature  of  that  State  several 
times.  He  served  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  is  a  member 
of  several  secret  societies,  and  was  a  major  of  the  militia  in 
Massachusetts.  Mr.  Litchfield  was  obliged  to  leave  Littleton  be- 
cause of  the  ill-health  of  a  member  of  his  family.  His  loss  was 
much  regretted,  and  when  the  pulpit  was  vacant  at  a  later  date, 
efforts  were  made  to  have  him  return,  but  they  were  fruitless. 

In  May,  1899,  Rev.  Charles  Graves  came  to  minister  to  the 
spiritual  needs  of  these  people.  He  was  born  in  Earith,  Hunt- 
ingdonshire, Eng.  He  came  to  this  country  and  pursued  a 
course. of  study  at  the  Unitarian  School  at  Meadville,  Pa.,  and 
was  in  charge  of  several  parishes  in  the  West  previous  to  his 
pastorate  in  Littleton.  Mr,  Graves  was  an  aggressive  speaker, 


350  History  of  Littleton. 

and  dealt  his  blows  with  vigor,  sparing  neither  friend  nor  foe  if 
he  thought  his  cause  was  just.  He  resigned  in  1901  and  went  to 
New  York. 

James  Ellis  Locke  succeeded  Mr.  Graves.  He  was  born 
on  Prince  Edward  Island,  was  educated  at  Horton  Academy 
and  Acadia  University,  Wolfville,  N.  S.,  and  ordained  to  the 
ministry  at  Monson,  Me.,  in  1885.  He  was  located  at  Monson 
and  East  Corinth  in  Maine,  Vineyard  Haven,  Mass.,  and  Brooklyn, 
Conn.,  before  he  was  called  thither.  He  was  a  scholarly  man, 
and  aided  by  his  wife  was  a  force  in  the  moral  and  spiritual 
uplifting  of  his  flock.  He  resigned  in  1903,  and  Rev.  Merritt  S. 
Buckingham  assumed  the  pastorate.  Mr.  Buckingham  was  born 
in  Gilboa,  N.  Y.,  August  10,  1868,  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  and  under  the  tuition  of  Prof.  John  B.  Smith.  He  began 
the  study  of  theology  in  1888  with  the  Rev.  John  L.  Ketch  am,  and 
subsequently  was  for  two  years  a  special  student  at  Meadville 
Theological  School.  He  was  ordained  in  1892  and  was  pastor 
of  several  Methodist  Episcopal  churches  of  the  New  York  and 
Wyoming  conferences.  In  May,  1901,  he  became  pastor  of  the 
First  Congregational  Church  (Unitarian)  in  Westford,  Mass., 
where  he  remained  until  he  came  to  this  town  in  1903.  He 
married,  August  6,  1895,  Bertha  May  Carr.  They  have  one  child. 
Mizpah  Frances. 

The  Sunday-school  has  always  been  an  important  factor  in 
the  work  of  the  society  and  has  had  faithful  superintendents, 
and  though  small  in  numbers  has  been  active  in  its  work. 

The  society  has  been  generously  remembered  with  gifts.  Rev. 
and  Mrs.  Samuel  B.  Cruft  gave,  on  April  15,  1893,  a  pipe  organ 
whose  fine  tones  are  a  great  source  of  pleasure  to  the  audience 
assembled  each  Sunday.  Mr.  Cruft  also  bequeathed  a  legacy 
to  the  society  with  which  they  purchased  the  parsonage  next  the 
church  on  Union  Street.  Mrs.  Cruft  and  her  son  Gen.  George  T. 
Cruft  were  the  donors  of  a  beautiful  stained-glass  window  repre- 
senting the  Sermon  on  the  Mount,  and  they  replaced  the  side  win- 
dows with  those  of  a  design  to  harmonize  with  this.  Mrs.  Harriet 
<).  Cruft,  a  sister  of  Rev.  Samuel  B.  Cruft,  gave  a  carpet  for 
the  auditorium.  The  Unitarian  Society  of  Concord  gave  the 
pulpit  in  memory  of  Dr.  Tuttle,  and  James  W.  Rowell  presented 
the  bell  which  hangs  in  the  tower  of  the  church  and  calls  the 
people  to  worship. 


Ecclesiastical  History.  351 


XXXVIII. 

ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY   (Continued}. 
BAPTIST,   ADVENTIST,  AND    CHRISTIAN   SCIENCE. 

THE  first  minister  to  locate  in  this  town,  the  Rev.  David 
Goodall,  was  followed  within  two  years  by  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Churchill,  a  Calvinist  Baptist  minister,  who  came  here  about  1798 
or  1799,  and  settled  not  far  from  the  residence  of  Mr.  Goodall  at 
West  Littleton.  His  previous  history  is  veiled  in  obscurity,  ex- 
cept that  we  know  he  had  lived  in  Lancaster  for  a  few  years.  The 
tax-list  and  tradition  are  the  only  sources  of  information  concern- 
ing him.  It  appears  that  he  was  a  man  of  great  energy,  who,  as 
a  preacher,  appealed  to  the  heart  rather  than  to  the  reason  of  his 
audience.  To  his  efforts  in  arousing  the  people  to  a  sense  of  their 
religious  duty  is  due  the  first  revival  in  town,  which  occurred  in 
1802,  just  previous  to  the  organization  of  the  first  church.  There 
were  believers  in  the  Methodist  creed,  advocates  of  the  Congrega- 
tional form  of  government,  and  a  few  Baptists  before  this  wave 
of  spiritual  awakening  swept  over  the  community,  but,  in  the 
language  of  one  who  was  living  at  this  period,  by  the  efforts  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Churchill  the  number  of  "  Christians  was  doubled."  Nor 
was  his  influence  confined  to  Littleton.  To  his  meetings  came 
citizens  of  Lyman,  and  of  Waterford  and  Concord,  Vt.,  and  many 
of  them  were  converted.  Among  these  were  the  Lovejoy  family, 
who  subsequently  took  up  their  residence  here.  It  is  one  of  the 
ironies  of  fate  that  the  denomination  for  which  the  energetic  and 
emotional  preacher  labored  should  have  attracted  the  smallest 
number  of  these  converts,  while  the  Methodist  and  Congregational 
bodies  were  largely  increased.  About  1804  Mr.  Churchill  went 
to  Cheshire  County,  and  we  have  not  been  able  to  trace  his  after 
history. 

In  1840  there  were  nearly  a  score  of  Calvinist  Baptists  in  town,, 
several  of  whom  were  employed  at  the  Redington  Scythe  Works, 
now  Apthorp,  and  near  its  "  Common "  a  small  building  was 
erected,  which  was  void  of  architectural  ornament  and  resembled  a 


352  History  of  Littleton. 

sclioolhouse  of  that  day  more  than  a  church  edifice.  Anson  Alex- 
ander was  the  leading  spirit  in  its  erection  and  in  promoting  the 
welfare  of  the  little  band  of  believers,  and  became  their  first  and 
only  deacon.  The  first  pastor  was  the  Rev.  Nicholas  Bray,  of  scant 
learning,  but  of  strong  will  and  fine  natural  ability  ;  a  very  devout 
man,  much  respected  in  the  community.  In  1842  he  went  to 
Whitefield,  where  he  continued  to  reside  until  his  death.  His  suc- 
cessor in  the  pastorate  was  the  Rev.  William  Wallace  Lovejoy, 
who  remained  until  1845.  He  was  a  successful  preacher  in  this 
as 'well  as  in  other  fields;  but  the  conditions  were  adverse  to  Cal- 
vinism in  this  community,  and  removals  from  town  so  crippled 
the  organization  that  it  was  abandoned  and  the  building  was 
turned  into  a  dwelling-house.  This  denomination  has  been  con- 
founded with  the  Free  Baptists.1 

The  society  of  Christians  known  as  Adventists,2  while  numerous 
in  some  of  our  neighboring  towns,  had  no  organization  here,  and 
few,  if  any,  individual  members,  until  some  thirty-five  years  ago, 
when  there  was  a  considerable  influx  of  people  from  Sugar  Hill  in 
Lisbon  to  this  town,  many  of  whom  were  members  of  this  denomi- 
nation. Sugar  Hill  had,  in  fact,  been  for  many  years  the  chief 
seat  of  the  order  in  this  vicinitv,  having  maintained  a  strong 

v    /  O  O 

societv  through  more  than  three-fourths  of  a  centurv. 

i/O  »- 

The  first  organized  effort  by  the  people  of  this  faith  was  in  1883. 
They  held  their  services  in  private  houses  or  in  halls,  having  no 
stated  place  of  worship,  until  they  moved  into  their  present  house 
of  worship  on  Lafayette  Avenue.  This  modest  church  building 
was  commenced  July  23,  1893,  and  was  dedicated  the  following 
October. 

The  following  Preamble  and  Church  Covenant  give  a  good  idea 
of  the  belief  of  this  organization  and  their  object  in  forming  the 
society :  — 

"Since  'Order  is  Heaven's  first  law,'  and  God  is  not  the  author 
of  confusion,  and  church  organization  is  sanctioned  by  Scripture  and 
general  usage  :  — 

"  Therefore  we  whose  names  follow  do  hereby  agree  to  associate 
ourselves  in  that  capacit}*,  that  we  may  be  in  harmony  with  the  word 
of  God,  and  for  the  purpose  of  promoting  mutual  knowledge,  virtue, 
and  piety  ;  and  with  such  objects  in  view,  do  hereby  adopt  the  follow- 
ing Covenant  and  Constitution  for  the  Glory  of  God  and  our  good. 

1  Since    this    was   written   we   have   found  that   Solomon    Whiting   referred    to 
Mr.  Churchill  as   "a  sort    of   Baptist''   and    lie    may   have   been    of    the    Free-will 
denomination. 

2  Written  by  George  C.  Furber. 


Ecclesiastical  History.  353 

"  We  believe  in  Christ,  and  looking  for  his  future  personal  appearing 
and  kingdom  on  earth,  believing  it  to  be  our  dut}'  and  privilege  to 
unite  together  in  solemn  covenant,  to  maintain  Bible  order  and  duh' 
observe  Christ's  ordinances  as  in  his  word  required,  do  he  re  03-  agree 
that  we  will  watch  over  each  other  in  love,  according  to  the  plain 
requirements  of  the  New  Testament,  and  the  spirit  of  Christ  and  his 
Gospel,  and  do  hereby  receive  the  Scriptures  as  our  only  rule  of  faith, 
practice,  and  discipline,  and  are  willing  when  we  violate  that  rule,  in 
word  or  deed,  to  be  instructed  and  corrected  by  each  other,  making 
Christian  character  our  only  test  of  fellowship  and  communion,  cor- 
dially receiving  all  as  Christians  who  walk  by  that  rule,  as  belonging 
to  the  one  body  of  Christ,  and  Church  of  God." 

The  Constitution  says  the  church  shall  be  known  as  the 
"  Advent  Christian  Church  in  Littleton,  N.  H.,"  and  it  was  organ- 
ized October  11,  1884.  The  officers  of  the  church  consist  of  a 
pastor,  who  shall  preside  at  all  meetings  of  the  church  when 
present,  two  deacons,  ruling  local  elders  as  the  interests  of  the 
church  shall  demand,  and  a  clerk.  All  officers  are  to  be  chosen 
annually.  Among  other  provisions  of  the  Constitution  that  may 
be  of  interest  is  the  following :  — 

"It  shall  be  a  violation  of  the  Constitution  and  Covenant  of  this 
Church  for  any  member  to  indulge  in  the  use  of  intoxicating  drinks  as 
a  beverage  (1  Cor.  vi.  10),  to  use  tobacco  (Is.  Iv.  2;  1  Cor.  iii.  17), 
or  wear  gold  (1  Pet.  iii.  3)." 

The  officers  elected  at  the  organization  of  the  church  were 
Elder  J.  A.  Magoon,  pastor,  who  resigned  March  31,  1888 ; 
George  M.  Little,  J.  N.  Oakes,  elders  ;  R.  C.  Jackmau,  O.  B. 
Quimby,  deacons;  S.  0.  Parker,  clerk.  No  change  in  these 
officers,  with  the  exception  of  pastor,  was  made  until  December, 
1888.  The  resignation  of  Elder  Magoon  having  been  accepted 
March  31,  Elder  A.  A.  Hoyt  was  chosen  pastor  May  31,  1888, 
and  served  until  December  31  of  that  year,  when  he  resigned. 
Elder  G.  M.  Little  and  others  supplied  the  pulpit  from  January, 
1888,  until  April,  when  Elder  Little  was  elected  pastor  aud 
served  until  September  9,  1894,  when  he  resigned.  During  the 
pastorate  of  Elder  Little  Elder  George  C.  Bowles  supplied  half 
the  time.  After  the  resignation  of  Elder  Little  the  pulpit  was 
supplied  by  Elder  Bowles  aud  others  until  April  24,  1895,  when 
Elder  John  Jeffrey  was  elected  pastor  and  commenced  his  labors 
May  12.  The  other  officers  of  the  church  remained  substantially 
the  same  until  December,  1890,  with  the  exception  that  Carl  S. 
Magoon  was  elected  clerk  in  February  of  that  year.  In  Decem- 
VOL.  ii.  — 23 


354  History  of  Littleton. 

ber  0.  B.  Quimby  and  Albert  Gordon  were  elected  elders  ;  0.  B. 
Quimby,  Alexander  Williamson,  deacons  ;  Carl  S.  Magoon,  clerk 
and  treasurer.  December,  1891,  William  M.  Taylor  and  Albert 
Gordon  were  elected  elders ;  0.  B.  Quimby,  Alexander  William- 
son, deacons ;  Mercy  A.  Oakes,  clerk  and  treasurer.  At  the 
annual  meeting,  December,  1892,  the  church  voted  to  adopt  the 
Constitution  and  Covenant  of  the  ]^Tew  Hampshire  Conference, 
and  adopted  the  name  of  "The  Second  Advent  Christian  Church 
in  Littleton,  N.  H."  The  following  were  elected  officers  :  J.  N. 
Oakes,  Albert  Gordon,  elders;  0.  B. 'Quimby,  A.  J.  Williamson. 
Charles  Jackman,  deacons;  J.  N.  Oakes,  clerk  ;  M.  A.  Oakes,  col- 
lector and  treasurer.  These  officers  were  re-elected  the  follow- 
ing year  and  served  until  April,  1895,  when  Mrs.  S.  0.  Parker 
was  elected  clerk  and  treasurer.  The  membership  at  the  com- 
mencement was  small,  but  has  gradually  increased  and  is  now 
twenty-four ;  but  this  does  not  correctly  represent  the  strength 
numerically  of  the  organization,  for  about  as  many  more  who 
have  never  joined  are  active  workers  and  supporters. 

Mr.  Jeffrey  labored  very  acceptably  among  his  people,  and  won 
the  esteem  and  affection  of  many  outside  his  own  church.  He 
resigned  in  1898,  and  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  H.  H.  Churchill, 
who  remained  until  19()0.  He  then  removed  to  Lawrence,  where 
he  is  now  engaged  in  the  ministry.  A  little  later  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Shorey  was  called  to  the  church  and  served  for  a  short  time. 
Mr.  Shorey  was  a  Socialist,  and  while  he  wns  here  cast  the  only 
vote  for  that  party  in  town.  Since  his  departure  in  1902  there 
has  been  no  settled  pastor,  Elder  George  C.  Bowles  and  Elder 
Leslie  E.  Bean  supplying  preaching. 

The  Advent  Church  had  no  regular  choir  until  1895,  relying 
upon  congregational  singing.  The  choir  organized  in  that  year 
consisted  of  J.  M.  Quimby,  chorister;  Minnie  Bell  Aldrich. 
Elizabeth  Jeffrey,  soprano ;  Alice  Jeffrey,  Mabel  French,  con- 
tralto ;  Ira  Quimby,  tenor,  and  E.  H.  Carter,  bass.  Under  the 
congregational  form  of  singing  the  principal  ones  taking  part 
were  William  M.  Taylor,  S.  0.  Parker,  J.  N.  Oakes,  Charles 
Parker,  Judson  M.  Quimby,  Henry  H.  Parker,  Mrs.  F.  J.  Bartlett. 
Ethel  Bowles,  and  Mrs.  J.  N.  Oakes. 

In  1893  differences  arose  among  the  members  in  regard  to  ad- 
ministrative affairs  in  the  society,  though  there  were  slight  doc- 
trinal disagreements.  It  seems  that  there  are  two  branches  of 
the  church  in  this  country.  In  New  England  one  is  represented 
by  "Messiah's  Herald,''  the  other  by  the""  World's  Crisis."  The 
••  Herald"  advocates  the  doctrine  that  the  intelligent  part  of  man 


Ecclesiastical  History.  355 

survives  death,  and  is  conscious  between  death  and  the  resurrec- 
tion somewhere  in  some  condition  ;  the  "  Crisis,"  the  doctrine 
that  man  is  wholly  mortal,  dependent  on  Christ  for  future  life 
and  wholly  unconscious  between  death  and  the  resurrection. 
With  few  exceptions  the  members  here  held  to  the  view  of  the 
"  Crisis." 

The  dissensions  were  the  outgrowth  of  what  was  regarded  as 
minority  rule.  The  membership  of  the  society  was  kept  as  small 
as  the  rules  of  the  State  Conference  would  admit,  and  this  body 
governed  the  church.  In  1893,  however,  its  membership  was 
enlarged,  and  what  had  been  the  minority  became  the  majority 
and  proceeded  to  excommunicate  the  two  members  who  had  ruled 
the  society  since  its  formation. 

In  October,  1893,  the  State  Conference,  or  Yearly  Meeting,  was 
held  here,  and  efforts  were  made  to  harmonize  the  discordant 
elements.  It  was  agreed  that  the  matters  in  dispute  should  be 
arbitrated,  and  the  Rev.  Joseph  Miett,  of  Concord,  president  of  the 
conference,  the  Rev.  Daniel  Leavitt,  of  Ashland,  and  the  Rev. 
Frederick  Piper,  editor  of  the  "  Crisis,"  were  selected  as  referees. 
The  hearing  was  without  results,  and  the  conference  finally  held 
that  the  majority  had,  by  their  illegal  action,  excommunicated 
themselves,  and  it  recognized  the  members  who  were  expelled  by 
the  society  as  the  legally  constituted  Advent  Society  in  this  town. 
This  society,  however,  was  without  a  place  of  worship,  the  church 
building  in  the  village  being  in  the  possession  of  those  who  held 
it  at  the  time  the  two  members  were  expelled,  and  Elder  G.  C. 
Bowles  purchased  the  old  school-house  at  Apthorp,  moved  it  to 
land  of  his  own,  and  reconstructed  it  for  use  as  a  chapel.  There. 
under  the  favor  of  the  State  Conference,  it  has  prospered,  and  now 
numbers  about  twenty  families  of  worshippers. 

Meetings  are  still  held  at  the  meeting-house  on  Lafayette 
Avenue,  though  that  society  is  at  present  without  a  pastor  since 
the  recent  departure  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Shorey. 

The  Christian  Science  Society  was  formed  here  in  April,  1884. 
Julia  S.  Bartlett,  of  Boston,  gave  talks  at  different  times  in  Opera 
Hall,  and  formed  a  class  for  instruction  which  was  attended  witli 
satisfactory  results,  and  later  other  classes  were  formed.  While 
not  greatly  increasing  in  numbers,  the  zeal  of  the  members  has 
been  unabated  and  meetings  have  been  held  for  a  score  of  years 
every  Sunday  morning  and  Wednesday  evening. 

The  First  Readers  of  the  society  have  been  Mrs.  Jennie  May 
Green  and  Lydia  Cobb ;  the  Second  Readers  Emma  Morse  and 
E.  E.  Eldridge,  Miss  Cobb  and  Mr.  Eld  ridge  occupying  the 


356  History  of  Littleton. 

positions  at  the  present  time.  The  organists  have  been  Mrs. 
Emma  Cornelia  Kinne,  Bessie  B.  Kinne,  and  Mrs.  Persis  Green. 
The  meetings  of  the  society  are  held  in  its  hall  in  Rounsevel's 
Block,  and  arc  attended  by  a  larger  average  attendance  of  its 
membership  than  are  those  of  any  other  society  in  the  town. 


Young  Men's  Christian  Association.  357 


XXXIX. 

YOUNG   MEN'S   CHRISTIAN   ASSOCIATION. 

A  BRANCH  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  was 
organized  in  Littleton,  in  December,  1873,  with  John  F. 
Tilton  president,  and  Warren  W.  Lovejoy  secretary  and  treasurer. 
The  members  arranged  for  a  course  of  lectures  to  be  delivered  in 
the  early  months  of  1874.  These  lectures,  six  in  number,  were 
given  in  Union  Hall  and  were  well  attended.  Two  of  them  were 
by  Rev.  W.  S.  Palmer,  of  Wells  River,  Vt.,  and  the  others  by  Pro- 
fessor Robinson,  of  Tilton,  Dr.  Cutting,  of  Lunenburg,  Vt.,  and 
President  xVsa  D.  Smith,  of  Dartmouth  College.  Besides  the  lec- 
tures, the  association  held  forty-five  meetings  at  their  rooms  in 
Tilton  Block,  and  outside  meetings  every  week  at  Mann's  Hill, 
Farr  Hill,  West  Littleton,  and  North  Littleton.  The  sum  ex- 
pended this  year  was  §120.40,  of  which  $25  was  given  to  the 
State  association. 

The  record  of  this  society  for  its  existence  of  thirty  years  is 
replete  with  earnest  labor  and  satisfactory  results.  Meetings  have 
been  held  in  surrounding  towns,  including  Alder  Brook,  Dalton, 
Franconia,  Lisbon,  Bath,  Easton,  and  Concord,  Vt.,  and  in  differ- 
ent localities  in  Littleton.  The  second  year  of  its  existence,  when 
C.  D.  Tarbell  was  president,  meetings  were  held  in  an  old  saw- 
mill at  South  Littleton.  The  machinery  was  moved  to  one  side, 
and  seats,  donated  by  the  Congregational  Society,  were  put  in 
place,  and  every  Sunday  were  occupied  by  an  attentive  audience. 
In  1880,  through  the  efforts  of  the  members,  a  hall  was  erected, 
and  the  meetings  afterward  held  therein,  with  continued  interest. 

The  meetings  at  North  Littleton  were  so  successful  and  aroused 
so  much  interest  that  in  1878  the  residents  of  the  community  hired 
a  preacher  and  the  association  enlarged  their  field  of  effort  in 
another  direction.  The  number  of  meetings  held  during  these 
years  has  varied,  the  lowest  being  49  and  the  highest  248. 

The  work  has  not  been  confined  to  holding  meetings.  The 
need  of  a  reading  room  where  young  men  could  pass  their  even- 


858  History  of  Littleton. 

ings  appealed  to  the  members  of  the  association,  and  efforts  were 
made  to  establish  one.  The  rooms  of  the  association  were  in 
Tilton's  Block  at  first,  but  after  two  years  it  joined  with  the 
Reform  Club  and  took  rooms  in  Smith's  Block.  Here,  with  the -aid 
of  the  Woman's  Temperance  League,  a  reading  room  was  estab- 
lished, but  later  was  abandoned.  Interest  in  the  association  was 
quickened  by  a  visit  from  the  State  Executive  Committee  in  1880, 
and  in  1881  a  public  anniversary  of  the  association  was  held  and 
$200  raised  toward  a  reading  room,  which  was  soon  opened  in 
Smith's  Block  and  was  well  patronized  by  the  young  men  for  whom 
it  was  planned.  It  was  supplied  with  two  daily,  twenty -five  weekly, 
eight  monthly,  two  semi-monthly  United  States  papers,  with 
magazines,  and  five  foreign  papers.  A  library  of  forty  volumes  was 
also  started,  which  was  afterwards  increased  to  one  hundred  and 
fifty.  Afterward  the  room  was  located  in  Tilton's  Block  in  the 
store  occupied  by  Carlos  P.  Day,  and  later  in  the  Ovcrand  Block, 
but  when  a  reading  room  was  opened  in  connection  with  the 
village  library  the  association  gave  up  this  branch  of  its  work  for 
a  time.  Through  the  courtesy  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Chutter,  rooms 
were  subsequently  opened  in  the  Boylston,  but  later  were  aban- 
doned for  lack  of  financial  support. 

As  the  work  of  this  society  has  been  carried  on  by  voluntary  sub- 
scription, the  income  has  fluctuated  from  year  to  year,  the  amounts 
varying  from  less  than  850  to  nearly  8600.  In  1886  the  ladies 
raised  enough  money  to  purchase  new  furniture  for  the  rooms, 
and  in  1877  Ilosea  Patterson  raised  885  for  general  purposes. 

The  association  has  at  different  times  supported  an  evening 
school,  has  given  aid  in  illness  to  homeless  young-  men,  and 
has  sent  out  invitations  to  commercial  travellers  to  attend  church 
while  passing  Sunday  in  town. 

This  association  accomplished  much  that  was  of  lasting  benefit 
to  the  community,  yet  at  no  time  was  the  working  force  large 
or  those  who  contributed  to  its  maintenance  numerous.  The 
meetings  in  each  of  the  outlying  districts  were  held  under  the 
charge  of  two  or  three  persons  drawn  from  this  list.  Deacon 
Charles  D.  Tarbell,  Deacon  Samuel  C.  Sawyer,  Deacon  John  F. 
Tilton,  Deacon  Warren  W.  Lovejoy,  of  the  Congregational  Church, 
Henry  0.  Jackson  and  Ellcry  II.  Carter,  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
were  the  reliable  men  who  could  be  depended  upon  at  all  times  to 
attend  these  Sunday  afternoon  services.  There  were  others  who 
went  when  occasion  required  and  did  faithful  work.  In  the  way 
of  supporting  the  reading  room  there  were  a  number  who  gave 
generously  through  many  years,  but  Benjamin  W.  Kilburn  was 


Young  Men's  Christian  Association.  359 

its  chief  reliance.  He  believed  that  much  was  to  be  accomplished 
by  providing  the  young  men  of  the  town  with  a  place  to  which 
they  might  resort  and  pass  their  evenings  in  reading  or  study, 
and  to  provide  such  a  convenience  he  never  withheld  his  hand. 
The  reading  room  connected  with  the  public  library  has  ren- 
dered the  one  connected  with  this  association  unnecessary,  and  it 
was  discontinued  in  1902. 

If  the  association  is  not  so  active  now  as  in  former  years,  it  is 
largely  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  occasion  is  not  so  imperative 
now  as  it  was  then  for  labor  of  this  character.  It  is  true  that 
such  a  field  of  usefulness  cannot  be  overcultivated,  but  it  is  none 
the  less  true  that  opportunities  for  labor  in  the  vineyard  of  the 
Lord  are  many,  and  that  each  of  these  can  make  the  same  demand 
upon  those  who  are  anxious  for  work. 


360  History  of  Littleton. 


XL. 

NATIVE   MINISTERS. 

NEW  ENGLANDERS,  with  rare  exceptions,  have  great  respect 
for  the  educated  men  and  women  born  and  reared  in  their 
midst.  For  none  is  this  feeling  stronger  than  for  those  who  have 
chosen  to  become  "  fishers  of  men."  The  old  reverence  for  the 
ministry  may  not  be  so  strong  now  as  it  once  was  with  the 
multitude,  but  it  still  survives  in  many  hearts  with  the  old-time 
fervor. 

With  two  exceptions  the  sons  of  Littleton  who  have  entered  the 
sacred  profession  were  reared  on  farms,  and  acquired  the  educa- 
tion necessary  to  qualify  them  for  the  work  of  the  ministry  under 
adverse  conditions.  The  eldest  of  those  to  make  the  sacrifice,  for 
such  it  must  be  considered,  was  Andrew  Rankiti,  Jr.  He  was 
born  on  the  farm  near  Lyman  (now  Monroe)  line,  which  was  the 
gift  of  Elder  James  Rankin  to  his  son,  who  also  bore  the  name  of 
Andrew.  The  senior  Andrew  was  a  man  of  consequence  in  the 
town.  He  had  inherited  the  sturdy  Scotch  virtues  of  strong  com- 
mon sense  and  thrift.  He  had  also  received  from  the  same  source 
the  religious  convictions  of  the  old  Covenanters,  and  held  to  them 
with  all  the  tenacity  of  the  race.  He  was  a  good  farmer,  and 
when  he  retired  from  the  active  management  of  his  farm,  it  was 
esteemed  one  of  the  best  in  town.  He  had  the  confidence  of  his 
townsmen,  and  was  "  called,"  as  Solomon  Whiting  expressed  it, 
"  to  hold  office  against  his  will  "  more  than  once,  and  was  Mod- 
erator, Selectman,  and  Representative  of  the  town,  and  deacon  and 
clerk  of  the  first  church.  This  combination  of  civic  and  church 
preferment  is  not  to  be  ignored  in  estimating  his  character. 
They  constitute  a  first-class  certificate,  which  may  properly  be 
cherished  by  his  descendants. 

Andrew,  Jr.,  like  all  boys  in  his  day  brought  up  under  such 
surroundings,  worked  on  the  farm  and  learned  practical  things. 
He  attended  the  district  school  in  the  hollow  near  the  residence 
of  "Priest"  Goodall  both  summer  and  winter  until  he  was  four- 


Native  Ministers.  361 

teen.  Then  his  privileges  were  curtailed  to  the  winter  term. 
His  school  was  in  District  No.  4,  near  his  home.  The  education 
thus  obtained  was  confined  to  reading,  writing,  and  arithmetic, 
with  such  incidental  knowledge  as  the  teacher  may  have  been 
able  to  impart.  He  is  said  to  have  been  studious,  persistent,  and 
exceedingly  practical  in  all  his  ways. 

While  yet  a  lad  he  became  hopefully  pious,  and  longed  to  qualify 
himself  for  extended  usefulness.  This  privilege  was  denied  him 
for  a  time,  but  when  he  reached  his  majority,  he  shouldered  his 
pack,  and  on  foot  made  the  journey  to  Andover,  Mass.,  where  he 
pursued  a  course  in  the  Academy,  and  then  entered  Dartmouth 
.  College.  He  did  not  graduate,  but  long  after,  that  institution  con- 
ferred upon  him  the  degree  of  A.M.  His  ministerial  labors  will 
be  found  recorded  in  the  genealogy,  and  need  not  be  restated. 
While  serving  his  first  charge  at  Colebrook,  he  became  acquainted 
with  Lois,  daughter  of  Jeremiah  Eames,  Jr.,  and  in  1824  they 
were  united  in  marriage.  The  wife  bore  the  name  of  an  aunt  who 
was  the  wife  of  Nathan  Caswell,  Jr.  Mrs.  Rankin  was  an  ex- 
emplary woman,  of  a  deeply  religious  character,  and  a  fitting  help- 
meet to  her  husband  in  his  chosen  work. 

A  son  of  this  worthy  man,1  himself  an  eminent  scholar,  teacher, 
and  divine,  writes  thus  concerning  his  father  :  — 

"  In  figure  Mr.  Rankin  was  tall,  symmetrical,  and  commanding  : 
standing  exactly  six  feet.  His  features  were  large  and  manly  ; 
his  brow  high,  his  eyes  blue,  his  cheek  bones  broad  and  high,  his 
mouth  well  cut  and  determined.  In  speech  his  voice  was  full 
and  impressive.  Though  he  usually  wrote  his  sermons,  he  was 
able  to  speak  fluently  without  writing,  thinking  on  his  feet.  His 
model,  so  far  as  he  had  gone,  was  Professor  Porter  of  Andover, 
in  whose  family  he  once  resided,,  working  for  his  board. 

"  His  policy,  as  a  pastor,  was  to  seize  hold  of  some  work  that 
needed  immediate  attention  and  bend  all  his  energies  to  its  ac- 
complishment. For  example,  in  Chester,  Vt.,  he  led  the  little 
church  to  purchase  the  whole  of  the  edifice,  of  which  another 
denomination  was  part  owner.  His  preaching  aimed  at  immedi- 
ate results.  Indeed,  during  his  stay  as  a  student  at  Hanover, 
revivals  in  Reading,  and  other  towns  where  he  taught  school, 
were,  more  or  less  directly,  the  result  of  his  labors. 

'•  lie  prepared  his  sermons  with  the  Bible  in  his  hands,  always 
first  finding  the  mind  of  the  Spirit  as  to  the  subject.  He  was 
especially  successful  as  the  representative  of  benevolent  societies, 
easily  awakening  enthusiasm,  and  inspiring  confidence  in  his 

1  The  Rev.  Jeremiah  Eames  Rankin,  D.D.,  LL.D. 


362  History  of  Littleton. 

judgment.  He  frequently  corresponded  for  counsel  with  such 
men  as  the  Rev.  R.  S.  Storrs,  Sr.,  of  Braintree,  and  was  a  life-long 
friend  of  the  Rev.  George  Punchard  of  the  '  Boston  Traveller.' 

"  In  his  home  he  believed  in  the  strict  training  of  children. 
They  were  taught  the  Shorter  Catechism,  and  habituated  to  the 
work  of  reporting  the  sermons  they  heard  on  Sundays.  As  his 
salary  was  always  limited,  he  did  the  duties  of  a  servant  about 
the  woodshed  and  barn,  and  early  taught  his  boys  the  same 
accomplishments  ;  and  having  been  brought  up  on  a  farm,  he  was 
very  handy  in  the  use  of  all  farming  implements,  —  could  guide  the 
plough,  swing  the  axe  and  scythe.  His  only  musical  accomplish- 
ment was  playing  the  snare-drum,  which  he  had  done  at  trainings 
and  musters. 

"  He  published  several  sermons.  The  writer  remembers  one 
which  was  printed  during  his  stay  in  Thornton,  one  also  in  Essex, 
Vt.  He  was  a  frequent  contributor  to  the  religious  papers.  Rev. 
Nelson  Bishop,  of  the  '  Vermont  Chronicle,'  and  Rev.  Dr.  Stone, 
of  the  '  Congregational  Journal,'  were  his  confidential  friends. 

"The  great  ambition  of  his  life, shared  no  less  by  his  excellent 
wife,  was  to  give  his  children  a  good  education.  His  residence  in 
South  Berwick,  Me.,  Concord,  and  in  Chester,  Vt.,  was  partly  to 
accomplish  this  end.  His  oldest  daughter  graduated  at  Mt. 
Holyoke  Female  Seminary ;  another  daughter  spent  two  years 
there  ;  his  two  sons  graduated  at  Middlebnry  College ;  and  all  his 
children  were,  at  some  time  in  their  lives,  teachers  of  public 
schools  and  sometimes  in  higher  institutions  of  learning.  He 
always  labored  under  the  disability  of  being  a  dyspeptic.  Having 
gone  from  a  New  Hampshire  farm  directly  to  a  life  of  sedentary 
habits,  the  change  was  unfavorable ;  and  this  accounts  for  the 
repeated  failures  in  health  which  he  experienced.  The  protracted 
illness  spoken  of  by  Dr.  Bouton  in  his  sketch  of  Miss  Rankin  was 
thus  occasioned.  His  health  was  always  the  best  when  he  led 
a  stirring  out-door  life.  He  was  always  a  student,  an  early  riser, 
and  an  enthusiast  in  whatever  he  had  on  hand.  His  great  mis- 
take was  that  he  did  not  know  how  to  recreate  ;  had  not  cultivated 
a  taste  for  light  literature,  nor,  indeed,  for  any  reading  not  of  the 
severer  and  more  practical  kind.  In  the  later  years  of  his  life 
he  once  represented  Chester  in  the  Vermont  Legislature.  And 
during  his  stay  in  Melbourne,  Can.,  he  wrote  and  published  a 
little  volume  entitled  '  The  Jesuits'  Estates/  It  awakened  great 
interest,  and  was  largely  distributed  all  through  the  townships. 
Dying  in  Danbury,  N.  11.,  he  was  first  buried  there,  and  after- 
wards removed  to  a  family  lot  purchased  by  his  sons  in  the 


Native  Ministers.  363 

Cambridge  City  Cemetery,  Mass.,  where  his  dust  now  lies.  His 
children  were  Lucy  Ann,  Jeremiah  Eames,  Sarah  Maria,  Andrew 
Evarts,  Lois  Adeline,  and  Caroline  Susan." 

Another  son  of  Littleton  who  early  resolved  to  enter  the  minis- 
try, but  whose  lines  were  cast  in  more  pleasant  places  than  were 
those  of  Andrew  Rankin,  Jr.,  was  John  Gile,  Jr.,  who  was  born  in 
the  month  of  January,  1817,  at  the  home  of  his  parents,  John  and 
Lydia,  located  on  the  Lancaster  Road  about  two  miles  west  of  Lit- 
tleton Village,  and  for  many  years  known,  especially  to  the  people 
of  northern  New  Hampshire  and  Vermont  who  were  accustomed 
to  market  their  farm  products  at  Portland,  as  the  "  Gile  Tavern." 

Mr.  Gile  received  his  first  lessons,  preparatory  to  a  collegiate 
course,  from  Harry  Ilibbard  at  Waterford,  Vt. ,  in  the  summer  of 
1831,  and  at  the  neighboring  town  of  Concord  in  the  autumn 
of  the  same  year.  In  1832  he  was  placed  at  a  school  at  New 
Hampton,  conducted  under  the  auspices  of  the  Baptist  denomina- 
tion of  Christians,  and  of  which  his  father  was  a  benefactor.  He 
remained  there  until  1835,  when  he  entered  Union  College  at 
Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  and  graduated  from  that  institution  in 
1839.  He  studied  theology  with  Rev.  James  Brownlee,  of  Staten 
Island,  N.  Y. 

He  had  from  early  age,  agreeably  to  the  wishes  of  his  parents, 
entertained  a  fixed  purpose  of  making  the  Christian  ministry  his 
life  work,  and  upon  leaving  college  lost  no  time  in  availing  him- 
self of  the  highest  facilities  in  preparing  himself  for  his  work. 

In  1843  he  was  called  to  the  charge  of  a  parish  at  the  town  of 
Setauket,  on  Long  Island  ;  and  thus,  in  the  period  of  twelve  years 
from  the  close  of  the  winter  school  in  the  Farr  District,  he  had 
graduated  with  honors  from  one  of  the  most  conservative  colleges 
in  the  country,  completed  his  preparatory  studies  for  the  ministry, 
and  had  been  called  to  the  charge  of  an  opulent  parish,  two  or 
three  hours  distant  from  the  cities  of  Brooklyn  and  New  York ; 
and  there  he  remained  in  charge  till  the  day  of  his  disappearance. 

"  In  the  month  of  September,  1849,  a  friend  of  Mr.  Gile,  living 
in  the  city  of  New  York,  and  knowing  his  fondness  for  aquatic 
sports,  presented  him  with  a  small  sail-boat,  which  was  delivered 
by  vessel  at  a  wharf  about  three  miles  from  the  parsonage.  On 
the  29th  day  of  that  month  Mr.  Gile  took  his  wife  and  child  with 
him  in  his  carriage  and  drove  to  the  place  where  the  boat  was, 
having  previously  with  his  own  hands  provided  it  with  mast  and 
sail.  Then,  kissing  his  wife  and  child  '  Good-morning,'  he  told 
them  to  drive  home  and  he  would  take  the  boat  round  by  water, 
and  they  should  see  who  would  get  home  first.  When  they  re- 


364  History  of  Littleton.. 

turned  to  the  parsonage,  no  husband,  no  father  was  there  to  greet 
them,  and  no  boat  in  sight.  A  look  up  and  down  the  beach  was 
taken,  no  boat  was  to  be  seen,  and  the  disappointment  was  very 
great.  An  hour  passed,  and  yet  no  boat  to  be  seen.  Disap- 
pointment deepened  into  anxiety.  Another  hour  passed  and  yet 
no  boat.  The  neighbors  were  informed,  and  a  hurried  look  was 
made  by  telescope  up  and  down  the  coast  and  over  the  water, 
but  no  boat  to  be  seen.  Anxiety  deepened  into  consternation. 
Horsemen  cantered  up  and  down  the  beach  and  out  upon  the 
highlands,  with  telescope  in  hand,  gazing  upon  the  distant  coast 
and  dangerous  places  of  navigation,  as  boatmen  searched  the  sea, 
but  all  to  no  effect.  Not  a  piece  of  the  boat  could  be  found,  not 
a  word  of  tidings  from  the  missing  man. 

"  The  shades  of  evening  approached.  The  parish  was  alarmed  ; 
the  people  gathered  upon  the  streets  in  groups,  discussing  the  one 
absorbing  question,  '  What  has  become  of  Mr.  Gile  ?  Is  it  possible 
that  he  has  been  wrecked  ?  What  more  can  we  do  ? ' 

"All  night  long  beacon  lights  were  kept  burning,  and  when  the 
succeeding  day  had  dawned  the  search  was  renewed  in  every 
direction  upon  land  and  sea,  but  yet  no  trace  of  the  boat  or  its 
individual  occupant  could  be  found.  It  is  certain  that  he  started 
down  the  coast  towards  the  parsonage  with  his  toy,  for  a  woman, 
occupying  a  house  near  the  beach,  had  her  attention  called  to  a 
small  sail-boat  coming  down  the  shore  with  unusual  rapidity  for 
so  small  a  craft.  She  saw  a  man  step  out  upon  the  beach  and 
place  rocks  in  his  boat  as  for  ballast,  resume  his  place  standing 
by  the  mast,  with  sail  to  the  breeze,  and  move  rapidly  away  in  the 
direction  of  the  parsonage. 

"This  is  the  end.  Since  that  hour  it  is  not  known  that  human 
eyes  have  rested  upon  the  manly  form  of  John  Gile."  T 

Mention  was  made  of  the  loss  of  Mr.  (rile  in  the  pulpits  of  New 
York,  and  rewards  were  published  in  the  papers  for  the  recovery 
of  his  body  or  any  information  whatever  as  to  the  immediate  cause 
of  his  loss,  but  no  word  of  information  was  ever  received. 

The  funeral  services  were  held  at  the  church  where  he  had 
presided  on  the  Sunday  preceding  his  loss,  and  subsequently  a 
creditable  memorial  stone  was  placed  to  his  memory  in  the  parish 
cemetery. 

His  funeral  sermon  was  preached  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Worcester  at 
Littleton  a  few  weeks  after  his  disappearance,  from  the  text  ((Jen. 
v.  24),  "And  Enoch  walked  with  God,  and  he  was  not;  for  God 
took  him." 

1  Written  by  Mrs.  Gilo. 


Native  Ministers.  365 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Gile  preached  one  sermon  in  his  native  town  m 
the  fall  of  1847,  —  the  only  occasion  on  which  his  aged  parents  had 
an  opportunity  of  listening  to  him  in  public  discourse.  The  text 
was  "  Seed-time  and  harvest  shall  come." 

Mr.  Gile  married,  in  1839,  Helen  Maria  Clute,  a  descendant  of 
one  of  the  Hollandish  families  which  settled  in  New  Amsterdam 
in  the  early  part  of  the  seventeenth  century,  and  at  about  the  same 
time  that  her  husband's  English  ancestors  settled  at  Massachusetts 
Bay. 

In  the  house  built  by  Prescott  White  in  1832,  which  was  for 
many  years  the  home  of  Marquis  L.  Goold,  was  born,  on  the  27th 
of  January,  1839,  Henry  Burnham  Mead,  the  son  of  Francis  K. 
and  Clara  A.  Burnham  Mead.  His  parents  were  people  of  more 
than  ordinary  intelligence  and  character,  who  believed  it  their 
highest  duty  to  educate  their  son,  and  thus  enable  him  to  make 
his  way  in  the  world  fully  equipped  for  usefulness.  To  this  end 
they  gave  him  all  the  educational  advantages  within  their  means. 
He  took  the  course  at  Phillips  Exeter  Academy  in  1859-1861,  in 
1862  entered  Yale  and  was  graduated  with  the  class  of  1866.  He 
subsequently  received  the  degree  of  A.  M.  from  his  Alma  Mater. 
While  in  college,  he  was  a  diligent  student  and  regardful  of  the 
rules  of  the  institution.  At  his  graduation  his  rank  in  scholarship 
entitled  him  to  the  honors  of  membership  in  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa 
Society.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Alpha  Delta  Phi  fraternity. 

His  theological  studies  were  pursued  at  Yale  Theological  Semi- 
nary, from  which  he  was  graduated  in  1869.  He  was  licensed  to 
preach  by  the  New  Haven  Central  Association  at  Orange,  Conn, , 
June  10,  1868,  and  the  two  following  years  was  acting  pastor  at 
Falls  Village,  Conn.  ;  licentiate  at  Andover,  1871,  where  he  took 
a  special  course,  and  was  ordained  pastor  over  the  church  at 
Ferry ville,  Conn.,  June  7,  1871.  His  subsequent  pastorates  were 
at  Westbrook,  Me.,  1871-1874;  Borough  Church,  Stonington, 
Conn.,  1880-1886  ;  First  Church,  Stockbridge,  Mass.,  1886-1887  ; 
Union  Church,  Jacksonville.  Fla.,  1887-1888  ;  Brookfield,  Conn., 
1889-1893  ;  Scotland,  Conn.^  1893-1903. 

His  last  pastorate  was  at  Scotland.  His  decease  occurred  June 
13,  1903.  His  sermons  displayed  the  scholarship  and  knowledge 
of  Bible  history  for  which  he  was  noted,  and,  without  pretending 
to  eloquence,  claimed  the  attention  of  his  audience  and  carried 
conviction  to  candid  minds.  He  had  pronounced  literary  tenden- 
cies and  had  been  a  frequent  contributor  to  various  journals.  He 
wrote  poetry,  some  of  it  of  a  high  order  of  excellence,  which  has 
made  the  rounds  of  journalistic  popularity.  He  had,  however, 


866  History  of  Littleton. 

an  excess  of  modesty  which  prevented  him  from  collecting  and 
putting  into  a  volume  these  emanations  of  his  fancy.  His  only 
published  work  is  "  The  Wonderful  Counsellor,"  from  the  press 
of  A.  D.  F.  Randolph  &  Co.  in  1893.  It  is  a  collection  contain- 
ing all  the  known  spoken  words  of  Jesus  Christ  with  marginal 
annotations,  compiled  for  the  special  use  of  memhers  of  the  Chris- 
tian Endeavor  society.  It  was  issued  in  a  pocket  edition,  and  has 
had  a  large  sale,  rendering  his  name  familiar  to  thousands. 

Mr.  Mead  married  in  1871  Harriet  E.  Brown.  They  had  four 
children,  Charles  Francis,  Harry  Brown,  Paul  Emerson,  and 
Clara  Burnham. 

By  entering  the  Congregational  ministry,  Nelson  Farr  Coblcigh 
furnished  a  strong  illustration  of  the  influence  of  heredity.  He 
sprang  from  a  line  of  deacons  in  that  church  that  has  continued 
for  almost  a  century,  and  its  creed  and  polity  have  become  a  family 
inheritance  that  so  far  has  shown  no  tendency  to  disappear  in  the 
present  generation. 

Deacon  Marshall  D.  Cobleigh  lived  nearly  all  his  life  on  a  farm 
near  the  Slate  ledge  in  the  Hastings  neighborhood.  His  wife  was 
a  daughter  of  Deacon  Xoali  Farr,  and  this  son,  Nelson  Fan-  Cob- 
lcigh, was  born  on  the  12th  of  October,  1844.  He  attended  the 
school  in  the  Fitch  District  and  one  or  more  terms  at  a  private 
school  in  the  village.  He  then  repaired  to  Kimball  Union  Acad- 
emy. From  there  he  passed  to  Amherst  College,  and  was  gradu- 
ated with  the  class  of  18G8.  As  a  student  he  was  punctual  in 
the  discharge  of  every  duty  imposed  by  the  government  of  the 
institutions  which  he  attended.  He  was  a  serious-minded  youth, 
not  brilliant  in  the  class-room,  but  thoroughly  reliable,  and  in  the 
habit  of  adhering  to  his  task  until  he  had  mastered  it.  His  col- 
lege career  finished,  he  took  the  prescribed  course  at  Union  Theo- 
logical Seminary  in  New  York,  and  was  ordained  to  the  ministry 
at  Marshfield,  Vt.,  August  16,  1871.  Before  ordination  he  had 
supplied  the  pulpit  at  Marshlield  for  more  than  a  year,  lie  was 
pastor  at  Mclndoes  Falls,  Vt.,  for  five  years  from  September, 
1877.  In  1882  lie  removed  to  Washington  Territory,  and  was 
located  at  Walla  Walla  for  nine  months,  at  which  time  he  was 
appointed  General  Missionary  for  Eastern  Washington  and  Ore- 
gon, with  headquarters  at  Walla  Walla.  His  jurisdiction  ex- 
tended over  a  territory  of  magnificent  distances,  covering  one 
hundred  thousand  square  miles.  His  labors  were  arduous  and 
incessant,  but  devotedly  discharged  in  the  face  of  what  would  to 
most  others  have  been  great  discouragements,  but  which  to  him 
were  added  incentives  to  labor  in  the  cause  he  had  espoused.  He 


Native  Ministers.  367 

had  inherited  a  frail  constitution,  which,  however,  had  been  care- 
fully strengthened  until  he  probably  regarded  his  health  as  estab- 
lished on  a  firm  foundation.  The  long  journeys  and  privations 
incident  to  a  thinly  settled  country  at  length  broke  his  strength. 
From  one  of  these  tours  he  returned  to  his  home,  stricken  with 
typhoid  fever.  From  this  malady  his  death  ensued,  and  thus  his 
earthly  career  was  ended  November  21,  1887. 

Mr.  Cobleigh  was  of  medium  height,  of  rather  slim  physique, 
but  of  dignified  carriage  and  mien.  His  pale  face  was  illumined 
by  dark  kindly  eyes  that  indicated  a  compassionate  and  thoughtful 
soul.  In  appearance  and  conduct,  in  faith  and  works,  he  was  a 
minister  of  the  school  that  once  governed  New  England,  —  not  the 
unyielding  theologians  of  an  early  day,  but  the  fathers  of  the  people 
who  came  into  influence  and  power  when  the  rigorous  rule  of  the 
sectarians  had  been  relaxed  for  a  milder  sway.  He  was  eminently 
successful  in  each  of  his  pastorates.  They  were  attended  by 
spiritual  awakenings,  unity  of  spirit,  and  generous  gifts  for  the 
improvement  of  the  material  affairs  of  the  parish.  When  lie  went 
to  Marshfield,  he  found  the  church  few  in  numbers  and  destitute 
of  everything,  but  faith,  that  is  deemed  essential  in  a  religious 
organization.  He  remained  there  seven  years,  in  which  the 
material  conditions  of  the  town  were  practically  unchanged,  but 
in  that  time  the  membership  was  quadrupled,  unified,  and  turned 
into  an  instrument  of  personal  and  public  good  that  wrought 
a  spiritual  revolution  in  the  town.  A  church  was  built,  well 
furnished,  equipped  with  a  bell,  and  the  entire  cost  liquidated. 
At  Mclndoes  Falls  events  had  operated  to  divide  the  society,  and 
neglect  had  wrought  its  work.  He  infused  a  new  spirit  of  hope. 
and  the  old  feeling  of  brotherly  love  gradually  came  back  to  a 
united  membership.  The  debts  of  the  church  were  paid,  the  house 
of  worship  repaired  and  much  improved,  and  in  his  last  two  years 
of  service  was  the  largest  average  attendance.  In  a  note  he  char- 
acteristically says  that  "  wherever  he  had  worked,  his  people  had 
been  very  kind  to  him."  The  same  results  followed  his  career 
on  the  Pacific  slope,  where  the  people  not  only  respected  him  for 
his  manliness,  but  loved  him  for  his  many  Christian  virtues.  His 
untimely  death  carried  sorrow  to  many  a  home,  not  only  in  his 
native  town  but  in  those  where  he  had  endeared  himself  by  self- 
denying  labor  for  the  church  he  loved  and  for  which  he  gave  his 
life." 

The  last  and  youngest  of  the  natives  of  the  town  to  enter  the 
ministry  of  the  Congregational  denomination  is  Charles  Dunklee 
Milliken,  a  son  of  the  minister  whose  fortune  it  was  to  preside 


368  History  of  Littleton. 

over  the  church  in  this  town  for  a  longer  time  than  any  other 
pastor  who  has  held  the  position.  The  son  was  born  October  12, 
1863;  educated  in  our  schools  and  at  St.  Johnsbury  Academy,  and 
was  graduated  from  Dartmouth  College  in  the  class  of  1887.  The 
ministry  was  not  his  first  choice  as  a  life  work.  He  developed  a 
natural  inclination  to  a  business  life,  and  was  thus  engaged  for  two 
years  after  his  graduation  from  Dartmouth.  Deepening  religious 
convictions  and  a  quickened  sense  of  duty  at  length  led  him  to 
prepare  for  the  profession  which  had  been  adorned  by  his  father. 
In  1892  he  entered  Yale  Theological  Seminary,  was  licensed  to 
preach  by  the  Hartford  Central  Association  April  6, 1891,  and  sub- 
sequently ordained  as  pastor  of  the  Pilgrim  Church,  Canaan,  Conn. 

A  few  years  after  the  condition  of  his  health  became  such  that 
it  was  deemed  wise  that  he  should  seek  a  milder  climate.  He 
accordingly  removed  to  California  in  1897,  and  now  has  a  pas- 
torate at  Cupertino  near  Los  Angeles  in  that  State. 

Mr.  Milliken  is  now  in  the  prime  of  life,  with  a  disposition  to 
make  his  future  helpful  to  his  fellow-men,  and  the  ability  to  aid 
the  cause  of  the  Church  of  Christ  and  advance  his  kingdom  on 
earth.  In  native  endowment  and  scholarly  acquirements  he  much 
resembles  his  revered  father,  while  his  social  qualities  are  an  in- 
heritance from  his  mother, — -a  woman  of  many  accomplishments, 
whose  Christian  influence  is  still  felt  in  this  community. 

The  town  has  given  a  large  delegation  of  her  sons  to  the  min- 
istry of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Early  conditions,  both 
educational  and  ecclesiastical,  were  such  that  a  call  to  this  profes- 
sion must  have  been  as  emphatic  and  unmistakable  as  was  that 
of  Saul  of  Tarsus  to  have  persuaded  young  men  to  leave  the  plough 
and  workshop  and  surmount  the  difficulties  that  lay  along  the 
pathway  to  the  ministry  in  the  early  years  of  the  last  century. 
Some  who  heard  the  voice  would  not  be  denied.  Of  such  Dr. 
Cobleigh,  Dr.  Robins,  and  the  Rev.  W.  C.  Knapp  rose  to  eminence 
as  clergymen  and  as  educators.  They  were  preceded,  however, 
by  two  men  of  different  attainments. 

Lindsey  Wallace  is  still  remembered  by  some  old  residents, 
though  more  than  eighty  years  have  passed  since  he  was  a  resident 
of  the  town.  The  family  for  a  hundred  years  have  had  their  repre- 
sentatives here  and  in  the  surrounding  towns  of  Bethlehem,  Fran- 
conia,  Landaff,  Lisbon,  and  Dalton.  It  has  always  stood  high 
for  probity  and  ability,  and  has  been  prominent  in  the  Methodist 
and  Free  Baptist  denominations.  Of  this  class  may  be  mentioned 
such  men  of  the  family  as  Phineas,  Jonas,  and  Luther  of  Beth- 
lehem, David  H.  of  Franconia,  George  of  Dalton,  and  Calvin  J. 


Native  Ministers.  369 

and  Amos  P.  of  this  town.  Lindsey  about  the  time  he  attained 
his  majority  went  to  Berwick,  Me.,  where  he  continued  to  reside 
until  in  old  age  he  made  his  home  with  his  sons  in  Rochester. 
He  was  ordained  as  a  local  Methodist  preacher,  and  in  that 
capacity  supplied  pulpits  in  Eastern  Maine  for  a  number  of  years. 
He  was  a  very  devout  man,  and  more  noted  as  a  preacher  for  his 
persuasive  than  for  his  reasoning  powers.  He  was  a  constant 
attendant  on  the  devotional  meetings  of  his  church,  and  his 
services  in  this  respect  were  highly  regarded.  He  made  no 
claim  to  the  possession  of  a  high  order  of  ability,  but  his  kind- 
ness, sincerity,  and  efforts  to  serve  his  Lord  and  Master  endeared 
him  to  the  people  among  whom  he  spent  his  life.  He  preached 
in  this  town  and  in  Dalton  on  several  occasions  some  sixty  years 
ago,  and  those  who  heard  and  knew  him  always  spoke  of  him 
with  great  respect,  both  as  a  man  and  as  a  Christian. 

The  most  distinguished  son  of  the  town  who  joined  the  minis- 
terial ranks  was  Nelson  Ebenezer  Cobleigh,  born  November  24, 
1814.  He  was  the  son  of  Erastus  and  grandson  of  John,  who 
lived  at  the  North  End  of  the  town.  The  Cobleigh  family  has 
filled  a  considerable  space  in  the  town's  history.  They  were 
strong  men  who  were  factors  in  the  community.  The  early  man- 
hood of  Nelson  E.  Cobleigh  was  spent  in  efforts  to  secure  an 
education,  in  which  he  displayed  the  same  energy  and  persever- 
ance that  characterized  his  after  life. 

He  began  his  preparatory  studies  in  Newbury,  Vt.,  in  the  spring 
of  1838,  where  he  evinced  a  strong  desire  for  scholastic  acquire- 
ments. In  1839  he  entered  Welseyan  University,  Middletown, 
Conn.,  where  for  four  years  he  struggled  against  poverty,  working 
his  way  through  college,  graduating  in  1843  with  the  first  honors 
of  his  class.  In  1844  he  joined  the  New  England  Conference,  and 
commenced  that  earnest  life-work  of  the  ministry.  For  nine  years 
he  labored  assiduously  and  successfully  in  the  active  ministry. 
In  consequence  of  his  wife's  failing  health  he  resigned  the  ministry 
in  1853,  and  removed  from  Boston  to  the  State  of  Illinois  to  ac- 
cept the  chair  of  professor  of  ancient  languages  in  M'Kendree 
College.  The  following  year  he  was  elected  to  the  same  pro- 
fessorship in  Lawrence  University,  Appleton,  Wis.  In  1857  he 
was  recalled  to  Lebanon,  111.,  by  an  election  to  the  presidency  of 
M'Kendree  College,  and  entered  upon  the  duties  of  the  office  early 
in  1858.  In  this  position  those  sterling  qualities  of  mind  and 
heart  found  wider  scope  to  display  the  true  elements  of  a  Christian 
manhood,  which  he  so  fully  professed.  His  unwearied  watchful- 
ness, energy,  and  fine  executive  abilities  soon  brought  the  college 

VOL.  ii.  —  24 


370  History  of  Littleton. 

from  a  condition  of  chaos  and  financial  bankruptcy  to  a  state  of 
order  and  success.  In  the  fall  of  1863  lie  was  called  to  the 
editorship  of  "  Zion's  Herald,"  Boston,  Mass.  In  this  depart- 
ment of  effort  he  devoted  himself  with  unusual  zeal  and  success, 
preaching,  lecturing,  writing, "  in  labors  more  abundant  than  they 
all."  In  1867  he  relinquished  his  place  as  editor  because  of 
failing  health,  the  result  of  overwork,  in  a  sharp  and  vigorous 
climate.  After  a  brief  rest  he  sought  what  his  broken  down 
nervous  system  demanded,  —  a  milder  region.  The  trustees  of 
the  East  Tennessee  Wesleyan  University  at  Athens,  Tenn.,  pro- 
posed and  elected  him  as  president  of  their  institution.  In  this  sit- 
uation he  labored  as  his  growing  strength  would  permit,  and  under 
his  fostering  hand  the  university  grew  and  prospered.  As  an  edu- 
cator, Dr.  Cobleigh  had  few  equals.  At  the  General  Conference 
of  1872  he  was  elected  to  the  editorial  chair  of  the  "Methodist 
Advocate,"  Atlanta,  Ga.,  in  which  office  he  labored  with  marked 
x.eal  and  ability  up  to  the  very  period  of  his  death.  Dr.  Cob- 
leigh was  loved  and  honored  by  his  brethren  in  the  ministry. 
His  wisdom,  firmness,  mildness,  and  broad  Christian  charity  gave 
him  peculiar  fitness  to  be  a  representative  man,  and  as  such  he 
was  a  member  of  the  General  Conferences  of  1864,  1868,  and 
1872.  He  was  in  the  truest  and  highest  sense  a  great  and  good 
man.  His  mind  was  of  a  peculiar  type,  possessing  great  power 
and  penetration,  thoroughly  trained  and  disciplined.  He  was 
an  intellectual  giant,  possessed  of  a  simple  but  mighty  Christian 
faitli ;  his  piety  was  deep  and  uniform.  Having  devoted  himself 
fully  to  God,  the  church,  and  humanity,  he  labored  with  equal 
cheerfulness  and  zeal  in  every  position  to  which  duty  called  him. 
When  appreciated  and  honored,  lie  betrayed  no  vanity  ;  when 
neglected,  maligned,  or  persecuted,  he  manifested  no  resentment. 
He  was  ever  modest  and  unassuming,  wise  and  sagacious  in  all 
that  he  said.  In  his  manner  and  spirit  there  was  the  gentleness 
of  the  lamb,  but  in  the  defence  of  truth  and  maintenance  of  prin- 
ciple the  bravery  of  the  lion.  As  a  preacher,  he  was  earnest  and 
logical,  pathetic  and  powerful ;  as  a  writer,  pure  and  simple,  ver- 
satile and  graceful ;  as  a  friend,  kind  and  generous,  sympathetic 
and  faithful  —  none  could  know  him  intimately  but  to  respect 
and  admire,  revere  and  love  him.  In  the  church  to  which  he  be- 
longed he  was  a  strong  pillar.  His  earnest,  devoted  piety,  his 
meekness  of  spirit,  his  purity  of  character,  his  devotion  to  prin- 
ciple, his  adherence  to  what  he  believed  right,  his  zeal  for  right- 
eousness, and  his  ability  as  an  ambassador  of  God,  disarmed  his 
opponents  of  much  sharp  criticism,  and  caused  his  enemies  to 


Ri:v.  X.  K.  Coiu.Kmii.  I). IX.  LL.D. 


Native  Ministers.  371 

respect  and  honor  him.  Thus,  like  Moses,  with  "  eye  undimmed 
and  strength  unabated,"  he  ceased  at  once  to  work  and  live. 

The  Robins  family  has  been  closely  identified  with  Methodism 
in  Littleton.  Among  the  early  converts  to  its  faith  was  Joseph 
Robins,  Jr.,  whose  father  was  a  Universalist  who  could  give  a 
reason  for  the  faith  that  was  in  him.  The  son  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools  and  at  Concord,  Vt.,  Academy,  then  under  the 
charge  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hall,  one  of  the  most  noted  educators  of 
his  time.  Young  Robins  had  decided  to  enter  the  ministry,  and 
after  pursuing1  the  required  course  of  study  was  licensed  to  preach 
by  the  Maine  Conference  at  Gorham  in  1829.  He  was  stationed  at 
Atkinson,  where  his  health  completely  failed,  and  he  returned  to 
this  town.  Here  he  lived  the  remainder  of  his  days,  pursuing  the 
life  of  a  husbandman  and  preaching  occasionally  in  this  and 
adjoining  towns.  He  was  a  man  of  the  highest  integrity,  and 
respected  in  all  the  walks  of  life ;  his  usefulness  was  limited,  but 
not  destroyed,  by  ill  health,  which  clung  to  him  until  the  end. 

William  Carter  Knapp  is  descended  from  a  family  that  was  the 
fifth  to  move  into  the  town  of  Lyman.  On  the  mother's 
side  his  family  was  among  the  early  settlers  of  his  native  town. 
He  was  born  in  Littleton  March  10,  1833.  His  father  was  Capt. 
Amasa  Knapp  of  the  old  State  militia  ;  his  mother  Sarah,  daughter 
of  Thomas  Carter  of  the  West  End  of  the  town  ;  both  were  of  the 
Methodist  denomination.  William  C.  Knapp  was  graduated 
from  the  Northwestern  University,  Evanston,  111.,  attended  the 
Garrett  Biblical  Institute,  but  did  not  finish  the  course,  and  was 
a  teacher  of  note,  superintendent  of  schools,  president  of  Grand 
Prairie  Seminary,  and  professor  of  natural  science,  Hedding 
College,  and  a  preacher  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  all  in 
Illinois,  and  was  distinguished  in  each  of  these  callings.  Some 
years  since  he  retired  from  professional  life,  and  has  since  resided 
at  Normal,  111.  He  has  lectured  with  success  upon  Astronomy 
and  other  subjects  in  Natural  Science.  He  is  a  man  of  fine  ability 
and  acquirements,  and  a  clear  and  eloquent  preacher  of  the  Gos- 
pel. His  first  wife  was  a  daughter  of  the  late  Joel  Uronson,  of 
this  town. 

In  1859  a  general  revival  occurred  in  this  town  in  which  many 
persons  were  converted  who  not  only  strengthened  the  churches 
but  added  much  to  the  religious  and  moral  upbuilding  of  the  com- 
munity. Among  those  who  were  converted  at  this  time  were  three 
young  men,  sons  of  farmers,  whose  ancestors  had  settled  in  the 
town  in  the  closing  years  of  the  eighteenth  century  ;  they  wen- 
Joseph  E.  Robins,  Charles  W.  Milieu,  and  Wan-en  C.  Applebee. 


372  History  of  Littleton. 

The  parents  of  each  had  attended  the  Methodist  Church  from  the 
time  of  its  dedication  in  1850. 

The  eldest  of  these  young  men  was  Mr.  Applebee,  born  in  1842. 
His  father  was  "  well-to-do,"  but  thought  a  young  man  could  en- 
gage in  no  better  business  than  that  of  agriculture,  and  that  about 
all  the  education  required  was  reading,  writing,  and  enough 
mathematics  to  enable  one  to  cast  interest  at  the  legal  rate.  The 
young  man  thought  otherwise,  and  his  mother,  being  of  the  same 
opinion,  gave  him  substantial  assistance  in  his  efforts  to  obtain 
an  education  and  prepare  for  the  ministry.  He  acquired  an  aca- 
demic education  at  Northfield  Seminary,  at  St.  Johnsbury,  Yt., 
Academy,  and  Newbnry,  Vt.,  Conference  Seminary.  During  this 
time  he  taught  school  each  winter,  and  continued  the  same  voca- 
tion after  he  had  begun  his  theological  studies  at  Boston  Univer- 
sity. He  was  ordained  a  deacon  in  I860,  and  an  elder  in  1868. 
From  1865  to  1878  he  was  connected  with  the  New  Hampshire 
Conference.  After  a  year  occupied  in  study  at  Boston  University,1 
he  joined  the  East  Maine  Conference,  and  continued  under  its 
jurisdiction  until  1883,  when  he  became  a  member  of  the  New 
England  Southern,  and  was  stationed  at  Chatham  one  year  and 
Provincetown  two  years.  In  1886,  at  his  own  request,  he  was  lo- 
cated in  Maine,  and  subsequently  was  engaged  in  his  calling  in 
Kansas,  Indiana,  and  perhaps  other  sections  of  the  West.  He 
resides  in  Massachusetts,  having  retired  from  the  itinerant  work 
of  his  profession.  As  a  preacher  he  is  by  nature  specially  con- 
servative. He  travels  the  well-known  paths  of  the  old-time  oratory 
of  some  of  his  predecessors,  seldom  venturing  upon  new  methods. 
In  speech  or  doctrine  his  pronouncements  are  sometimes  startling  ; 
he  is  not  a  man  to  awaken  enthusiasm,  but  commends  himself  to 
the  members  of  his  congregation  with  plain  statements  of  doctrine 
and  discipline. 

Joseph  Emerson  Robins  was  born  in  1843,  and  is  of  the  fourth 
generation  of  the  Robins  family  that  have  been  residents  of  Little- 
ton.2 On  his  mother's  side  he  represents  the  fourth  generation 
of  the  Fair  family  in  the  town.  It  does  not  matter  where  he 
happens  temporarily  to  reside,  he  is  always  a  Littleton  man.  He 
was  a  member  and  graduate  of  the  class  of  1868  at  Wesleyari 
University.  After  graduation  he  became  a  teacher,  occupying 
the  chair  of  Latin  and  Greek  at  the  Conference  Seminary  at 

1  lie  completed  the  course  at  the  Boston  University  School  of  Theology  in  1878, 
but  was  not  accorded  a  degree,  as  he  was  not  a  college  graduate. 

-  Including  the  son  and  grandson  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Robins,  representatives  of  six 
generations  have  been  of  Littleton.  Since  1703  every  generation  has  had  a  Joseph. 


Ri:v.  JOSEPH    E.   ROIUNS.  D.I). 


Native  Ministers.  373 

Tilton.  At  the  same  time  lie  held  a  license  to  preach,  supplying 
at  Moultonborough  each  Sunday.  In  1869  he  was  professor  of 
mathematics  and  science  in  the  Daniel  Drew  Ladies'  College  at 
Carmel,  N.  Y.  He  remained  there  until  1872,  when  he  returned 
to  his  native  State  and  entered  upon  the  regular  work  of  the 
ministry,  preaching  at  Landaff  for  about  a  year.  He  became  a 
deacon  in  1869,  and  an  elder  in  1873.  He  has  never  had  a  con- 
ference connection  other  than  that  which  is  geographically  termed 
the  New  Hampshire  Conference,  though  the  conference  and  State 
lines  are  not  identical,  and  his  services  cover  the  long  period  from 
1864,  when  he  secured  his  preacher's  license,  to  the  present  time 
(1903).  In  all  these  years  he  has  been  a  working  member  of  the 
conference.  A  man  of  sound  judgment  and  penetrating  mind,  he- 
lias  had  a  large  influence  in  the  administration  of  affairs  in  this 
jurisdiction.  He  was  presiding  elder  of  the  Clareniont  District, 
with  a  residence  in  this  town,  from  1885  to  1889,  and  then  of  the 
Dover  district  from  1897  to  1903.  Resuming  parish  work,  he 
was  appointed  to  Keene,  where  he  is  now  stationed.  In  scholar- 
ship, in  earnest  devotion,  and  in  capacity  for  work,  Mr.  Robins 
is  one  of  the  foremost  clergymen  in  the  conference.  As  a 
preacher,  he  is  biblical,  instructive,  logical,  and  convincing.  He 
aims  to  reach  the  judgment  as  well  as  the  heart,  and  keeps  close 
to  the  plain  common-sense  level  of  those  to  whom  his  appeal  is 
directed.  As  an  administrator,  he  is  among  the  first  in  the  con- 
nection in  the  State,  and  his  present  assignment  to  this  prominent 
parish  is  regarded  as  a  temporary  stage  in  his  progress  in  the 
larger  field  of  usefulness,  along  the  lines  necessitated  by  the 
regulations  and  governed  by  the  polity  of  the  church.  He  held 
the  offices  of  delegate  in  the  General  Conference  in  18SS  and 
chaplain  of  the  House  of  Representatives  in  1899.  He  was  ac- 
corded the  degree  of  D.I),  by  Norwich  University  in  1899.  At 
the  age  of  sixty  he  is  as  zealous  for  the  cause  and  as  capable  of 
protracted  labor  as  at  any  time  in  the  past,  with  no  thought 
of  retirement  to  the  leisure  which  years  filled  with  incessant  labor 
would  frequently  if  not  generally  seem  to  suggest. 

Mr.  Robins  has  been  for  many  years  a  trustee  of  Tilton  Semi- 
nary, is  vice-president  of  the  New  Hampshire  Bible  Society,  is 
connected  with  the  management  of  the  Weirs  Camp  Ground,  and 
was  for  six  years  president  of  the  Hedding  Camp  Meeting  Asso- 
ciation. He  is  a  Mason  of  the  thirty-second  degree,  prelate  ot 
the  Grand  Commandery,  chaplain  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  and  chap- 
lain of  the  Grand  Council.  He  is  also  president  of  the  inter- 
denominational Preachers'  Meeting  of  Cheshire  Count v. 


374  History  of  Littleton. 

By  special  invitation  Mr.  Robins  gave  the  address  for  the 
churches  at  the  Littleton  centennial  in  1884.  He  addressed  the 
public  schools  on  the  occasion  of  the  Columbian  Celebration  in 
1892.  He  was  one  of  the  orators  of  the  day  at  the  dedication  of 
the  new  Opera  House,  and  the  celebration  in  1895  of  the  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty -fifth  anniversary  of  the  settlement  of  the  town. 

The  youngest  and  last  of  the  trio  of  1859  is  Charles  Watson 
Millen,  born  in  1844  on  a  farm  on  Mt.  Eustis,  and  educated  in  the 
common  and  select  schools  and  at  Newbury  Seminary ;  he  taught 
winters  for  several  years,  and  attended  the  Methodist  General 
Biblical  Institute  at  Concord,  where  he  was  instructed  in  theology 
by  such  eminent  teachers  as  Stephen  M.  Vail,  D.D.,  John  W.  Mer- 
rill, D.D.,  and  David  Patten,  D.D.  He  was  graduated  from  this 
Institute  in  1867,  and  ordained  deacon  in  the  same  year,  and  elder 
t\vo  years  later.  He  was  connected  with  the  New  Hampshire 
Conference  until  1877,  holding  important  appointments.  In  this 
period  he  was  very  active  in  the  advocacy  of  prohibition,  being  for 
a  considerable  time  editor  of  the  "  Prohibition  Herald."  He  then 
was  transferred  to  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ,  where  he  was  pastor  of  the 
Do  Kalb  Avenue  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  until  1880,  in 
which  year  he  was  appointed  to  the  church  at  Southampton,  L.  I. 
In  1881  he  was  sent  to  the  Embury  Church  in  Brooklyn,  and 
remained  three  years.  In  April,  1884,  he  took  a  supernumerary 
relation  from  the  New  York  East  Conference,  and  supplied  during 
the  summer  months  Grace  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Brook- 
lyn. In  the  winter  of  1884-1885,  he  occupied  the  pulpit  of  the 
Congregational  Church  in  this  town.  At  this  time  he  lectured 
on  subjects  drawn  from  observations  and  historical  studies  incident 
to  a  European  trip  made  in  1883.  He  retired  from  the  active 
ministry  some  years  since,  and  is  leading  a  quiet  life  in  Brooklyn, 
where  his  sons  are  in  business. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Millen  is  an  unusually  interesting  and  effective 
preacher.  Of  commanding  presence  and  democratic  manner,  his 
personality  at  once  creates  a  favorable  impression.  His  delivery 
is  forceful  and  eloquent,  his  rhetoric  graceful;  he  respects  the 
intelligence  of  his  hearers,  and  always  thoroughly  prepares  his 
sermons  ;  he  selects  his  subjects  with  care,  giving  consideration 
to  topics  of  immediate  moment.  As  a  rule,  he  combines  in  his 
sermons  the  practical  and  experimental,  leaving  the  purely  scien- 
tific and  philosophical  to  investigators  who  have  made  a  study  of 
such  themes. 

Mr.  Millen  has  published  several  sermons,  and  in  1887  prepared 
a  work  entitled  "  Apples  of  Gold  in  Pictures  of  Silver,1'  which  was 


Native  Ministers.  375 

published  by  the  Methodist  Publishing  House  of  New  York  and 
had  an  extensive  sale.  He  often  drops  into  poetry,  and  some  of 
his  productions  have  attracted  attention  for  their  smoothness  of 
versification,  charm  of  fancy,  and  descriptive  power. 

In  the  same  year  that  Charles  W.  Milieu  first  saw  the  light 
there  was  born  on  a  farm,  not  far  from  Partridge  Lake,  one  who, 
like  him,  was  destined  for  a  few  brief  years  to  bear  the  message 
of  the  Galilean  to  people  who  were  not  averse  to  duty,  but  only 
careless  in  regard  to  its  performance,  and  to  the  necessity  of  put- 
ting their  house  in  order  for  the  day  of  the  transcendent  change. 
Alba  Briggs  Carter,  born  September  1,  1844,  made  his  way  in  the 
world  with  slender  assistance  from  others,  but  he  possessed  a 
rugged  will  in  a  feeble  frame  and  went  forward,  securing  a  fail- 
education  and  a  respected  position  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel. 
He  was  converted  at  the  Bath  Camp  Meeting  in  September,  1868, 
and  began  his  work  of  proselyting  at  once,  holding  meetings  in 
the  neighborhood  where  he  lived  and  constantly  winning  souls  to 
Christ.  He  joined  the  conference  in  1873,  and  died  in  April, 
1885.  During  his  brief  career  he  held  appointments  at  Deny, 
Milton  Mills,  Hampton,  Raymond,  and  Great  Falls,  where  he 
preached  his  last  sermon. 

He  was  a  man  who  inspired  confidence  largely  for  the  reason 
that  his  sincerity  was  never  doubted,  while  his  sympathetic  rela- 
tions with  his  people  endeared  him  to  all.  He  was  a  preacher  far 
above  the  average,  if  we  may  judge  his  capacity  in  this  respect  by 
the  results  of  his  ministry.  While  a  young  convert  without  the 
training  and  polish  of  the  schools,  and  relying  wholly  upon  native 
force  of  intellect  directed  by  a  sympathetic  nature,  he  gained  many 
converts,  and  his  ministry  in  each  of  his  appointments  was 
attended  by  revivals  that  wrought  great  good,  and  the  churches 
were  stronger  to  combat  irrelio;ioii  and  vice.  His  earlv  death 

o  o  ** 

was  widely  deplored. 

Joseph  Waite  Presby,  son  of  Samuel  B.  and  Rhoda  Waite 
Presby,  was  born  March  9,  1850,  on  the  farm  on  the  west 
side  of  Blueberry  Mountain,  adjoining  Lisbon,  where  his  grand- 
father was  the  first  settler.  Both  father  and  mother  were  early 
converted  to  Methodism  through  the  ministrations  of  the  circuit 
riders  referred  to  by  Daniel  Wise,  and  were  ever  after  active  in  the 
cause  of  this  church.  In  a  farmhouse  owned  by  Deacon  Allen 
Day,  near  the  slate  ledge,  on  a  June  evening  in  18(50,  the  Rev. 
Hugh  Montgomery  was  holding  a  revival  meeting.  Mr.  Presby, 
then  a  lad  of  ten  years,  was  present  with  his  parents  and  was 
converted  thus  early  in  life,  though  he  did  not  unite  with  the 


376  History  of  Littleton. 

Methodist  Church  in  Littleton  until  he  was  eighteen  years  of 
age. 

The  ambition  to  acquire  an  education  was  early  aroused,  and 
without  faltering  he  pressed  on  toward  the  goal  of  his  desires. 
He  attended  the  High  Schools  at  Lisbon  and  Littleton,  teaching 
part  of  each  year,  but  still  pursuing  his  studies  that  he  might 
keep  up  with  his  class.  He  at  first  intended  to  be  a  civil  engineer, 
but  a  sense  of  duty  induced  a  change  of  plan,  and  he  decided  to 
become  a  Methodist  preacher.  He  fitted  for  college  at  the  New 
Hampshire  Conference  Seminary  in  1874,  where  he  remained  but 
one  year  owing  to  financial  stress.  He  however  continued  the 
course  by  borrowing  books  and  abstracts  of  the  lectures  from 
classmates,  but  could  not  graduate,  as  the  presence  of  the  student 
through  the  entire  course  was  necessary  to  obtain  a  diploma. 

His  studious  habits  led  him  to  join  the  "Pioneer  Chautauqua 
Class,"  from  which  both  lie  and  his  wife  were  graduated  in  1882, 
and  in  1890  Mr.  Presby  was  graduated  from  the  Chautauqua 
School  of  Theology.  lie  afterward  took  special  studies  in  the 
post-graduate  department  of  Illinois  Wesleyan  University. 

He  began  to  preach  in  1872,  and  has  since  been  an  earnest 
laborer  in  the  vineyard,  organizing  churches  and  Sunday-schools, 
and  caring  for  important  charges  in  New  Hampshire,  New  York, 
Vermont,  Kansas,  Connecticut,  and  New  Jersey. 

He  gives  much  care  to  the  preparation  of  his  sermons,  which 
are  never  put  in  manuscript  form  except  a  mere  outline  as  a 
guide  to  the  expression  of  his  train  of  thought,  and  delivers  them 
in  a  dignified  and  impressive  manner.  Though  a  great  student, 
Mr.  Presby  is  not  neglectful  of  any  of  the  duties  of  the  parish 
committed  to  his  charge,  but  labors  unceasingly  to  fulfil  every 
ministerial  duty. 

The  Liberal  Christian  denominations  have  not  been  strong  in 
members  in  this  town.  In  the  years  extending  from  1820  to 
1840  the  Universalists  had  prosperous  congregations  at  Con- 
cord, Vt.,  and  maintained  public  worship  there,  also  at  Water- 
ford,  Yt.,  a  part  of  the  time,  and  at  Bath  in  some  of  these  years. 
We  cannot  find  that  any  effort  was  made  to  establish  a  society  in 
this  town,  nor  that  there  were  any  families  resident  here  of  that 
particular  faith  prior  to  1836,  when,  through  the  efforts  of  a 
young  man  not  then  twenty  years  of  age,  there  were  several 
conversions  to  the  doctrines  of  that  denomination. 

The  youth  who  thus  early  gave  evidence  of  his  power  was  Enoch 
Merrill  Pingree,  who  subsequently  became  famous  as  one  of  the 
great  controversialists  of  his  time.  He  was  born  on  the  old  Pin- 


Native  Ministers.  377 

gree  place,  near  Cow  Brook  at  North  Littleton,  where  his  grand- 
father had  settled  in  1788.  His  father  operated  a  saw-mill  situated 
on  the  brook  below  the  road,  kept  a  small  store,  and  was  fora  time 
postmaster,  and  gave  to  that  hamlet  the  name  of  Pingreeville.  The 
family  was  of  uncommon  intelligence,  and  on  the  paternal  side 
traced  its  lineage  back  to  men  who  had  borne  an  active  part  in 
the  French  and  Indian  wars  ;  one  ancestor,  Job,  was  a  captain 
and  a  deacon,  and  was  killed  in  King  Philip's  War.  The  grand- 
father of  Enoch  M.,  and  his  mentor  in  childhood,  was  a  Revolu- 
tionary soldier.  On  the  maternal  side  he  was  a  grandson  of 
Elder  Ozias  Savage,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Methodism  in  this 
region,  and  an  uncle  was  also  a  minister  of  that  denomination  ; 
his  mother's  sister  was  the  wife  of  E.  S.  Woolson.  Enoch  M. 
was  the  first  born  of  the  family,  and  his  brother,  Capt.  George  Ely 
Pingree,  a  gallant  soldier  in  the  war  of  1861-18G5,  was  the  last 
born  of  their  father's  family. 

Enoch  Merrill  Pingree  was  born  May  9,  1817.  lie  attended 
the  school  in  Xo.  2,  near  his  father's  house.  He  early  evinced 
his  love  of  knowledge,  read  all  the  books  and  papers  that  came 
in  his  way,  and  investigated  all  problems  in  which  he  felt  an 
interest.  When  a  lad  of  fourteen  he  accompanied  his  grand- 
father, Ebenezer  Pingree,  on  his  last  visit  to  his  old  home  in 
Methuen,  Mass.  It  was  on  this  journey  that  the  boy  became 
interested  in  theological  questions,  with  the  result  that  he  be- 
came an  advocate  of  the  creed  of  the  Universalists,  and  soon 
after  .resolved  to  acquire  an  education  with  a  view  to  becom- 
ing a  preacher  of  the  Word.  To  this  end  he  sought  and  ob- 
tained permission  to  attend  Newbury  Seminary,  beginning  with 
the  academic  year  in  1836  and  remaining  two  years  at  that 
institution.  During  winters  lie  taught  school  in  Lisbon,  and 
Bradford,  Vt.  He  was  always  in  search  of  the  truth,  and  his 
inquiring  mind  led  him  to  ask  many  questions  of  a  doctrinal 
character,  which  sometimes  disturbed  the  placid  flow  of  the  cur- 
rent of  events  at  the  Methodist  institution,  lie  completed  his 
course  and  returned  to  his  home,  where  he  assisted  on  the  farm 
during  the  busy  season  of  August,  1838.  He  had  made  arrange- 
ments to  go  South  for  the  purpose  of  teaching,  in  the  hope  that 
a  mild  climate  might  be  advantageous  to  his  health,  which  was 
not  robust. 

In  this  vacation  he  delivered  his  first  address  from  a  pulpit  at 
the  Universalist  Church  in  Bath,  Sunday  evening,  August  20, 
1837,  from  the  words  found  in  Romans  xii.  1.  The  following 
Sunday,  August  27,  by  request  of  many  friends,  he  delivered  in 


o78  History  of  Littleton. 

the  old  meeting-house  the  only  sermon  he  ever  preached  in  Little- 
ton. His  manner  was  quiet  and  subdued,  indicating  a  natural 
diffidence  ;  his  matter  argumentative  ;  he  stated  his  position  clearly 
and  supported  it  strongly.  There  was  nothing  of  the  ornate  in 
this  discourse,  nor,  so  far  as  we  know,  in  his  later  methods  as 
a  preacher.  This  was  the  only  sermon  of  his  that  his  parents 
ever  heard.  On  the  llth  of  September  following,  he  set  out  on 
his  long  journey  to  the  Southwest. 

Through  a  combination  of  what  were  then  regarded  as  disap- 
pointing incidents,  his  destination  was  changed  from  Mississippi 
to  Ohio.  He  first  visited  Akron,  then  Middlebury,  and  attended 
a  convention  of  his  denomination  at  Fredericktown,  but  failed  to 
find  employment  as  a  teacher.  He  was  induced  to  commence 
preaching  immediately,  and  filled  appointments  in  nearly  a  dozen 
towns.  At  Springfield  he  taught  school  for  six  months.  lie  was 
there  received  into  membership  in  the  Universalist  Church,  and 
delivered  one  or  more  sermons  nearly  every  Sunday.  At  Worth- 
ington,  0.,  on  the  2d  of  September,  1838,  he  received  from  the 
Central  Association  a  letter  of  fellowship  as  a  "  preacher  of  the 
Gospel  of  God  our  Saviour,"  and  thenceforth  his  life  was  devoted 
with  unfailing  ardor  to  the  work  he  thus  assumed. 

For  a  season  he  supplied  the  pulpit  of  the  First  Universalist 
Church  of  Cincinnati  during  the  absence  of  its  pastor  in  Europe. 
In  this  church,  on  the  evening  of  October  9,  1839,  when  he 
was  twentv-two  vears  of  age,  he  was  ordained  to  the  ministrv. 

V  v  O  .  */ 

He  was  first  located  at  Montgomery,  Ohio. 

In  the  summer  of  1840  he  made  a  short  visit  to  his  native  town, 
and  returning  to  Ohio  was  married  on  the  12th  of  October  to 
Mary  Ann  Halley,  of  Cincinnati,  who  died  on  the  llth  of  Decem- 
ber following.  It  appears  that,  while  supplying  the  church  at 
Cincinnati,  he  made  many  friends.  His  admirers  felt  that  there 
was  a  place  for  him  in  that  city  ;  the  First  Church  having  a 
large  congregation,  they  were  warranted  in  establishing  another. 
Accordingly  the  Second  Society  was  formed,  and  he  became  its 
first  pastor  in  1842. 

The  Western  custom  of  joint  debates  of  religious  and  political 
questions  was  then  in  full  force,  and  any  unfamiliar  doctrine  or 
policy  could  not  make  its  way  without  passing  this  ordeal.  The 
controversial  ability  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Pingree  was  established  in 
a  contest  of  this  character  during  his  first  pastorate  at  Mont- 
gomery, when  a  discussion, '  conducted  in  the  usual  form,  was 
continued  five  days.  His  opponent  was  the  Rev.  J.  I>.  Walker,  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  Near  the  close  of  his  life,  in  referring 


REV.  ENOCH    M.  I'IXGKEE. 


Native  Ministers.  379 

to  this  event,  Mr.  Pingree  wrote  that  he  regarded  his  adversary 
on  this  occasion  as  the  most  formidable  disputant  he  had  ever 
met.  Other  debates  of  this  character  were  one  in  Bethel,  Ohio,  of 
four  days,  with  the  Rev.  David  Fisher,  Methodist  ;  one  in  Rising 
Sun,  la.,  of  five  days,  with  the  Rev.  B.  U.  Watkins,  Campbellite  ; 
one  in  Warsaw,  Ky. ,  of  two  days,  with  the  Rev.  N.  Short,  Camp- 
bellite, and  another  at  the  same  place  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Waller 
as  opponent;  one  in  Madison,  la.,  of  seven  days  and  a  half,  with 
the  Rev.  John  O'Kanc,  Campbellite ;  in  all,  twenty-four  days  of 
discussion.  He  also  conducted  discussions  of  this  character  with 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Blackwell  at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  and  witli  Dr.  Rice  in 
Cincinnati,  Ohio. 

His  controversial  debates  were  not  confined  to  oral  disputa- 
tions. He  entered  the  lists  in  newspaper  discussions  on  many 
occasions,  beginning  in  the  "  Watchman,"  a  Universalist  organ 
published  in  Vermont,  and  continued  in  journals  printed  in  Ohio, 
Kentucky,  and  Tennessee.  In  these  he  displayed  the  same  gen- 
eral characteristics  manifested  on  the  platform ;  taking  the  most 
direct  course  both  in  refuting  the  arguments  of  his  opponent,  and 
in  stating  his  own.  This  directness  was  sometimes  considered  a 
fault  by  his  friends  who  thought  a  more  copious  vocabulary  and 
ornate  diction  would  have  been  more  effective.  His  judgment, 
however,  was  correct  and  approved  by  results. 

His  brief  life  was  crowded  with  the  exacting  labor  and  wellnigh 
perpetual  conflicts  in  regard  to  theological  questions,  and  through 
them  all  lie  won  a  reputation  throughout  the  country  that  was 
claimed  by  his  friends  to  be  second  to  that  of  no  other  person  and 
he  was  unquestionably  the  ablest  controversialist  of  his  denom- 
ination. His  plainness  of  speech  would  lead  to  the  conclusion 
that  he  was  not  a  pulpit  orator,  yet  a  eulogist  in  speaking  of 
him  in  this  respect  says  :  "  The  difference  between  the  pulpit  de- 
claimer  and  orator  is  this :  the  former  preaches  for  himself,  the 
latter  for  God.  One  seeks  the  applause  of  his  hearers  :  the  other 
their  salvation.  If  this  be  true,  he  was  a  great  orator." 

In  March,  1848,  he  received  an  invitation  to  the  pastorate  over 
the  Universalist  Society  of  Louisville,  Ky.,  which  he  accepted,  and 
on  the  third  Sunday  in  the  month  preached  his  first  sermon  there. 
This  church  was  neither  strong  nor  wealthy,  but  it  opened  to  him 
a  large  field  of  usefulness  which  he  could  not  refuse  to  enter. 
Here  the  lew  remaining  years  of  his  life  were  passed,  but  his 
activities  were  not  confined  to  his  charge,  it  was  to  him  a  base 
for  widely  extended  operations  through  that  State  and  in  Ohio 
and  Tennessee.  He  travelled  by  steamboat  and  on  horseback, 


380  History  of  Littleton. 

preaching  and  delivering  addresses  and  building  up  the  church  of 
which  he  was  the  most  brilliant  preacher,  as  long  as  his  health 
would  permit.  It  was  while  making  a  journey  on  horseback 
through  Ohio  that  he  was  stricken  down.  His  family  had  the 
consumptive  tendency,  which  he  had  inherited,  and  against  which 
he  contended  through  all  his  active  life.  The  end,  anticipated  for 
six  years,  finally  came  on  January  8,  1849.  His  obsequies  oc- 
curred on  the  following  day  (Sunday),  and  were  attended  by  a 
large  concourse.  The  services  were  in  charge  of  the  Masonic 
Lodge  of  the  city,  and  attended  by  the  lodges  of  Odd  Fellows  and 
Sons  of  Temperance,  of  which  organizations  he  was  a  member. 

After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  he  married  again  and  had  two 
children. 

In  personal  appearance  the  Rev.  Mr.  Pingree  was  of  medium 
height  and  slight  form.  He  never  weighed  above  one  hundred 
and  forty  pounds.  While  his  body  was  frail  from  the  wasting 
influence  of  disease,  his  mind  was  strong  and  alert.  His  coun- 
tenance was  remarkably  handsome  and  strongly  intellectual  in 
cast;  the  features  were  regular,  the  eyes  large,  full,  and  brilliant, 
especially  when  animated  in  debate  ;  his  head  was  crowned  with 
a  mass  of  dark  hair,  which  was  not  the  least  of  the  attractive 
features  of  his  personality. 

His  social  qualities  were  of  a  high  order.  He  possessed  that 
indefinable  faculty  which  impressed  one  with  the  idea  that  his 
interest  in  the  welfare  of  others  was  personal,  as  it  was  in  fact, 
and  could  be  relied  upon  in  any  emergencv.  He  never  manifested 
any  interest  in  public  matters  not  connected  with  the  profession 
to  which  he  gave  his  energy  and  strength.1 

As  a  preacher  he  took  high  rank.  He  selected  his  subject  with 
care  and  studied  it  thoroughly.  At  first  lie  was  somewhat  care- 
less in  his  manner  of  presenting  his  thought,  but  in  the  joint  de- 
bate with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Walker  he  found  that  method  of  delivery 
sometimes  made  more  impression  on  an  audience  than  did  the 
matter  of  the  discourse.  After  this  event  he  gave  attention  to 
forensic  art,  much  to  the  advantage  of  the  impression  made  on  the 
audience.  His  mind  was  analytical,  and  his  power  of  statement 
could  not  easily  be  excelled  ;  his  style,  precise  and  pointed,  was  a 
model  of  perspicuity  ;  his  language  plain,  simple  words  being  in- 
variably selected  when  they  adequately  conveyed  the  thought  : 
there  was  no  redundancy  of  speech,  no  meaningless  phrases  ;  his 
illustrations  were  drawn  from  the  Hible  and  fitted  the  argument 

1  A  life  of  Mr.  Pinirree,  with  abstracts  of  some  of  his  sermons,  written  hy  the 
Kev.  Henry  Jewell,  was  published  soon  after  his  death. 


Native  Ministers.  381 

with  exactness.  He  was  not  a  rhetorician  in  the  generally  ac- 
cepted meaning  of  the  word,  but  he  had  something  to  say  and 
said  it  in  a  direct  and  forceful  way  that  left  no  doubt  of  his 
meaning.  After  the  debate  before  alluded  to,  his  delivery  was 
energetic,  his  gestures  natural  and  graceful.  His  eloquence  was 
that  of  a  sincere  man  whose  one  aim  was  to  benefit  mankind  by 
bringing  home  to  the  people  a  realization  of  what  he  regarded  as 
the  truths  of  the  Bible.  In  this,  few  ministers  in  the  West  in  his 
day  approached  him  as  a  successful  expounder  of  the  Word. 

The  sketch  of  John  A.  Bellows,  another  minister  who  is  a  na- 
tive of  Littleton,  will  be  found  in  Volume  I.  of  this  work,  following 
that  of  his  father,  Chief  Justice  Bellows.  He  is  now  engaged  in 
educational  work,  being  principal  and  proprietor  of  an  important 
private  school  on  Beacon  Street  in  Boston. 

Asa  whole,  the  men  who  have  gone  out  from  our  town  to  labor 
in  the  Master's  vineyard  have  proved  by  their  character  and  works 
that  they  were  worthy  of  their  high  and  holy  mission.  They 
have  been  devoted,  self-sacrificing  servants  of  the  church,  and 
"  their  labors  do  praise  them." 


382  History  of  Littleton. 


XLI. 

MEN   AND   WOMEN    OF   PROMINENCE   ABROAD. 

IT  has  been  the  fortune  of  many  of  the  sons  and  daughters  of 
Littleton  to  leave  the  old  hearthstone  and  win  success  and  a 
name  in  other  fields.  The  story  of  the  career  of  some  of  this 
class  has  been  told  in  the  annals.  There  are  others  whose  con- 
nection with  the  place  of  their  nativity  has  been  slight  but 
whose  achievements  are  a  part  of  the  history  of  the  town. 

Among  those  who  passed  their  years  abroad  but  never  forgot 
their  birthplace  was  Moses  Arnold  Dow,  a  son  of  Joseph  E.  Dow, 
the  first  attorney  to  engage  in  the  practice  of  the  law  in  the 
town.  The  son  was  born  on  the  farm  known  to  the  present 
generation  as  the  Fuller  place  at  the  North  End.  A  few  years 
after  his  birth  the  family  moved  to  Franconia,  where  the  lad 
attended  the  village  school.  When  still  a  youth  in  his  early  teens, 
he  entered  the  office  of  the  "  Democratic  Republican  "  at  Haverhill 
to  learn  the  printer's  trade  and  before  attaining  his  majority  was 
employed  at  his  trade  in  Boston,  Mass.  He  was  an  excellent  com- 
positor, industrious,  and  free  from  the  vices  so  common  at  the  time. 
In  a  few  years  he  saved  from  his  wages  a  sum  sufficient  to  enable 
him  to  set  up  a  printing  establishment  of  his  own.  At  the  time 
the  Millerite  excitement  was  running  its  course  in  1841  and  1842 
he  did  the  printing  for  Miller  and  his  associates,  and  when  their 
prophecies  failed  to  come  true  and  the  bubble  burst,  Mr.  Dow  found 
himself  in  possession  of  a  considerable  sum  and  regarded  him- 
self as  firmly  established  in  a  business  career. 

He  was  always  something  of  a  visionary.  One  of  his  dreams 
that  was  destined  to  take  a  material  form  was  the  publication  of 
a  paper  for  popular  reading.  This  enterprise  attained  some  suc- 
cess, but  want  of  financial  aid  at  a  critical  period  caused  it  to  pass 
into  the  possession  of  the  mortgagees.  Then  came  a  period  of 
distress  when  the  necessaries  of  life  were  sometimes  wanting,  but 
the  idea  of  founding  a  paper  on  the  lines  of  his  previous  venture 
was  always  with  him.  The  late  George  II.  Munroe,  who  made 


Musics    A.  Du\v. 


Men  and   Women  of  Prominence  Abroad.  388 

the  acquaintance  of  Mr.  Dow  at  tins  time,  relates  that  he  met 
him  one  day  in  the  street  when  he  broached  his  scheme  of  start- 
ing the  "  Waverley  Magazine  "  and  asked  Mr.  Munroe's  advice.  "•  1 
told  him,"  said  Mr.  Munroe,  "  it  was  as  wild  a  project  as  was  ever 
conceived  :  that  there  was  no  possibility  of  success  in  it.  He  said 
that  was  almost  the  universal  opinion  among  those  with  whom  he 
had  advised  and  that  no  one  had  confidence  enough  in  it  to  lend 
him  the  small  sum  of  money  with  which  he  felt  it  necessary  to 
start."  No  discouragements,  however,  were  sufficient  to  banish 
the  scheme  from  his  mind,  and  he  finally  succeeded  in  procuring 
on  credit  the  type  and  material  and  in  securing  from  a  friend 
a  loan  of  $50  which  furnished  the  capital  for  issuing  the  first 
number.  Mr.  Dow  was  a  man  of  taste,  and  the  new  journal  was  in 
all  mechanical  respects  a  good-looking  paper.  He  was  his  own 
editor.,  publisher,  and  printer.  His  methods  were  simple :  he 
printed  everything  sent  in ;  prose  and  poetry,  stories  of  love  and 
adventure,  and  uncommon  incidents  in  the  lives  of  unknown  people 
filled  the  handsome  pages  of  the  "  Waverley  Magazine."  These 
came  from  all  sorts  and  conditions  of  men  and  women  who  wrote 
not  for  profit  but  because  they  were  anxious  to  try  their  unfledged 
wings  and  see  their  effusions  in  print.  Very  few  possessed  liter- 
ary merit,  but  it  soon  became  apparent  that  there  was  room  for 
the  new  venture  and  that  a  large  and  eager  audience  awaited  its 
coming.  To  a  friend  he  once  said  in  explanation  of  the  theory 
that  governed  his  action,  "  I  just  print  the  pieces  they  send  me. 
They  like  to  see  them  in  print,  and  their  friends  are  interested  in 
their  appearance.  So  they  take  the  paper,  and  their  friends  take 
it  too.  1  give  them  a  good-looking  paper,  which  people  think  more 
of  than  is  generally  supposed."  So  the  gifts  of  "copy  "  helped  to 
build  up  the  circulation,  and  the  "  Waverley  "  soon  became  a  busi- 
ness success  of  large  proportions.  A  few  years  before  the  war 
it  netted  Mr.  Dow  $60,000  a  year.  To  the  same  friend  1  he  de- 
scribed his  business  as  the  smoothest  and  most  satisfactory  possible. 
u  I  have  no  subscribers  and  no  exchanges,"  he  said.  "  I  would  not 
exchange  with  the  best  newspaper  in  the  land,  for  it  would  be  of  no 
use  to  me.  1  do  not  copy  from  other  papers,  —  my  matter  is  all 
original.  As  regards  subscribers,  I  think  my  system  is  better. 
The  news  company  takes  my  entire  edition  each  week.  It  gives 
me  a  check  for  it,  which  I  at  once  cash,  and  thus  my  accounts 
are  settled  every  seven  days,  and  1  know  just  where  I  am."  Dur- 
ing the  war  the  paper  had  a  large  circulation  in  the  army.  It 
was  read  in  camp  and  on  the  march  ;  had  the  favorite  place  in 

1  George  II.  Munroe. 


384  History  of  Littleton. 

many  a  soldier's  knapsack,  and  enabled  him  to  while  away  what 
would  otherwise  have  been  many  a  tedious  hour. 

Moses  A.  Dow  was  by  no  means  a  great  man.  He  had,  how- 
ever, the  perceptive  qualities  of  mind  that  are  of  kin  to  genius, 
which  enabled  him  to  recognize  existing  conditions,  and  the  busi- 
ness talent  to  turn  them  to  his  financial  advantage.  In  investing 
the  large  sums  that  came  to  him  through  his  enterprise,  he  was 
often  guided  more  by  sentiment  than  by  sound  business  prin- 
ciples. This  sentiment  was  apt  to  cluster  about  localities  en- 
deared to  him  by  scenes  and  events  connected  with  the  early 
struggles  of  his  youth.  He  never  forgot  Littleton,  the  place  of 
his  birth,  nor  Franconia,  where  he  passed  his  boyhood  years,  nor 
Charlestown,  Mass.,  where  he  lived  while  making  efforts  to  estab- 
lish himself  in  business.  When  prosperity  poured  her  bounties 
upon  him,  he  invested  large  sums  in  real  estate  and  improvements 
in  Charlestown,  where  he  had  little  expectation  that  he  would 
receive  an  adequate  return  on  the  investment.  He  could  afford 
to  lose  the  investment,  and  preferred  to  take  the  chance  rather 
than  not  to  expend  something  to  benefit  that  city.  There  was 
nothing  sordid  or  selfish  in  his  nature.  He  appears  to  have  in- 
herited the  family  characteristics  of  a  strong  desire  to  be  useful 
to  others  and  a  hopeful  serenity  under  the  burdens  of  adversity 
that  enabled  him  to  maintain  his  efforts  for  the  accomplishment 
of  the  projects  to  which  at  different  times  he  devoted  his  energies. 

For  the  greater  part  of  his  life  he  was  connected  with  the 
Universalist  denomination,  but  in  his  last  years  was  a  believer  in 
Spiritualism,  and  more  than  a  generous  contributor  to  various 
funds  raised  for  the  propagation  of  the  cult  of  that  sect.  In  gen- 
eral affairs  he  was  esteemed  among  the  most  public-spirited  resi- 
dents of  his  city,  and  gave  liberally  for  every  purpose  likely  to 
benefit  the  community. 

He  passed  several  summers  in  this  town  a  few  years  before  his 
death,  and  upon  his  return  to  his  home  at  the  close  of  his  vacation 
in  1875  he  wrote  to  Henry  L.  Thayer,  expressing  a  desire  to  present 
to  the  town  a  clock  for  the  High  School  building.  His  proposi- 
tion was  accepted,  and  the  fine  clock  that  has  since  adorned  the 
bell  tower  of  that  building  is  an  appropriate  memorial  of  a  worthy 
son  of  the  town.  Mr.  Dow  founded  at  Franconia  the  academy 
which  bears  his  name,  and  gave  it  a  considerable  endowment. 

Jt  has  been  said  of  Mr.  Dow  that  he  was  a  man  of  "hobbies." 
It  is  likely  that  the  charge  was  true.  Every  man  of  singleness  of 
purpose  who  aims  to  reach  an  ideal  is  equally  open  to  this  appella- 
tion. In  his  case  the  ideal  was  not  of  the  highest,  but  the  uses  to 


DANIEL   J.  STRAIN. 


Men  and   Women  of  Prominence  Abroad.  385 

which  he  applied  much  of  the  wealth  its  attainment  brought  to 
him  in  a  large  measure  redeemed  it  from  the  level  of  the  com- 
monplace. As  a  business  man,  as  a  citizen,  and  as  a  philanthro- 
pist, his  conduct  was  that  of  one  guided  by  the  highest  sense  of 
honor  and  duty. 

A  son  of  Littleton  whose  life  of  nearly  threescore  and  ten  years 
was  both  honorable  and  useful  was  Edwin  Azro  Charlton.  He 
was  a  grandson  of  the  pioneer  Robert  Charlton,  and  possessed 
many  of  the  intellectual  traits  of  that  sturdy  citizen.  While  yet 
a  lad  his  parents  moved  to  Troy,  Vt.,  a  town  on  the  Canadian  line 
not  far  advanced  in  its  settlement,  where  the  youth  was  sur- 
rounded by  many  of  the  inconveniences  of  pioneer  life.  Of  these 
hardships  that  of  inadequate  educational  privileges  was  most  felt 
by  the  family.  The  father,  Walter  Charlton,  and  the  mother, 
Mindwell  (Moulton)  Charlton,  had  been  noted  teachers  in  their 
younger  days,  and  they  supplemented  the  slight  advantages  of 
the  common  schools  by  instructing  their  children  at  home.  There 
came  a  time  when  the  aspiring  young  man  required  other  and 
more  advanced  instruction  to  enable  him  to  pursue  the  educa- 
tional course  he  had  planned  for  himself.  That  this  purpose  as 
well  as  that  of  their  other  children  might  be  served,  the  family 
moved  to  Hanover,  and  subsequently  to  Claremont.  It  is  a  some- 
what trite  expression  to  speak  of  the  farmer's  son  who  has  acquired 
a  liberal  education  as  having  obtained  it  under  difficulties.  As  a 
rule  he  made  his  way  by  his  own  unaided  efforts,  working  during 
the  summer  vacation,  teaching  in  the  winter  and  pursuing  his 
studies  every  spare  hour  that  furnished  an  opportunity.  Such  was 
the  routine  followed  by  Mr.  Charlton.  While  residing  in  Jay, 
Vt.,  he  had  attended  the  academy  at  Lower  Waterford,  then  taught 
by  Harry  Bingham.1  He  pursued  a  course  in  the  preparatory 
school  at  Hanover,  and  for  a  single  term  at  Claremont  Seminary. 
He  graduated  from  Dartmouth  College  with  the  class  of  1854, 
standing  well  in  the  class  for  scholarship,  his  record  giving  him  a 
place  in  the  first  third,  and  entitling  him  to  membership  in  the 
Phi  Beta  Kappa  Society. 

After  his  graduation  he  returned  to  Claremont  and  executed  a 
purpose  formed  while  in  college,  of  writing  a  book  descriptive  of 
his  native  State.  The  work  was  entitled  u  New  Hampshire  As  It 
Is,"  and  had  a  successful  sale.  Though  never  passing  beyond  its 
first  edition,  it  is  still  in  demand. 

1  At  a  quite  recent  date  Mr.  Cliarlton  expressed  the  lasting  obligation  that  he 
was  under  for  the  superior  instruction  which  Harry  Bingham  gave  in  the  Waterford 
school. 

VOL.  ii.  —  25 


386  History  of  Littleton. 

Mr.  Charlton  then  turned  his  attention  to  teaching,  and  was 
successively  principal  of  the  old  Academy  at  Gilmanton  and  of  the 
Union  School  at  Lockport,  N.  Y.,  where  he  remained  until  1861. 
He  then  went  to  Schenectady,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  preceptor  of  the 
Union  School  one  year.  In  1862  he  returned  to  Gilmanton,  and 
resumed  his  former  position  in  the  Academy  for  a  year,  —  a  position 
he  resigned  to  assume  the  duties  of  superintendent  of  schools  at 
Schenectady,  where  he  remained  five  years.  For  the  next  two 
years  he  was  superintendent  of  schools  and  principal  of  the  High 
School  at  Auburn,  N.  Y.  His  health  requiring  a  change  of  scene, 
in  the  fall  of  1870  he  became  president  of  the  first  State  Normal 
school  of  Wisconsin,  at  Platteville,  where  he  remained  eight  years 
and  where  he  closed  a  most  successful  career  as  a  teacher,  extend- 
ing over  a  period  of  thirty  years. 

He  then  purchased  the  "  JBrodhead  Independent,"  a  weekly  paper 
published  at  Brodhead,  Wis.,  which  he  continued  to  edit  until  his 
death  in  1896.  As  a  writer  he  was  fluent  but  accurate,  graceful 
yet  forceful,  with  a  tendency  to  be  persuasive.  He  employed  the 
weapons  of  truth  and  the  logic  of  facts  rather  than  those  of  sar- 
casm and  assumptions  that  would  not  stand  the  scrutiny  of  close 
investigation.  His  career,  if  not  brilliant,  was  eminently  useful, 
and  left  an  abiding  impress  upon  thousands  who  honor  bis  memory. 

Daniel  Josiah  Strain,  a  Boston  artist,  distinguished  as  a  por- 
trait painter,  is  a  native  of  this  town,  a  son  of  Daniel  and  Sally 
(Goddard)  Strain.  His  father  and  an  uncle,  Edward,  who  was 
the  father  of  Capt.  Cornelius  Strain,  came  from  Ireland  about 
1835,  and  settled  first  in  Bethlehem.  Both  brothers  subsequently 
became  residents  of  this  town.  Daniel  J.  worked  for  a  time  in 
the  woollen  factory,  but  his  artistic  tendencies  were  so  strong  that 
they  controlled  his  choice  of  a  career,  and  developed  in  the  ulti- 
mate realization  of  his  desire  to  become  an  artist.  After  a  course 
of  study  he  opened  a  studio  in  Portland,  Me.,  in  1868,  producing 
portraits  in  crayon  of  many  prominent  people  in  that  and  other 
cities  of  the  State. 

In  1872  he  established  a  studio  in  Boston.  Mass.,  and  soon 
became  noted  for  his  ideal  heads  of  children,  which  in  photo- 
graphic reproductions  became  widely  popular. 

In  1877  he  decided  to  go  abroad  and  perfect  himself  in  all 
branches  of  art.  He  studied  in  Paris,  under  J.  Lefebvre  and  G. 
Boulanger,  from  1877  to  1884,  spending  his  summers  sketching 
in  Holland,  Belgium,  and  Spain,  and  exhibited  pictures  in  the 
Salons  of  1881,  1882,  and  1883.  His  first  Salon  picture,  "  Les 
deux  Amis,"  he  etched  and  published.  Upon  his  return  to  this 


SAM;  KI.    11.   I'.U;K. 


Men  and   Women  of  Prominence  Abroad.  387 

country  lie  reopened  his  studio  in  Boston,  and  has  since  done 
much  notable  work  in  portraits  and  genre  subjects. 

Among  his  best-known  portraits  are  those  of  Gen.  N.  P.  Banks, 
which  now  hangs  in  the  City  Hall  at  Waltham ;  Gov.  John  B. 
Smith,  ex-Senator  E.  H.  Rollins,  and  Capt.  George  H.  Perkins, 
U.  S.  N.,  all  of  which  are  in  the  collection  in  the  State  Capitol 
at  Concord ;  John  G.  Whittier,  now  in  Danvers,  Mass.,  and  that 
of  Harry  Bingham,  a  gift  of  the  artist  to  the  Littleton  Public 
Library.  Mr.  Strain  is  a  member  of  the  Boston  Art  Club,  is 
prominently  connected  with  the  Masonic  order,  having  been  Wor- 
shipful Master  of  Winslow  Lewis  Lodge,  of  Boston,  in  1893  and 
1894,  and  is  a  member  of  the  First  Worshipful  Masters'  Associa- 
tion of  Boston  and  a  District  Deputy  Grand  Master  of  the  Boston 
District. 

A  native  of  Littleton  who  has  not  strayed  far  from  the  place  of 
his  birth  is  Samuel  Berkley  Page,  of  Haverhill,  lawyer,  politician, 
parliamentarian,  a  leader  in  many  fraternal  organizations  and  an 
orator  with  few  equals  in  the  State.  He  has  for  forty  years  been 
an  active  leader  in  political  affairs,  and  has  represented  Warren, 
Concord,  and  Haverhill  in  the  popular  branch  of  the  Legislature, 
where  more  than  once  he  was  the  candidate  of  his  party  for 
speaker  of  that  body.  A  generation  ago,  party  lines  were  taut, 
and  every  inch  of  ground  was  contested.  In  the  Legislature  the 
political  measures  of  the  majority  were  opposed  with  as  much 
vigor  and  determination,  when  defeat  was  inevitable,  as  they  could 
have  been  had  hope  of  success  animated  and  urged  on  the  forces 
of  the  minority.  Then  Samuel  B.  Page,  with  his  knowledge  of 
parliamentary  law,  his  unsurpassed  resources  and  endurance  as  a 
speaker,  was  the  prince  of  obstructionists,  and  was  at  his  best  as 
a  legislative  power.  In  non-political  questions,  though  a  member 
of  the  minority,  he  was  the  actual  leader  of  the  House. 

Mr.  Page  has  been  retained  in  several  important  criminal  cases, 
notably  that  of  Lapage  tried  in  Concord,  in  which  he  appeared 
for  the  defence.  He  was  formerly  local  counsel  for  the  Boston 
and  Maine  Railroad  at  Woodsville.  In  recent  years  he  has  held 
positions  in  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Odd-Fellows  and  in  that  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  which  have  made  heavy  demands  upon  his 
time,  and  he  has  to  that  extent  withdrawn  from  the  practice  of 
his  profession. 

It  is,  however,  as  a  public  speaker  that  Mr.  Page  is  best  known. 
He  is  a  born  orator.  His  vocabulary  is  without  limit  in  the  Eng- 
lish language  ;  his  diction  is  smooth,  elegant,  and  notably  appropri- 
ate to  the  thought  it  is  designed  to  express.  His  knowledge  of 


388  History  of  Littleton. 

recent  history  and  current  events  is  ample  and  accurate,  his  voice 
full  and  resonant,  and  his  delivery  always  rapid  and  energetic, 
and  not  infrequently  his  speeches  are  surcharged  with  well-pointed 
irony  and  well-directed  invective.  He  never  prepares  formal 
written  manuscript,  and  doubtless  there  is  no  contemporary  public 
speaker  in  the  State  who  has  addressed  one-tenth  as  many  audi- 
ences as  Mr.  Page  who  has  not  left  more  of  the  forensic  product 
in  accessible  form  in  writing  or  in  print. 

Fred  Oliver  Nourse,  recently  general  traffic  chief  of  the  West- 
ern Union  Telegraph  Company,  New  York,  was  born  at  Littleton 
October  3,  1859.  He  entered  the  telegraph  business  as  an  op- 
erator for  the  Boston,  Concord,  and  Montreal  Railroad  at  Wing 
Road  in  1876.  After  working  in  several  smaller  offices  he  went 
to  Boston,  Mass.,  for  the  Western  Union  in  1879.  About  two 
years  later  he  was  made  night  traffic  chief,  and  in  1881  manager 
of  the  Cape  Cod  Cable  office,  which  place  he  held  until  1882,  when 
the  French  Cable  Company  was  forced  to  withdraw  from  the  cable 
pool.  Mr.  Nourse  then  returned  to  Boston  and  was  made  assist- 
ant to  the  night  manager.  When  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Tele- 
graph Company  opened  their  office  in  Boston,  Mr.  Nourse  resigned 
his  position  with  the  Western  Union  and  entered  that  company's 
services  as  chief  operator.  In  1885  he  went  to  New  York,  and  in 
a  little  over  a  year's  time  he  was  detailed  to  the  cable  bureau  at 
195  Broadway,  from  which  place  he  was  promoted  to  the  quad- 
ruplex  department  in  1887.  From  there  he  was  transferred  to 
the  Eastern  division  as  traffic  chief.  When  the  main  office 
was  burned  in  1890,  he  was  made  general  traffic  chief,  which 
position  he  retained  until  1901.  lie  is  now  in  Florida,  where 
he  holds  an  important  position. 

A  son  of  the  town  who  is  little  known  to  its  residents,  but 
whose  achievements  are  of  a  high  order,  is  Frank  Hibbard  Mason, 
of  Akron,  Ohio.  He  is  a  great-grandson  of  the  Rev.  David  Good- 
all,  and  through  him  his  connection  with  the  town  is  doubly  strong. 
He  was  born  on  the  farm  bordering  Partridge  Lake  and  Lyman 
line,  December  29,  1850.  In  1852  his  parents  moved  to  Island 
Pond,  A"t.,  and  from  that  place  to  St.  Johnsbury  in  1860,  where 
for  years  the  father,  Jonathan  Mason,  was  an  engineer  in  the  Fair- 
banks Scale  Works.  In  1872  the  family  went  to  the  Pennsylvania 
Oil  region.  When  Frank  H.  Mason  reached  his  majority,  he 
crossed  the  continent  to  California,  where  he  found  employment 
as  an  engineer  in  a  quart/  mill.  An  experience  of  two  years  of 
life  in  the  Golden  State  satisfied  his  love  of  adventure,  and  he  re- 
turned to  Pennsvlvania.  There  he  eno;ao;ed  in  the  work  of  devel- 


FKKD    ().   NOL  RSI:. 


Men  and   Women  of  Prominence  Abroad.  389 

oping  oil  wells,  in  which  he  met  the  usual  fortunes  of  success  and 
failure. 

Wishing  to  engage  in  a  business  in  which  the  element  of  doubt 
was  not  so  pronounced  as  in  that  of  prospecting,  he  sought  em- 
ployment at  the  rubber  works  in  Akron,  Ohio.  When  his  appli- 
cation was  made  for  employment,  he  was  asked  what  he  could  do, 
and  his  reply  was  "anything,"  and  he  was  set  to  sorting  rubber 
junk.  This  was  literally  beginning  at  the  foot  of  the  ladder,  but 
he  worked  with  a  will  that  attracted  the  attention  of  an  overseer, 
and  he  was  rapidly  promoted,  passing  in  a  brief  period  through 
the  several  grades  of  assistant  foreman,  foreman,  assistant  super- 
intendent, and  superintendent,  until  he  reached  the  topmost  posi- 
tion in  the  manufacturing  department,  that  of  general  manager. 

When  Mr.  Mason  was  given  employment,  the  B.  F.  Goodrich 
Company  was  a  small  concern  employing  but  seventy-five  or  eighty 
persons.  Its  growth  has  been  remarkable  even  for  this  age  of 
expansion,  its  employees  now  numbering  more  than  twenty-five 
hundred  and  the  capital  of  the  corporation  is  $3,000,000.  It 
manufactures  all  kinds  of  mechanical  rubber  goods  —  everything, 
in  fact,  in  the  rubber  line  except  boots  and  shoes  —  and  is  the  most 
extensive  producing  company  in  its  line  in  the  United  States  and 
probably  in  the  world. 

In  the  development  of  this  company  Mr.  Mason  has  been  one 
of  the  chief  instruments,  and  his  rise  from  the  position  of  a 
stationary  engineer  to  that  of  a  captain  of  industry  indicates  that 
fidelity,  courage,  industry,  and  ability  are  still  the  most  valuable 
assets  in  the  industrial  market,  and  that  opportunities  for  advance- 
ment have  not  yet  been  exhausted. 

Mr.  Mason  married  May  Dexter,  of  Eangor,  Me.  They  have 
two  children. 

He  has  within  a  recent  period  renewed  his  acquaintance  with 
his  native  town,  and  is  now  each  year  a  summer  tourist  among 
the  hills  and  about  the  lakes  which  he  first  knew  in  his  boyhood 
days. 

There  is  an  element  of  heroism  in  all  genuine  New  England 
life.1  Every  child  born  there  comes  into  the  world  with  an  idea 
that  God  has  something  for  him  or  her  to  do.  If  it  is  not  an  in- 
nate idea,  parents  or  teachers  or  ministers  succeed  in  awakening 
it.  The  heroism  may  be  expended  in  the  reduction  to  lines  of 
beauty  and  meadows  of  productiveness  of  a  rocky  or  swampy 
farm,  or  in  the  care  of  infirm  parents  or  orphan  children,  or  it 

1  This  sketch  of  Miss  Rankin  was  written  by  her  COUMM  the  Kev.  J.  K. 
Rankin,  D.D.,  LL.D. 


390  History  of  Littleton. 

may  be  the  silent  heroism  of  converting  a  gnarly  nature  into  one 
submissive  to  the  law  of  love  as  it  is  in  Christ  Jesus. 

Melinda  Rankin,  the  first  Protestant  missionary  to  Mexico, 
was  born  in  Littleton  March  21,  1811.  Her  father  was  Gen. 
David  Rankin,  \vho  owned  mills  there  still  called  by  his  name, 
and  her  grandfather,  James  Rankin,  the  first  of  the  name  in  New 
England,  who  came  to  this  country  from  Glasgow  with  one 
daughter  and  seven  sons,  and  settled  first  in  Thornton  and  then  in 
Littleton,  the  year  the  British  blockaded  Boston  harbor,  the  vessel 
in  which  they  came  landing  at  Salem.  The  records  of  the  town 
of  Littleton  show  how  large  and  important  a  place  the  family 
filled  in  its  first  settlement  and  civilization  in  both  civil  and 
religious  spheres. 

About   1840,    Gen.    David    Rankin    having   lost  his   property, 
Melinda  and  her  two  sisters  determined   to  go  West  and  earn 
money  by  school  teaching  to  rebuild  his  family  fortunes.     This 
they   successfully  accomplished,  purchasing  a  farm  and  making 
his  last  days  full  of  the  rest  and  peace  so  befitting  to  old  age. 
The  other  sisters  were  in  due  time  favorably  and  happily  married, 
while  Melinda  continued  the  work  of  teaching.     When  the  Mexi- 
can war  closed,  she  was  in  Mississippi.     Such  accounts  of  the  be- 
nighted condition  of  Mexico  came  to  her  through  returning  officers 
and  soldiers  that  she  thought  it  her  duty,  single-handed  and  alone, 
to   go   to  that    country    as    a    missionary.     She    was    not    a    de- 
monstrative   woman,  but    a   woman   of  great  determination  and 
force  of  character.     In  her  early  girlhood  she  used  to  say  to  the 
wife  of  her  cousin  Rev.  Andrew  Rankin  —  my  own  honored  and 
sainted    mother  —  that  she  wished  she  had  been   a  man,  so  she 
could  preach  the  gospel  as  he   did.     And  now  it  seemed  to  her 
prayerful  and  teachable  spirit  that  perhaps  God  would  open  the 
way.     She  first  made  several  unsuccessful  appeals  to  missionary 
societies  to  see  if    they  would   not  send  her  ;  then,  without  any 
detailed  plan,  she  determined  to  go  herself. 

Taking  a  steamer  at  Vicksburg,  she  went  down  the  Mississippi, 
as  little  knowing  where  she  went  as  did  Abraham  of  old  ;  only, 
that  God's  voice  was  calling  her  to  Mexico.  This  was  in  May, 
1847.  On  the  steamer  was  a  gentleman  seeking  a  lady  teacher 
for  the  Female  Academy  at  Huntsville.  Tex.  As  she  knew  the 
unsettled  condition  of  Mexico  would  preclude  any  immediate  en- 
trance on  that  field,  she  accepted  his  position  and  remained  there 
until  1852.  Then  she  felt  she  must  fulfil  her  earlier  vow.  She 
had  determined  on  Brownsville,  a  town  sixty  miles  up  the  Rio 
Grande  and  directly  opposite  Matamoras,  Mexico,  as  her  first 


REV.  JEREMIAH    KAMI-IS    KAXKIX.  D.I)..   I.L.I). 


Men  and   Women  of  Prominence  Abroad.  391 

strategic  point.  There  she  began  a  school  for  Mexican  girls, 
which  immediately  prospered,  employing  it.  also,  as  a  means  of 
circulating  the  Bible  in  Mexico.  Just  at  that  juncture  several 
priests  and  nuns  from  France  appeared  at  Brownsville  for  the  pur- 
pose of  erecting  a  convent.  Miss  Rankin  determined  to  visit  the 
East  and  secure  funds  to  build  a  building  for  her  own  uses.  She 
felt  that  a  Protestant  seminary  must  be  erected  at  that  point.  At 
New  Orleans  she  was  admonished  that  the  undertaking  was  not 
becoming  for  a  lady.  This  was  in  a  business  house.  Another 
gentleman  in  the  same  city,  however,  told  her  it  was  a  woman's 
proper  calling;  nothing  more  so.  From  New  Orleans  she  went  to 
Louisville,  Ky.,  and  from  there  to  Philadelphia,  where  she  obtained 
•1500,  and  then  went  to  Boston  to  secure  a  similar  amount.  This 
success  made  her  confident  the  seminary  would  be  built;  and  so 
she  continued  till  the  needed  amount  was  raised. 

Fourteen  months  later,  when  Miss  Rankin  returned  to  Browns- 
ville, the  convent  had  been  erected,  and  many  of  her  former 
scholars  were  in  it.  Nothing  daunted,  she  contracted  for  her  new 
seminary,  and  opened  school  in  some  hired  rooms,  where,  at  the 
end  of  the  second  month,  all  her  old  pupils  were  back,  and  several 
new  ones  also.  She  taught  English,  which  the  Mexican  parents 
wanted  their  children  to  learn.  In  the  "  Foreign  Christian  Union  " 
of  1855  Miss  Rankin  made  an  appeal  for  a  colporteur.  As  no 
suitable  person  could  be  found,  she  put  an  assistant  into  her 
school,  and  began  herself  the  work  of  colporteur  and  Bible 
reader,  as  the  representative  of  that  Union.  Then  commenced 
bitter  persecution  ;  but  the  sudden  death  of  the  Father  Superior, 
who  had  been  the  chief  instigator,  in  a  gale  on  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico  put  an  end  to  it. 

In  1857  came  a  revolution  for  religious  freedom  in  Mexico, 
under  Juarez,  which  succeeded.  At  that  time  there  was  a  great 
demand  for  all  Protestant  books,  which  Miss  Rankin  was  only  too 
eager  to  supply.  In  1859,  during  the  prevalence  of  the  yellow 
'  fever,  Miss  Rankin  was  attacked  by  the  disease  and  kindly  nursed 
by  a  Mexican  woman,  at  the  urgent  request  of  her  grandchildren, 
two  of  her  pupils.  Then  the  notorious  Cortinas,  with  sixty 
Mexicans,  made  a  raid  on  Brownsville,  proclaiming  death  to  all 
Americans.  In  1860,  at  Miss  Rankings  request,  tke  American 
Bible  Society  appointed  an  agent  for  Mexico.  In  1861  the  first 
two  converts  from  Romanism  at  Brownsville  were  received  into  a 
Protestant  church.  In  September,  1862,  Miss  Rankin  was  com- 
manded by  a  Presbyterian  minister  to  give  up  the  keys  of  her 
seminary  to  him,  because  she  "  was  not  in  sympathy  with  the 


392  History  of  Littleton. 

Southern  Confederacy,  and  was  in  communication  with  a  country 
called  the  United  States."  Until  she  saw  he  intended  to  eject 
her  by  force,  Miss  Rankin  remained,  and  then  repaired  across  the 
river  to  Matamoras.  She  remained  in  that  city  teaching  till  1863, 
when,  owing  to  the  disturbed  state  of  civil  affairs,  she  determined 
to  get  within  the  Federal  lines,  which  she  did  at  New  Orleans. 
There  she  remained  for  the  time,  doing  work  in  the  hospitals, 
soliciting  donations  of  delicacies  from  the  citizens.  This  was 
before  the  work  of  the  Christian  Commission.  These  gifts  Miss, 
Rankin  and  her  two  nieces  personally  distributed.  They  found 
among  the  wounded  one  soldier  from  Littleton,  her  native  town,— 
a  great  joy  and  surprise  to  them  all. 

In  the  autumn  of  1863  Miss  Rnnkin  acted  as  superintendent  of 
a  colored  Sunday-school  in  connection  with  a  Presbyterian  church 
of  New  Orleans  ;  and  in  November,  when  the  troops  of  General 
Banks  had  taken  Brownsville,  she  returned  to  her  seminary,  which 
was  injured  by  explosions,  the  Confederates  trying  to  burn  up  the 
town  before  evacuating.  She  expended  $ 200  in  repairs,  and  opened 
her  school  with  sixty  pupils.  In  1865  Miss  Rankin  determined  to 
make  Monterey  the  headquarters  of  Protestant  work  for  Mexico, 
and  visifed  the  United  States  to  solicit  funds.  On  her  journey 
the  stage  company,  of  which  she  was  one,  was  attacked  by  a 
band  of  robbers  under  Cortinas,  who  soon  came  personally  and 
released  them.  At  New  York  the  American  and  Foreign  Chris- 
tian Union  approved  of  Miss  Rankin's  plans  to  erect  a  church  and 
school  building  at  Monterey,  though  they  depended  upon  her  to 
raise  the  money.  This  she  did,  securing  $500  from  T.  N.  Dale, 
Esq.,  of  New  York,  $10,000  from  E.  D.  Goodrich,  Esq.,  whose 
heart  and  whose  home  were  always  afterward  at  Miss  Rankin's 
command.  Soon  afterward  the  city  of  Mexico  was  occupied  by 
an  agent  of  the  American  and  Foreign  Christian  Union. 

In  1873  Miss  Rankin  closed  her  eventful  missionary  career  in 
Mexico,  turning  over  her  mission  to  the  American  Board  and  re- 
turning at  the  age  of  sixty-one  to  Bloomington,  111.  There  she 
lived,  making  occasional  missionary  addresses  and  honored  by  all 
who  knew  her,  until  her  death,  which  occurred  December  8,  1888. 
The  writer  well  remembers  her  tall  figure,  strong-featured  face, 
modest  but  composed  and  resolute  demeanor,  and  that  she  was 
always  welcome  at  his  father's  house  and  at  his  own,  especially  to 
the  children.  Probably  the  last  letter  she  wrote  was  to  Mrs. 
Goodrich,  whose  husband's  gift  of  $10,000  made  the  success  of 
her  Monterey  enterprise  possible  and  who  had  lately  been  called  to 
rest.  In  it  she  expresses  her  great  gratitude  to  Mr.  Goodrich  and 


Men  and  Women  of  Prominence  Abroad.  393 

honor  for  his  memory,  as  well  as  her  own  readiness  for  the  de- 
parture to  a  better  country,  so  soon  before  her.  This  was 
November  4.  She  wrote  this  letter  from  a  bed  of  sickness,  and  a 
few  weeks  later  she  fell  asleep.  For  twenty  years  this  single- 
handed  woman  was  the  most  prominent  Protestant  power  in  all 
Mexico.  She  made  the  beginnings  there  which  are  never  to  be 
overturned  till  He  shall  come  whose  goings  are  of  old. 

In  a  house  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  in  the  rear  of  the  block 
now  occupied  by  Harry  Howe  and  others,  was  born  Elizabeth 
Maria  Bonney,  October  12,  1815.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Peter 
Bonney  and  Eleanor  Savage.  From  her  earliest  youth  she  gave 
promise  of  future  intellectual  power.  She  began  her  education 
in  the  old  school-house  in  District  No.  8,  and  later  attended 
the  academy  at  Concord,  Vt.  After  teaching  in  Littleton  for 
several  terms,  she  accompanied  her  brother  Benjamin  W.  to 
New  York,  and  there  attended  a  private  school.  She  graduated 
from  this  institution  of  learning,  went  to  Galveston,  Tex.,  to 
engage  in  teaching,  at  the  end  of  a  year  accepted  a  position  in 
New  Orleans,  La.,  and  was  very  successful  in  her  profession. 
About  1841  she  married  W.  R.  B.  Wills,  a  lawyer  in  good 
practice  in  that  city.  After  his  death  she  was  employed  in  the 
editorial  department  of  the  "  New  Orleans  Picayune,"  then  under 
the  charge  of  the  celebrated  journalist  George  Wilkins  Kendal. 
When  gold  was  discovered  in  California,  she  was  sent  to  that  Ter- 
ritory in  the  interests  of  this  paper,  and  reached  the  city  of  San 
Francisco  in  June,  1850.  San  Francisco  was  then  a  strange 
union  of  a  sleepy  Spanish  town  and  a  bustling  mining-camp, 
and  gave  little  promise  of  the  beautiful  city  it  has  since  be- 
come. Mrs.  Wills,  with  her  keen  observation  and  powers  of 
vivid  description,  wrote  such  interesting  accounts  of  events  and 
conditions  in  California  that  her  letters  to  the  "  New  Orleans 
Picayune,"  and  later  to  the  "  Delta,"  were  widely  copied  by  East- 
ern papers.  She  had  been  in  the  city  but  a  short  time  when  her 
love  of  teaching  inspired  her  to  open  a  school  for  girls,  and  this 
institution,  located  on  Clay  Street,  was  the  first  of  its  kind  in  that 
city.  In  1856  she  founded  a  girls'  school  in  Marysville.  Later 
she  returned  to  San  Francisco  and  opened  a  school  in  the  old 
French  Consular  Building,  which  was  a  noted  structure  because  it 
.had  been  brought  complete  from  France  and  set  up  in  the  city  of 
the  Golden  Gate.  She  was  one  of  those  women  who  have  the  rare 
faculty  of  imparting  knowledge  and  developing  the  powers  of 
youthful  minds.  She  devoted  her  life  to  teaching,  with  her  a  labor 
of  love,  and  she  had  no  superior  in  her  profession  in  the  State  of 


394  History  of  Littleton. 

her  adoption.  Her  last  service  was  as  teacher  of  the  higher  Eng- 
lish branches  in  Madame  Zeitska's  Institute  in  San  Francisco, 
where  she  remained  until  her  last  illness. 

The  admission  of  California  into  the  Union  was  celebrated 
throughout  the  State  September  9,  1850,  and  Mrs.  Wills  wrote  an 
ode  for  the  occasion  which  was  sung  by  ten  thousand  people  to 
the  tune  of  "  The  Star-Spangled  Banner."  The  City  Council  pre- 
sented her  with  a  bracelet  and  a  large  gold  medal  bearing  the 
inscription  "  Presented  to  Mrs.  E.  M.  Wills,  by  the  Citizens  of 
San  Francisco,  as  a  token  of  gratitude  for  her  ode  in  honor  of 
the  admission  of  California  to  the  Union,  October  29,  1850." 

A  short  time  after,  she  married  Henry  Parker,  of  whom  we 
know  little,  except  that  their  wedding  trip  was  taken  to  the  Sand- 
wich Islands.  On  her  return  in  February,  1852,  she  published  in 
pamphlet  form  an  account  of  the  journey  and  her  observations 
during  her  sojourn  there.  This  was  entitled  "  The  Sandwich 
Islands  as  They  Are,  not  as  they  Should  Be,"  and  gave  her  a 
national  reputation  on  account  of  her  denunciation  of  the  con- 
duct of  the  missionaries  in  these  islands.  She  says  in  her 
preface :  — 

"I  have  been  stimulated  b}'  a  sense  of  duty  to  society  to  expose  the 
monstrous  deception  which  has  so  long  imposed  upon  the  world,  and 
especially  upon  those  whose  truthfulness  and  purity  would  prevent  a 
suspicion  of  duplicity  in  others.  At  least  I  trust  an  investigation  may 
be  the  result  of  these  developments,  which  ought  long  since  to  have 
been  made  by  a  bolder  and  more  skilful  hand  than  my  own." 

The  vigorous  and  forcible  style  in  which  the  account  is  written 
may  be  judged  by  the  following  extract :  — 

"  The  present  state  of  the  Sandwich  Islands  is  that  of  an  un-Chris- 
tianizecl  despotism,  covered  by  a  thick  but  transparent  veil  of  hypocrisy 
which  should  long  ere  this  have  been  torn  off.  That  the  board  of  mis- 
sions is  aware  of  the  manner  in  which  its  confidence  is  abused  and  its  aid 
expended,  is  not  for  one  moment  to  be  supposed,  for  the  whole  mission- 
ary community  of  these  islands  is  interested  in  keeping  it  in  ignorance  ; 
and  I  am  sure  the  pious  and  charitable  who  have  so  liberally  contribu- 
ted their  substance  for  what  they  believed  the  holiest  purposes  would 
shrink  with  horror  from  aiding  or  abetting  such  hypocrisy  ;  and  I  trust 
that  all  such  will  read  these  developments  with  the  same  spirit  in 
which  it  is  written,  which  is  that  of  a  love  of  truth  and  good  faith 
superior  to  all  fear  of  censure." 

The  result  Mrs.  Walton  so  much  desired  was  accomplished. 
A  partial  investigation  was  made,  and  some  of  the  charges  made 


Men  and  Women  of  Prominence  Abroad.  395 

in  the  book  were  refuted,  but  others  were  not.  The  effect  of 
the  work  was  most  wholesome,  and  ultimately  led  to  a  correction 
of  many  of  the  abuses.1 

While  she  was  conducting  the  school  at  Marysville,  she  married 
George  Henry  Gordon  Walton,  a  lawyer,  who  was  in  full  sympa- 
thy with  the  work  of  his  talented  wife.  Mrs.  Walton  died  April 
20,  1892.  She  was  a  woman  of  marked  intellectual  power  and 
great  independence  of  character,  always  having  the  courage  of 
her  convictions.  From  time  to  time  she  discussed  in  the  columns 
of  the  press  in  San  Francisco  questions  in  which  she  was  in- 
terested, and  in  many  ways  left  her  impress  on  the  community  in 
which  she  lived.  Thus,  from  this  little  hamlet  in  the  Granite  Hills 
went  out  a  force  which  pervaded  and  elevated  a  community  in 
sister  States  thousands  of  miles  away. 

Another  native  of  Littleton  who  won  a  national  reputation  was 
Mrs.  Adeline  Wallace  Chadbourne,  who  was  born  April  20,  1817. 

She  was  the  daughter  of  Asahel  Wallace  and  the  grand- 
daughter of  William  Wallace,  whose  father,  John  Wallace,  was  a 
member  of  the  famous  Major  Robert  Rogers  rangers  in  the 
French  and  Indian  War.  She  was  the  wife  of  Major  B.  H. 
Chadbourne,  who  served  in  the  war  in  an  Illinois  regiment. 

Mrs.  Chadbourne,  when  the  War  for  the  Union  broke  out,  took 
charge  of  a  sewing  hall  in  Chicago,  superintending  the  making  of 
clothes  and  other  articles  for  the  Union  soldiers.  In  the  fall  of 
1861  she  was  detailed  to  assist  in  seeing  that  the  soldiers  who 
were  sent  to  the  front  were  properly  clothed,  and  served  in  that 
capacity  for  several  months ;  and  having  some  property  in  her 
own  right,  often  expended  her  own  money  for  their  comfort.  ]3y 
the  direction  of  the  Surgeon-General  she  obtained  nurses  for  the 
army  of  General  Rosecrans  from  Illinois,  Indiana,  and  Ohio,  and 
assigned  them  to  their  respective  places  of  duty. 

She  continued  her  work  as  an  angel  of  mercy  among  the 
wounded  and  dying  Boys  in  Blue,  administering  to  the  neces- 
sities of  the  suffering  while  words  of  hope  and  cheer  fell  from  her 
lips,  inspiring  them  with  courage  and  determination  to  live,- — -so 
necessary  to  a  sick  and  wounded  soldier. 

In  her  hospital  experience  she  soon  discovered  that  many  of 
the  soldiers  there  must  die,  but,  if  they  could  be  sent  homo,  might 
live.  Inspired  with  this  thought,  she  devoted  her  time  and 
strength  to  secure  for  them  discharges  or  furloughs,  as  in  her 
judgment  the  case  demanded.  In  this  work  she  became  known, 

1  The  pamphlet  is  scarce,  but  a  bound  copy  of  the  text  in  type- writ  ten  sheets  is  in 
the  Littleton  Public  Library. 


396  History  of  Littleton. 

not  only  to  soldiers  but  to  officials  of  high  rank,  as  she  hurried 
from  hospitals  to  Washington  and  from  there  to  regiments  to 
procure  the  necessary  information  and  papers  that  she  might 
return  the  invalids  to  anxious  homes.  The  more  obstructions 
hedged  the  way,  the  more  determined  she  became,  and  in  this 
work  her  superior  qualities  became  known  to  the  government, 
and  when  it  was  necessary  to  learn  the  plans  of  the  South,  she 
was  commissioned  to  perform  the  dangerous  and  difficult  work  of 
securing  the  information. 

In  her  experience  as  a  Union  spy  she  was  several  times  ar- 
rested ;  but  as  she  carried  her  information  in  her  mind  her  true 
mission  and  character  could  not  be  proven. 

One  of  her  missions  South  was  to  ascertain  the  true  character 
of  the  owners  of  large  quantities  of  cotton  which  had  been  shipped 
Xorth  as  belonging  to  the  Union  men.  She  went  among  them  as  a 
Rebel  sympathizer,  and  learned  from  their  own  lips  the  sharp  game 
they  \vere  playing  on  the  government.  In  this  transaction  she 
saved  the  government  over  a  million  dollars. 

Once  she  was  wounded  from  the  accidental  discharge  of  her  own 
revolver;  from  this  wound  she  suffered  until  the  end  of  her  life. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  Congress  recognized  her  service  by 
granting  her  a  pension  of  $300  a  year.  The  Committee  on  Pen- 
sions in  its  report,  after  recounting  her  services,  says  :  — 

"  She  served  faithfully  throughout  the  war  in  her  capacity  as  nurse, 
and  until  three  months  after  its  close,  and  for  her  invaluable  services 
the  government  has  never  paid  her  one  farthing.  We  regard  hers  as 
one  of  the  most  meritorious  cases  presented  to  this  committee.  Mrs. 
Chadbourne  produces  high  testimonials  of  her  character  and  of  the 
value  of  her  services  from  Scliuyler  Colfax,  J.  A.  Arnold,  F.  W.  Kellogg, 
Miss  Dix.  and  others.'' 

Among  her  papers  which  have  been  treasured  are  many  letters 
from  the  homes  which  through  her  energy  and  determination  have 
been  gladdened  by  the  return  of  a  disabled  soldier  where  he  could 
be  nursed  back  to  health,  and  the  following  in  the  bold  free  hand 
of  Edwin  M.  Stanton  :  — 

WAR  DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON,  D.  C., 

April  13,  1802. 

Mrs.  B.  H.  Chadbourne  lias  permission  to  pass  within  the  lines  of 
the  United  States  forces  on  the  western  waters  for  the  purpose  of  giv- 
ing care  and  attention  to  sick  and  wounded  soldiers  of  the  United  States 
Army.  All  officers  and  persons  in  the  service  of  the  United  States 
will  offer  her  courtesy,  protection,  and  assistance. 

EDWIN  M.  STAVTON, 

Sec.  of  War. 


Men  and  Women  of  Prominence  Abroad.  397 

After  the  war  she  continued  to  reside  in  Washington  during  the 
winter,  but  spent  her  summers  with  friends  in  Dalton.  She  died  in 
Washington,  D.  C.,  January  14, 1891.  The  body  was  borne  to  Dal- 
ton, where  the  funeral  was  held  in  the  Congregational  Church,  the 
Rev.  J.  H.  Winslow,  a  war  veteran  of  Lunenburg,  Vt.,  officiating. 

Adeline  Wallace  Chadbourne  will  be  remembered  as  a  conspicu- 
ous figure  in  that  exceptional  class  of  women  who  courageously, 
resourcefully,  and  patriotically  assumed  duties  which  men  were 
not  constituted  to  perform  in  the  epoch-making  days  from  1861 
to  1863 ;  and  future  generations  will  point  with  pride  to  the  ser- 
vices of  Mrs.  Chadbourne,  who  as  a  co-worker  with  Dorothea  Dix 
did  so  much  for  the  cause  of  the  Union  and  for  humanity. 

Her  earnestness  in  the  service  in  the  track  of  armies  was 
equalled  by  that  of  another  daughter  of  the  town,  who  devoted 
herself  to  the  service  of  the  Master  in  a  foreign  land.  Elizabeth 
Cobleigh  was  born,  May  6,  1848,  on  the  hill  farm  owned  by  her 
father,  Ashbel  Cobleigh,  in  the  town  of  Littleton.  She  was  a 
merry,  bright-faced  girl,  who  was  converted  at  the  age  of  thirteen, 
and  joined  the  Congregational  Church  at  that  time.  She  was  edu- 
cated at  Kirnball  Union  Academy,  and  at  Mount  Holyoke  Semi- 
nary, South  Hadley,  Mass.,  and  taught  in  Littleton  and  Lancaster 
in  1864  and  1865  ;  in  1868  she  married  the  Rev.  Royal  M.  Cole. 
They  went  to  Turkey  as  missionaries,  and  there  have  remained 
to  the  present  day,  suffering  all  the  discomforts  of  life  in  that 
land  and  laboring  zealously  for  the  spread  of  the  gospel. 

Twice  they  have  revisited  their  native  land  for  a  brief  rest  and 
to  place  their  children  in  school.  Mrs.  Cole  learned  the  Armenian 
language,  and  in  thirty-six  years  of  service  has  done  much  for  the 
people.  During  the  massacre  of  the  Armenians  by  the  Turks  in 
1877,  the  city  of  Erzroum,  where  they  were  located,  was  besieged, 
and  they  suffered  many  privations,  losing  three  of  their  children 
during  this  war.  Mr.  Cole  acted  as  surgeon  and  nurse,  going  on 
the  battle-fields  among  the  wounded.  They  established  schools 
and  missions,  and  Mr.  Cole  was  the  first  Yankee  to  ascend  Mount 
Ararat  and  unfurl  the  American  flag  to  the  breeze  on  that  historic 
summit.  Mrs.  Cole  is  endowed,  like  all  the  members  of  this 
branch  of  the  Cobleigh  family,  with  a  strong  religious  nature. 
Though  of  sunny  temperament,  she  is  not  deterred  by  difficulties, 
and  is  ever  alive  to  the  voice  of  duty.  Her  labors  in  Turkey  have 
been  blessed,  and  the  work  in  which  she  has  had  a  part  will 
make  future  generations  rejoice. 

Another  daughter  of  Littleton  who  has  herself  honored  a  dis- 
tinguished ancestry,  is  the  subject  of  a  biographical  sketch  written 


398  History  of  Littleton. 

by  Henry  H.  Metcalf,  published  in  1895  in  a  work  entitled  "New 
Hampshire  Women  "  :  — 

"  Mrs.  Frances  B.  Sanborn,  one  of  the  most  scholarly,  cultured,  and 
intellectual  of  the  daughters  of  New  Hampshire,  was  born  in  Littleton, 
November  loth,  1841.  From  her  parents,  Henry  Adams  Bellows,  late 
Chief  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State,  and  Katherine  Walley 
Bellows,  the  daughter  inherited  an  estate  in  literary  and  intellectual 
gifts,  in  refinement  of  character  and  taste,  in  a  sympathetic  nature  and 
delicacy  of  moral  perception.  Her  father  removed  to  Concord  in  1850, 
and  Mrs.  Sanborn  attended  the  public  schools  in  that  city.  In  1861  she 
entered  the  sophomore  class  of  Antioch  College.  Ohio,  of  which  her  uncle, 
the  late  Thomas  Hill,  D.D.,  was  president.  Under  his  instruction  she 
went  through  the  course  of  study,  and  made  up  the  work  of  four  terms 
in  one.  and  graduated  in  18G3.  In  1872  she  was  married  to  Hon. 
Chas.  P.  Sauborn,  a  brilliant  lawyer,  once  Speaker  of  the  House  of 
Representatives,  and  identified  with  the  political  interests  of  the  State. 
Mr.  Sanborn  died  in  1888,  leaving  three  children.  With  an  indomi- 
table will,  with  wide  learning,  and  an  extraordinary  gift  of  inspiring  the 
love  of  learning  in  others,  and  a  happy  faculty  of  imparting  knowledge 
from  her  own  abundant  stores,  Mrs.  Sanborn  has  for  fifteen  years  con- 
ducted a  private  school  in  Concord,  given  instruction  to  private  pupils, 
and  carried  on  classes  for  ladies  in  history,  literature,  and  art.  Her 
classes  have  represented  the  best  culture  in  the  city,  and  her  personal 
influence  has  been  far-reaching  for  good.  In  1894  she  began  giving 
talks  on  subjects  of  literary,  historical,  and  social  interest  in  Concord. 
Keene,  Franklin,  Manchester,  and  other  places.  These  talks  grew  out 
of  a  demand  consequent  on  her  success  with  her  classes  for  ladies,  and 
now  meet  with  steadily  increasing  appreciation," 

Mrs.  Sanborn  has  been  incapacitated  to  some  extent  from  con- 
tinuing her  active  career  as  a  lecturer  and  educator  in  recent 
years,  and  is  making  her  present  home  at  W7alpole,  which  has  for 
nearly  one  hundred  and  fifty  years  been  regarded  as  the  principal 
seat  of  the  Bellows  family.1 

One  of  the  most  noted  of  the  younger  generation  is  Ida  Farr 
Miller,  the  daughter  of  Major  Evarts  Worcester  and  Ellen  (Burpee) 
Farr.  She  was  born  in  Littleton  in  1863,  while  her  father  was 
in  the  service  at  the  seat  of  war.  She  married  Edwin  Child 
Miller,  and  resides  in  Massachusetts,  where  she  is  a  noted 
society  and  club  woman.  Women's  clubs  are  a  peculiar  product 
of  this  age  and  generation,  and  have  become  a  special  field  for 
women's  activities.  Mrs.  Miller  is  president  of  the  Melrose 
Woman's  Club,  and  Regent  of  the  Faneuil  Hall  Chapter  of  the 

1  See  also  a  recent  history  of  the  Bellows  family  by  Thomas  Bellows  Peck. 


MKS.  Ki.i/AiiKTii  MAKIA  BONNKY  WALTON.  MKS.  KLI/.AHKTII   C.  COLE. 

Miss  MICI.INDA   RANKIN. 
MRS.  FKA.XCKS  15.  SAXHORN.  MKS.  MARTHA  \\'.  RICHARDSON. 

WRITERS    AND    MISSIONARIES 


Men  and  Women  of  Prominence  Abroad.  399 

Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution.  Other  associations  of 
which  she  is  a  member  are  the  Mary  Washington  Memorial 
Association,  the  Daughters  of  New  Hampshire,  Woman's  Relief 
Corps,  Wakefield  Horticultural  and  Agricultural  Society,  Wake- 
field  Cosmos  Club,  Wellesley  Record  Association,  and  Massachu- 
setts Emblem  Society.  Through  her  efforts  fifty  books,  written  by 
New  Hampshire  women,  were  collected  and  sent  to  the  Atlanta 
Exposition.  Mrs.  Miller's  efforts  are  all  for  the  elevation  of  her 
sex  and  for  the  credit  of  the  State  of  her  nativity,  as  well  as  for 
Massachusetts,  where  she  now  resides. 

Hannah  Gooodall  Peabody,  daughter  of  Richard  and  Elizabeth 
(Goodall)  Peabody,  was  born  in  the  house  near  the  Rankin  Mills, 
built  by  the  Rev.  David  Goodall  in  1798  and  now  owned  by  Frank 
C.  Albee,  on  the  last  day  of  October,  1820.  She  is  the  only 
person  now  living  who  was  a  member  of  the  same  household 
with  "Priest"  Goodall.  She  attended  the  school  in  No.  3,  more 
commonly  known  in  her  girlhood  by  her  father's  name  as  the 
Peabody  district.  She  then  went  to  Newbury  and  afterward  to 
St.  Johnsbury,  where  she  took  the  usual  course  in  the  academies 
in  those  towns.  Having  graduated  at  St.  Johnsbnry,  she  passed 
a  year  at  St.  Gregoire  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  opposite  Three  Rivers, 
in  the  Province  of  Quebec,  residing  in  a  private  family  for  the 
purpose  of  mastering  the  French  language.  Returning  to  her 
home,  she  was  for  a  time  employed  as  a  teacher  in  our  schools, 
but  soon  went  to  Illinois  to  accept  a  responsible  position  in  her 
chosen  profession,  which  she  followed  with  distinguished  success 
for  nearly  half  a  century.  It  is  not  necessary  to  follow  her  life 
as  a  teacher.  She  was  employed  in  institutions  of  high  character, 
and  gave  to  them  no  inconsiderable  share  of  the  fame  they  en- 
joyed. She  is  a  woman  of  many  accomplishments,  and  to  these 
she  owes  something  of  the  success  she  has  attained,  but  the  basis 
of  that  success  is  to  be  found  in  her  character.  As  a  teacher,  she 
was  sincere,  earnest,  and  devoted.  She  did  not  seek  popularity, 
but  gained  the  love,  respect,  and  confidence  of  her  pupils  by  a 
manifestation  of  noble  qualities  of  head  and  heart  that  were 
above  the  reach  of  art  or  pretence,  and  which  left  an  abiding  im- 
pression in  the  formation  of  the  character  of  the  young  people 
whose  good  fortune  it  was  to  receive  instruction  under  her  benign 
influence. 

On  the  occasion  of  her  seventy-ninth  birthday,  in  1900,  she  pre- 
pared and  read  before  the  West  End  Reading  Circle  in  Carroll- 
ton,  111.,  a  sketch  descriptive  of  her  life  in  Littleton  before  she 
had  assumed  the  stern  duties  of  life.  It  has  the  charm  of  style 


400  History  of  Littleton. 

and  vividness  of  description  of  one  who  has  held  intimate  com- 
munion with  nature,  and  through  a  life  verging  on  fourscore  years 
has  preserved  the  spirit  of  her  young  girlhood,  softened,  perhaps, 
by  the  responsibilities  of  her  later  years.  It  has  a  reference  to 
scenes  that  in  part  are  still  familiar  to  many  of  the  present  gen- 
eration, and  is  given  in  this  connection.  "  The  most  delightful 
of  all  my  memories,"  she  writes,  "  are  the  strolls  with  my  brother 
through  field  and  wood,  and  by  the  riverside.  We  loved  nature, 
and  found  object-lessons  on  every  hand ;  and  all  the  while  drink- 
ing in  health  and  pure  enjoyment.  How  much  we  saw  of  interest 
and  beauty  in  a  ride  of  a  few  miles,  over  winding  roads,  with 
ever  varying  scenery;  and  what  a  happy  day  followed,  with  the 
relatives  we  visited.  We  could  easily  reach  our  favorite  aunt's 
by  'crossing  lots'  through  the  orchard  and  over  the  hills,  and 
thus  pass  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water  a  mile  in  diameter,  where 
delicious  fish  had  their  home,  and  the  loon  and  other  large  water- 
fowls found  a  safe  retreat.  1  seem  to  hear  now  the  loud,  sad 
cry  of  the  loon,  as  it  went  sailing  through  the  air,  high  above 
us.  The  place  is  now  called  '  Partridge  Lake '  and  is  a  summer 
resort.  But  I  cannot  think  of  it  as  more  beautiful  than  in  its 
natural  settings  of  green  trees  and  pasture  lands." 

The  u  favorite  aunt  "  was  Persis  Goodall,  wife  of  Nathaniel 
Partridge  ;  she  was  the  grandmother  of  William  B.  iiurd. 
Though  the  cut  "  across  lots  "  may  not  have  been  the  same 
ground  as  that  followed  by  the  present  highway  past  Frank 
Lewis'  farm,  it  must  have  been  parallel  with  the  present 
road. 

Miss  Peabody  is  now  an  invalid,  but  preserves  in  a  remarkable 
degree  the  calm  serenity  which  has  marked  her  journey  through 
this  life. 

Mrs.  Martha  Wallace  Richardson  is  a  native  of  Littleton,  who 
received  her  education  in  our  public  schools  and  at  Til  ton  Sem- 
inary. She  has  earned  a  name  as  a  writer,  having  done  some- 
thing in  the  way  of  original  work,  but  she  has  given  her  energies 
to  editing  and  compiling  works  of  a  religious  character.  In  this 
class  of  publications  those  best  known  are  "  Royal  Helps  for  Loyal 
Living,"  and  a  "  History  of  the  Revival  at  Lisbon."  Both  of  these 
have  had  a  wide  circulation,  and  have  made  her  name  well  known 
in  religious  and  literary  circles  of  the  State. 

Eleanor  Hodgnian  Porter,  daughter  of  Francis  F.  and  Louella 
Woolson  Hodgman,  is  a  new  name  in  literature,  but  one  that  is 
evidently  destined  to  attract  wide  attention  as  a  writer  of  short 
stories.  In  early  life  she  amused  herself  by  weaving  stories  to 


IDA    FAKR    MII.I.MR. 


Men  and   Women  of  Prominence  Abroad.  401 

the  delight  of  her  youthful  companions.  This  tendency  in  later 
years  was  developed,  and  she  has  become  famous  as  a  writer  of 
short  stories,  which  have  appeared  in  the  leading  magazines,  and 
show  that  the  writer  is  mistress  of  a  crisp,  direct  style,  and 
endowed  with  a  vivid  imagination. 


VOL.  ii.  —  26 


402  History  of  Littleton. 


XLII. 

TEMPERANCE. 

IN  early  times  "hot   and   rebellious   liquor"   was  a   common 
beverage,  used  by  all  without  distinction  of  race,  profession, 
or  position.    The  custom  prevalent  in  this  town  has  been  referred 
to  in  the  chapters  covering  its  early  history. 

Not  long  ago  Judge  Batchellor  had  occasion  to  consider  the 
question  of  the  drinking  habit  of  a  century  ago  and  in  more 
recent  years,  and  from  his  paper  we  extract  the  following 
observations  :  — 

"  The  use  of  liquors  as  a  beverage,  especially  at  festivals  and  other 
public  occasions  a  hundred  years  ago,  should  be  judged  by  no  severer 
standards  than  such  as  were  set  up  by  the  moral  sense  of  their  contem- 
poraries. Previous  to  the  Revolution  and  for  some  time  after  liquors 
seem  to  have  had  as  respectable  a  standing  in  society  as  do  teas,  coffee, 
and  domestic  wines  to-da}'. 

"  A  few  citations  to  authentic  records  will  verify  this  assertion. 

"  At  a  meeting  held  Aug.  2G,  1771,  the  town  of  Amherst  voted  that 
a  committee  procure  New  England  rum  for  raising  the  meeting-house 
and  not  exceeding  eight  barrels,  also  one  barrel  of  sugar  (brown  sugar).1 

"Among  the  items  charged  for  raising  the  court  house  and  jail  at 
Haverhill  were  about  45  gallons  of  rum  at  6s.  per  gallon,  and  one  and 
one-half  gallons  of  molasses  at  6s.  per  gallon,  this  bearing  some  sug- 
gestion of  that  primitive  beverage  called  blackstrap. - 

li  '  When  the  Revolutionary  War  was  in  progress  taxes  were  laid  to 
supply  the  continental  army  with  rum,  and  the  proportion  of  this  town 
in  the  levy  of  1781  was  7  and  .V  gallons  of  West  India  rum  in  a  total 
of  ten  thousand  gallons  for  the  entire  State.' ;! 

"  The  church  at  Thornton  was  built  in  1780,  and  paid  for  with  wheat. 
rye,  corn,  and  flax ;  and  at  its  dedication  the  following  expenses  were 
incurred  :  — 

Amount  for  victualling  54  persons §9.00 

For  Brandy  and  West  India  Rum $5.00 

For  sugar $1.00  4 

1  Secomb's  History  of  Amherst,  p.  239. 
'2  Gazetteer  of  Grafton  County,  p.  112,  2(5. 

3  Littleton  Centennial,  p.  4.'j. 

4  Osgood's  White  Mountains,  ed.  5,  p.  291. 


Temperance.  403 

'* '  The  Presbyterian  Pioneer  of  Littleton  is  named  as  a  contributor  of 
one  gallon  to  the  supply  for  this  occasion.' 1 

"  The  Bethlehem  Town  Records  giving  the  proceedings  at  town 
meeting  on  March  13,  1810,  have  these  interesting  items,  —  'Art.  15, 
Voted  to  vendue  the  Collector's  berth.'  '  Collector's  berth  was  struck 
off  to  Willis  Wilder  at  four  gallons  of  toddy.'  He  was  'sworn.' 

"  The  Rev.  Mr.  Sutherland  of  Bath,  the  most  active  Congrega- 
tionalist  pastor,  and  for  man}-  years  the  only  one  in  the  Ammonoosuc 
Valley,  as  he  came  into  this  town  to  minister  to  the  religious  wants  of 
the  people  took  his  flip  at  the  public  taverns  on  Sunday  mornings  before 
service  just  as  much  as  a  matter  of  course  as  his  successors  of  to-day 
would  sip  their  coffee. 

*•  The  retired  clergyman  who  resided  here  in  the  first  part  of  this 
century  and,  in  the  absence  of  regularly  employed  ministers,  conducted 
services  at  school-houses  and  dwellings,  before  any  church  was  built, 
was  the  proprietor  of  a  flourishing  distillery  of  potato  whiskey,  that 
efficient  but  somewhat  fiery  product  of  the  olden  time.  The  year  that 
he  failed  of  an  election  as  a  representative,  and  was  succeeded  by  his 
son,  tradition  tells  us  his  distiller}'  was  burned,  while  the  elements 
spared  that  of  his  successor. 

'• '  For  years  there  was  no  fire  in  the  church  excepting  footstoves  used 
by  women.  In  winter  at  intermission  the  men  all  adjourned  to  the 
tavern,  and  West  India  toddy  and  flip  were  in  urgent  demand.  The 
minister  was  ushered  into  a  private  room,  and  a  salver  covered  with  a 
napkin,  but  showing  the  outlines  of  a  jug  and  tumbler,  nut  cake  and 
cheese,  was  passed  to  him.  There  was  no  intoxication  nor  loud  noisy 
talk  on  those  old  Sabbath  days,  but  all  was  decorous  and  civil.  As  a 
rule  the  men  were  industrious,  sober,  and  honest,  and  the  women 
modest  and  good,  seeking  wool  and  flax,  patient  under  privation,  and 
cheerful  under  much  severity.'2 

"The  public  records  do  not  bear  witness  to  the  observance  of  this 
custom  in  the  raising  of  the  first  meeting-house  in  Littleton,  but  the 
books  of  account  kept  by  Messrs.  Roby  &  Curtis  have  the  usual  liberal 
supply  of  wet  goods  charged  up  for  that  interesting  historic  occasion 
to  the  proper  committee.  The  vouchers  showing  due  payments  have 
been  examined  by  old  residents  now  living.  While  our  records  do  not 
give  such  accounts  of  the  bibulous  festivities  on  the  occasion  oV  the 
'raising'  of  the  meeting-house  as  do  those  of  Amherst,  Thornton,  and 
many  other  municipalities,  there  are,  nevertheless,  interesting  traditions 
touching  this  affair. 

"A  letter  that  has  come  into  our  possession,  however,  gives  a  hint 
at  the  character  of  the  barter  that  was  employed  in  business  eighty-five 
years  ago,  not  excepting  transactions  in  church  property.  The  com- 
munication is  as  follows :  — 

1  Lawrence's  Churches,  title  Thornton,  p.  574. 

-  Keminiscences  of  Littleton  ;  Memorial  of  David  Goodail,  pub.  Caledonian,  St. 
Johnsbury,  Vt.,  Keprint  after  his  death  Sept.  7,  1881,  p.  6. 


404  History  of  Littleton. 

DALTON,  March  17,  1854. 
Mr.  JOHN  FAKR. 

DEAR  SIR,  —  I  have  consulted  ray  folks,  also  Moses  II.  Rix  and  Wife,  and 
we  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  No.  19  the  second  from  the  Door  must 
have  been  mine,  and  moreover,  as  that  and  no  other  was  deeded  to  Williams, 
it  must  have  been  the  one  belonging  to  me,  and  which  I  purchased  with  a 
Barrel  of  Whiskey,  I  think  in  1817. 

Please  suggest  to  him  the  article  in  payment  for  the  Pew. 

NATHL.  Rix. 

"  Rev.  J.  E.  Robins,  in  his  address  on  Littleton  Churches,1  gives  an 
illustration  of  the  liberality  with  which  bibulous  habits  were  viewed. 
No  great  scandal,  so  far  as  we  know,  resulted  to  the  church  in  that 
instance,  though  the  deacon  sent  to  admonish  the  intemperate  brother 
got  so  much  of  the  erring  one's  hot  toddy  down  that  he  was  unable  to 
perform  his  mission.  This  same  brother  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
craft.  He  was  '  admonished '  in  Meridian  /Sun  Lodge  at  Bath  for  the 
excesses  as  to  which  the  deacon  proposed  to  reprove  him,  and  in 
Morning  Dawn  he  was  suspended  from  membership.  It  is  evident 
that  only  the  excessive  use  of  intoxicating  liquors  came  under  the  ban 
of  the  respectable  elements  in  society.  From  the  church,  from  the 
Lodge  rooms  and  from  the  places  of  social  gatherings,  it  was  regarded 
in  the  same  light.  The  temperate  use  of  it  as  a  beverage  was  no  offence 
against  religion,  morals  or  tiie  usages  of  good  society. 

"•  The  consumption  of  hard  liquors  in  this  country  had  then  lately 
reached  its  highest  mark.  Hon.  Samuel  Dexter,  who  had  been  Secre- 
tary of  the  United  States  Treasury,  stated  that  33,365,559  gallons  were 
consumed  in  1810.  This  estimate  gives  the  actual  returns  of  manu- 
factures and  importations,  and  makes  no  additions  for  the  quantity 
brought  into  the  country  by  smuggling,  or  that  distilled  in  private 
families,  or  from  underestimates  to  avoid  taxation,  or  for  cider  and 
wines  of  domestic  manufacture  ;  and  yet,  on  that  conservative  state- 
ment, the  average  for  every  person  of  every  age  and  condition  would 
\wfonr  and  four-sevenths  gallons.  Mr.  Dexter  proceeds  to  make  a 
calculation  from  these  data.  He  says  :  '  Next  take  an  estimate  of  the 
number  of  persons  who  drink  up  this  flood.  The  population  of  the 
States  by  the  census  of  1810  was  7,239,903.  From  this  number  deduct 
slaves,  said  not  to  be  permitted  to  drink  it,  1,191,304;  and  children 
who  drink  little  or  none,  at  least  1,670,000;  and  others  who,  through 
disrelish,  delicacy,  or  principle,  drink  little  or  none,  1,000,000  more; 
and  the  remaining  number  consume  nearly  ten  gallons  each.'  Mr. 
Dexter  further  says  :  '  The  solemn  fact  is,  more  than  four  times  as 
much  spirit  is  consumed  on  the  farm  now  as  was  used  upon  the  same 
farm,  by  the  same  conductors  of  it,  twenty  years  ago.  The  pocket 
flask  is  grown  into  a  case  bottle  and  the  keg  into  a  barrel.  This  fact 
is  not  affirmed  upon  light  evidence.  The  consequence  is  found  to  be 

1  Littleton  Centennial,  p.  189. 


Temperance.  405 

that  the  bloated  countenance  and  the  tottering  frame  are  become  a 
frequent  spectacle  among  the  yeomen  of  the  country,  once  regarded, 
even  to  a  proverb,  the  healthiest,  the  hardiest,  the  happiest  class  of 
the  community.' 

"'If  the  year  1810,'  says  Dr.  Daniel  Dorchester,  'be  compared 
with  an}*  successive  decade,  we  shall  see  that  so  great  an  average 
amount  of  liquor  has  never  been  used  since  that  time,  notwithstanding 
a  much  larger  proportion  than  at  an}7  former  time  is  now  used  for 
mechanical  purposes.' 1  A  full  and  fair  view  of  this  subject  as  an 
element  of  the  social  problem  can  be  obtained  only  by  a  review  of  con- 
ditions at  successive  periods.  Two  summaries  have  been  given  and 
another  of  very  recent  publication  is  added. 

"  A  recent  report  of  the  government  bureau  of  statistics  brings  down 
to  date  a  per  capita  representation  of  the  annual  amount  of  distilled 
spirits,  wines,  and  malt  liquors  consumed  in  the  United  States  in  recent 
years.  It  is  an  instructive  exhibit,  and  in  somewhat  abbreviated  form 
follows  :  — 

Consumption  in  Gallons  per  Capita. 

Malt  Liquors. 

1.36 
1.58 
3.22 
5.30 
8/26 
8.65 
10.03 
10.27 
10.74 
10.62 
11.20 
12.23 
12.80 
12.72 
13.66 

"•The  decline  in  the  consumption  of  distilled  spirits  and  the  remark- 
able increase  in  the  consumption  of  beer,  ale,  and  other  malt  liquors 
will  at  once  be  noted.  The  stead}*  and  rapid  expansion  in  the  con- 
sumption of  beer  is  almost  without  precedent  in  the  annals  of  drink 
statistics.  The  decline  in  the  quantity  of  distilled  liquors  consumed  is 
also  marked,  but  the  figures  here  do  not  as  accurately  measure  the 
quantity  used  for  stimulants.  Previous  to  1860,  before  the  internal 
tax  was  imposed,-  larger  quantities  of  alcohol  and  spirits  were  used  in 
the  arts  than  afterwards  ;  but  it  is  still  to  be  noted  that,  in  the  face  of 
a  reduction  of  the  tax,  and  from  a  per  capita  consumption  exceeding 
two  gallons  maintained  as  late  as  1870,  the  average  annual  consump- 
tion for  the  following  decade  fell  to  1.48  gallons  per  capita,  and  for 
the  decade  just  ended  to  1.32  gallons.  It  would  seem,  therefore,  that 
the  hard-liquor  drinking  habit  was  less  pronounced  now  than  before  the 
1  Ziou's  Herald,  Nov.  9,  1864. 


1840 

Spirits. 

2.52 

Wines 

0.29 

1850 

2.23 

0.27 

1860 

2.86 

0.35 

1870 

2.07 

0.32 

1880 

1.26 

0.56 

1881 

1.38 

0.47 

1882 

1.40 

0.49 

1883 

1.46 

0.48 

1884 

1.48 

0.37 

1885 

1.26 

0.39 

1886 

1.26 

0.45 

1887 

1.21 

0.65 

1888 

1.26 

0.61 

1889 

1.32 

0.56 

1890 

1.40 

406  •  History  of  Littleton. 

war.  Wine  bibbing,  however,  has  increased,  the  average  yearly  con- 
sumption from  1870  to  1880  being  0.44  gallons  per  capita,  and  from 
1880  to  1890  0.49  gallons,  as  against  only  0.35  for  1860  and  0.29 
for  1840. 

"  We  think  of  those  earlier  j-eavs  as  a  period  of  heavy,  universal,  and 
indiscriminate  drinking  of  intoxicating  liquors,  but  the  figures  of  the 
census  and  internal  revenue  in  these  later  days  do  not  show  results 
commensurate  with  the  efforts  put  forth  since  in  the  cause  of  temper- 
ance. There  lias  been  improvement ;  liquor  no  longer  presides  un- 
abashed over  the  neighborhood  barn-raising  or  at  the  entertainment  of 
the  village  preacher,  and  there  seems  to  be  less  of  the  more  fiery 
spirits  consumed.  But  nevertheless  the  average  American  to-day 
seems  to  be  taking  quite  as  much  alcohol  into  his  system  as  then,  and 
as  a  swiller  his  father  could  not  for  a  moment  be  compared  with  him. 

"  To  give  a  better  idea  of  the  life  and  habits  of  the  people  in  this 
respect,  the  consumption  of  coffee  and  tea  should  be  considered.  The 
government  import  and  export  tables  yield  very  accurate  results:  — 

Per  Capita  Consumption  of  Coffee  and  Tea. 

Coffee  (Ibs.)  Tea  (Ibs.) 

1830  3.00  0.53 

1840  5.05  0.99 
'Average  annual :  — 

From  1850  to  1800  5.98  0.79 

From  1860  to  1870  4.47  0.87 

From  1870  to  1880  6.96  1.37 

From  1880  to  1890  8.55  1.33 

"  We  thus  drink  vastly  more  coffee  and  tea  than  they  did  in  that 
reputed  period  of  heavy  consumption  of  stimulants  fifty  and  sixty  years 
ago.  We  swill  down  ten  times  as  much  beer  and  more  wine,  and  then 
find  room  for  two  or  three  times  as  many  gallons  of  coffee  and  twice  as 
many  of  tea.  The- curious  thing  about  it  all  is  that  the  one  does  not  in 
some  measure  crowd  out  the  other.  Great  Britain  consumes  per  capita 
about  five  pounds  of  tea  a  year,  or  much  more  than  we ;  but  the  effect 
of  this  is  to  reduce  coffee  consumption  to  only  about  one  pound,  the 
reduction  having  marched  steadily  along  side  by  side  with  the  increase 
of  tea  sipping.  With  us,  on  the  other  hand,  it  is  more  coffee  with  more 
tea,  and  more  beer 'with  more  coffee  and  more  wine." 

The  evils  and  abuses  flowing  from  over-indulgence  have  been 
recognized  in  all  times,  and  more  than  two  hundred  years  ago  the 
first  Assembly  that  met  in  New  Hampshire  (1679-1680)  passed 
an  act  regulating  or  restricting  the  sale  or  delivery  of  "liquor, 
wine,  or  'other  drink,"1  and  since  then  there  has  been  no  lack  of 

1  In  a  paper  read  before  the  Grafton  and  Coos  Bar  Association  in  1806  by  W.  II. 
Sawyer,  he  reviews  the  history  of  liquor  legislation  exhaustively'.  See  Proceedings, 
vol.  iii.  p.  207. 


Temperance.  407 

effort  to  regulate  its  sale  or  prohibit  its  use  by  legislation.  These 
projects  are  not  likely  to  be  successful  until  the  millennium,  fore- 
told by  prophecy,  shall  wipe  away  abuses  and  remove  motes  and 
beams  from  human  eyes. 

This  first  act  restricting  the  sale  of  liquors  was  brief  and  was 
as  follows  :  "  Be  it  also  enacted  yt  no  ordinary  or  inn-keeper 
suffer  any  servants  or  children  under  family  government  to  buy 
(or  to  sit  drinking  of)  any  liquor,  wine  or  other  drink  in  their 
houses  or  whare  they  have  to  doe  or  spend  their  time  there  without 
ye  leave  of  ye  parents  or  masters,  unless  it  be  in  case  of  necessity 
on  paine  of  10  shillings  forfeiture  for  every  offence  I  to  ye  in- 
former and  yc  other  £  to  ye  poore  of  ye  towne."  While  New 
Hampshire  remained  a  province,  the  record  shows  that  the  efforts 
to  restrict  the  sale  of  liquor  were  frequent  and  to  a  certain  ex- 
tent effective,  the  last  important  enactment  having  been  passed  in 
1772.  When  New  Hampshire  assumed  her  independence  and 
established  a  provisional  government,  the  legislative  authority 
being  invested  in  a  legislature  and  the  executive  in  a  council,  no 
effort  was  made  to  govern  the  sale  of  liquor  until  1778,  when  an 
act  was  passed  repealing  many  of  the  provincial  acts  and  provid- 
ing that  after  May  1,  1779,  no  person  should  sell  any  liquors  in 
less  quantity  than  fifteen  gallons  to  be  delivered  at  one  time, 
without  the  approbation  of  the  Selectmen  and  a  license  from  the 
Court  of  General  Session  upon  penalty  of  ten  pounds,  "  one  half 
to  the  informer  and  the  other  half  to  the  county  to  be  recovered 
before  a  Justice  of  the  Peace."  Taverners  were  not  to  allow 
drinking  or  tippling  in  their  houses  after  nine  P.  M.  unless  the 
persons  drinking  were  there  on  business,  or  suffer  any  person  to 
drink  to  excess.  The  act  also  provided  that  any  person  who  sat 
drinking  in  such  place  after  nine  P.  M.,  other  than  travellers,  per- 
sons on  business,  or  lodgers,  should  forfeit  forty  shillings  for  the 
use  of  the  poor.  It  was  made  one  of  the  duties  of  the  tithing-men 
to  inspect  all  licensed  houses.  In  June,  1791,  the  Legislature 
passed  an  act  the  substance  of  which  was  as  follows :  If  any  per- 
son without  license  first  had  and  obtained  shall  sell  any  wine, 
ruin,  gin,  brandy,  or  other  spirits  by  retail  that  is  less  than  one 
gallon,  or  shall  sell  any  mixed  liquors  part  of  which  are  spirit- 
uous, such  person  shall  forfeit  and  pay  forty  shillings,  one-half  to 
informer  and  one-half  to  the  county.  There  were  many  other 
provisions  of  this  law  providing  for  the  enforcement  by  special 
officers,  etc.,  and  it  remained  untouched  until  1820,  when  it  was 
amended  so  as  to  provide  that  all  licenses  issued  should  name  the 
particular  house  or  store  in  which  the  liquors  were  to  be  sold. 


408  History  of  Littleton. 

By  an  act  passed  in  June,  1827,  entitled  "An  Act  regulating 
licensed  houses,"  substantially  all  previous  legislation  was  re- 
pealed, though  many  of  the  provisions  of  the  old  laws  were 
retained.  The  law  was  in  advance  of  previous  legislation  in  re- 
gard to  penalties  and  methods  of  enforcement  and  in  the  restriction 
on  sales,  and  for  the  first  time  in  our  legislation  dealers  were  pro- 
hibited from  selling  at  all  to  common  drunkards,  previous  legisla- 
tion only  prohibiting  them  from  selling  to  any  intoxicated  person. 
Under  these  several  acts  James  Williams,  Jonas  Nurs,  Ephraim 
Bailey,  tavern-keepers  along  the  highway  from  Lisbon  to  Lancas- 
ter, were  licensed  by  the  Selectmen,  and  a  large  share  of  their 
patronage  came  from  travellers.  Their  business  could  not  have 
been  large,  as  the  population  of  the  town  was  small  and  travellers 
were  not  numerous.  Subsequently  the  merchants  were  licensed 
to  sell  liquors  to  be  drunk  on  the  premises  and  in  quantities  in 
excess  of  those  permitted  to  tavern-keepers. 

The  legislation  in  all  these  years  marks  the  advance  of  popular 
sentiment  on  the  question  of  temperance.  There  was  a  time  in 
our  town  when  but  one  citizen,  Dr.  William  Burns,  was  a  total 
abstainer  from  the  use  of  intoxicating  liquors.  From  the  time  of 
his  coming  here  in  1806  to  the  day  of  his  death  in  1808  he  never 
used  liquor  as  a  beverage.  The  number  of  abstainers  constantly 
increased,  and  in  November,  1828,  the  first  temperance  society  in 
Littleton  was  organized.  Its  purpose  and  government  are  set 
forth  in  the  constitution,  which  is  given  entire:  — 

AKT.  1.  This  Society  shall  be  called  the  Littleton  Temperance 
Society,  auxiliary  to  the  American  Temperance  Society. 

ART.  2.  All  who  sign  this  Constitution  shall  be  members  of  this  Society. 

ART.  3.  Believing  that  ardent  spirit  is  never  necessary,  but  always 
injurious  to  persons  in  health,  and  in  view  of  the  overwhelming  facts 
which  evince  the  tendency  of  its  use  to  corrupt  morals  and  destroy 
health  and  lives,  we  obligate  ourselves  not  to  use  it  except  as  a  medi- 
cine, and  that  we  will  not  furnish  it  for  friends,  visitors,  or  laborers, 
and  also  that  we  will  use  our  influence  to  discountenance  its  use  in 
the  community. 

ART.  4.  The  officers  of  the  Society  shall  be  a  President,  Vice-Presi- 
dent,  and  Secretary,  who  shall  .be  chosen  at  the  annual  meeting  and 
perform  the  duties  ordinarily  assigned  such  officers. 

ART.  5.  This  Society  shall  meet  on  the  first  Monday  of  November 
in  each  year,  where  a  sermon  or  an  address  shall  be  delivered  by  some 
person  selected  by  the  Society. 

ART.  6.  A  majority  of  the  officers  of  the  Society  shall  call  meetings 
as  frequently  as  may  be  thought  expedient. 

ART.  7.    It  shall  make  an  annual  report  to  the  parent  society. 


Temperance.  409 

This  organization  maintained  its  existence  for  nearly  ten  years, 
and  accomplished  much  good.  Meetings  of  the  society  were  held 
at  the  call  of  its  officers  quite  frequently  during  the  first  five  years 
of  its  organization.  We  have  not  been  able  to  obtain  a  full  list  of 
those  who  made  addresses  as  provided  for  by  the  constitution,  but 
among  the  number  were  the  Rev.  Drury  Fairbank,  Nathaniel  Rix, 
Jr.,  who  delivered  the  address  in  1881,  and  Edmund  Carleton  in 
1832.  It  is  presumed  that  this  custom  was  observed  in  the  suc- 
ceeding years  of  the  life  of  the  society. 

The  membership  included  many  of  the  most  prominent  men 
and  women  of  the  town.  Among  them  the  Rev.  Drury  Fairbank, 
Henry  A.  Bellows,  Guy  Ely,  Joseph  Palmer,  Nathaniel  Rix, 
Deacon  Noah  Farr,  Dr.  Adams  Moore,  William  Hibbard,  Josiah 
Kilburn,  and  John  Farr.1 

The  methods  employed  by  this  society  to  advance  the  cause  of 
temperance  were  similar  to  those  subsequently  used  by  the 
Washingtonians.  They  relied  entirely  upon  moral  suasion  to  re- 
claim the  unfortunate,  to  persuade  young  people  to  join  this 
organization,  and  to  induce  the  dealer  in  ardent  spirits  to  refrain 
from  selling  to  intoxicated  persons.  The  question  of  a  prohibitory 
law  had  not  been  raised,  legislative  enactments  being  directed 
toward  regulating  the  sale  of  liquors,  not  suppressing  the  traffic. 
This  society  was  a  potent  influence  in  arousing  public  sentiment 
and  preparing  the  way  for  the  great  temperance  movement  which 
swept  over  the  land  half  a  century  ago. 

It  was  at  this  time  also  that  the  ministers  of  the  church  became 
pronounced  advocates  of  temperance.  The  Rev.  Drury  Fairbank 
gave  the  movement  earnest  support.  His  attitude  had  a  salutary 

1  The  other  members  were  as  follows  :  Caroline  Ely,  Eliza  Moore,  Sophronia 
Hews,  Emeline  Cobleigh,  Seraphina  Laniard,  Mrs.  Ely,  Mrs.  Moore,  Mrs.  Burns,  Mrs. 
Thompson,  Mrs.  Dodge,  Mrs.  Noah  Farr,  Mrs.  Allc'ii,  Mrs.  Hannah  Dole,  Laura 
Sargeant,  Anna  D.  Parker,  Juliana  Allen,  Hannah  T.  Lovejoy,  Polly  Lovejoy, 
Lydia  Gile,  Philena  Allen,  Missouri  Gile,  Isaac  Parker,  David  P.  Sanbbrn,  Frank- 
lin It.  Bonney,  Elijah  Farr,  William  Lovejoy,  Phineas  Allen,,!.  W.  Bellows,  John  II. 
Gile,  Joseph  L.  Gibb,  Zadoc  Bowman,  James  Dow,  Enoch  Hazelton,  Mrs.  Mary  W. 
Palmer,  Harriet  Hatch,  Mary  Brackett,  Naomi  Dow,  Marcy  D.  Farr,  Mary  Farr, 
Lucretia  Fairbank,  Harriet  Newell  Fairbank,  Dolly  Pingree,  Polly  Xoyes,  Sophronia 
Farr,  Elizabeth  Cleasby,  Anna  Rowell,  Mary  W.  Pingree,  Sarah  Fairbank,  Nabby 
Farr,  Sarah  Pingree,  Belinda  Fletcher,  Rebecca  Rix,  Persis  Gile,  Margaret  Rix, 
Rebecca  Jane  Rix,  Sarah  Calhoun,  Mary  Henry,  Joseph  Farr,  W.  B.  Gile,  Michael 
Hughes,  Hugh  Cameron,  Douglas  Robins,  Richard  Jones,  Hezekiah  S.  Perry,  Abijah 
Allen,  Aaron  Brackett,  Philander  Farr,  Leo.'iidas  Goodall,  Joseph  Roby,  Frederick 
Morrison,  Robert  Charlton,  Job  Pingree,  Enoch  M.  Pingree,  Richard  Rowell.  Clark 
Rix,  Ira  Caswell,  Horatio  N.  Bickford,  Guy  C.  Rix,  Benjamin  F.  Rix,  Charles  Rix, 
George  W.  Carpenter,  Philena  Calhoun,  Wilder  P.  Rix,  James  Calhoun,  Joseph 
Henry,  David  G.  Calhoun. 


410  History  of  Littleton. 

effect  on  the  church  membership,  and  many  who  only  took  an 
occasional  glass  of  spirituous  liquor  forsook  the  use  altogether, 
and  in  time  the  church  became  a  very  effectual  aid  to  the  cause 
of  temperance. 

The  Worcesters,  his  successors  in  the  pastorate  of  the  Congre- 
gational Church,  although  conservative  in  regard  to  most  public 
questions  and  striving  to  keep  the  church  free  from  worldly 
alliances,  were  pronounced  friends  of  this  movement,  and  no  man 
was  more  aggressive  in  advocating  its  principles  than  the  Rev.  E. 
Irvin  Carpenter.  He  not  only  preached  against  the  use  of  liquor, 
but  was  a  leader  in  all  the  temperance  societies  and  active  in  all 
the  movements  aimed  at  this  demoralizing  power.  In  his  day,  as 
since,  the  doors  of  the  Congregational  Church  were  thrown  open 
to  the  advocates  of  this  cause.  From  its  pulpit  John  Hawkins, 
the  Rev.  John  Pierpont,  grandfather  of  J.  Pierpont  Morgan,  and 
many  others,  eloquently  pleaded  for  the  emancipation  of  the 
victims  of  the  habit  of  habitual  drinking. 

In  1840  the  Washingtonians,  a  society  formed  in  Baltimore, 
did  a  salutary  work  throughout  the  country  in  persuading  the 
drunkard,  by  moral  suasion,  to  sign  the  pledge  to  abstain  from 
intoxicants,  and  many  of  these  pledges  were  circulated  in  Little- 
ton. Two  years  later  the  Sons  of  Temperance  were  organized, 
and  their  pledge  was  even  stronger  than  that  of  the  former  society, 
reading  thus  :  "  I  will  neither  make,  buy,  sell,  nor  use  as  a  bever- 
age any  spirituous  or  malt  liquors,  wine  or  cider."  It  was  a 
secret  society,  and  a  branch  of  the  organization  was  formed  in 
Littleton,  the  charter  being  dated  December  4,  1850,  Sons  from 
Bethlehem  instituting  the  division.  The  title  was  "Littleton 
Division,  No.  28."  Josiah  Kilburn  was  the  first  W.  P.,  and  Ellery 
D.  Dunn  the  second  (1852).  There  were  thirty-five  or  forty 
members,  but  the  records  are  destroyed  and  it  is  impossible  to 
give  their  names.  Representatives  to  the  Grand  Division  in  1852 
were  Ellery  D.  Dunn,  Aaron  Brackctt,  Joshua  B.  Shaw,  John 
Merrill,  and  Elisha  Btirnham.  Much  was  accomplished  for  some 
five  or  six  years,  when  the  organization  was  wrecked  through 
local  politics,  some  of  the  influential  members  endeavoring  in 
open  meetings  to  influence  the  others  to  vote  for  candidates  who 
were  known  to  use  and  deal  in  intoxicating  liquors. 

The  passage  of  the  prohibitory  law  in  1855  marks  a  distinct 
departure  in  legislative  methods  aimed  at  the  evil  of  intemperance. 
The  policy  of  the  old  system  was  the  regulation  of  the  traffic  in 
liquor,  and  that  of  the  new  was  the  suppression  of  its  sale  as  a  bev- 
erage. The  immediate  effect  of  the  change  of  policy  was  to  cause 


Temperance.  411 

the  friends  of  temperance  to  abandon  for  a  time  the  use  of  moral 
suasion  and  to  depend  on  the  strong  arm  of  the  law  to  accomplish 
their  purpose.  Between  1855  and  1861  the  law  was  invoked 
against  the  hotel-keepers  and  the  proprietors  of  saloons  on  several 
occasions,  hut  there  was  no  marked  diminution  either  in  the 
amount  of  the  sales  or  in  drunkenness.  During  the  war  public 
attention  was  directed  to  more  important  events,  and  the  law  was 
to  a  very  large  extent  disregarded  in  this  town.  In  August, 
1865,  the  Good  Templars  organized  a  lodge  in  this  village  to  pro- 
mote the  cause  of  temperance.  The  records  of  the  first  nine 
months  are  very  meagre,  but  we  find  that  the  Rev.  Charles  E.  Mil- 
liken  was  the  Worthy  Chief  Templar  for  the  quarter  commencing 
November  7,  1865,  and  he  was  followed  by  Capt.  George  Farr, 
February  7,  1866.  The  Worthy  Chief  Templars  after  that  date 
were  as  follows :  E.  W.  Farr,  James  R.  Jackson,  Truman  Carter, 
T.  E.  Sanger,  George  Farr,  La  Fayette  Noble,  Luther  T.  Dow, 
Albert  Parker,  and  there  were  two  hundred  and  thirty-seven 
members  in  good  standing.  Soon  after  its  organization  in  1865, 
it  appointed  a  committee,  of  which  the  Rev.  Charles  E.  Milliken 
and  Josiah  Kilburn  were  members,  to  wait  upon  all  persons  en- 
gaged in  the  sale  of  liquors,  and  notify  them  that  unless  they 
ceased  to  violate  the  law  it  would  be  enforced  to  its  utmost  extent 
against  them.  Following  instructions,  they  visited  the  dealers 
and  made  known  to  them  their  purpose  and  their  determina- 
tion to  prosecute  after  that  date  all  known  violators  of  the  pro- 
hibitory law  in  town.  The  dealers,  without  exception,  accepted 
the  situation  gracefully  and  promised  to  observe  the  law.  This 
was  the  first  su-ccessful  attempt  made  in  this  town  at  law  enforce- 
ment. It  brought  on  the  committee  and  the  organization  back  of 
it  the  severe  denunciation  of  a  class  of  people  who  felt  that  their 
personal  liberty  was  unnecessarily  restricted.  Public  sentiment 
on  the  question  was  divided,  and  so  long  as  the  friends  of  the  law 
were  vigilant  and  aggressive  they  were  in  the  ascendant,  and  the 
dealers  stood  by  their  promise  to  all  outward  appearance  for  some 
months.  Gradually  there  was  a  loss  of  watchfulness  on  the  part 
of  the  temperance  people,  and  it  soon  became  apparent  that  there 
were  frequent  violations  of  the  law,  but  the  sales  were  conducted 
in  such  a  way  that  it  was  impossible  to  obtain  evidence  un  which 
the  supposed  offenders  could  be  convicted. 

The  Good  Templars  enforced  the  law  for  brief  periods  on  more 
than  one  occasion  after  this,  and  in  its  brief  life  accomplished 
much  good,  but  on  November  3,  1869,  four  years  after  it  was 
organized,  it  disbanded.  The  records  do  not  trive  the  reason  for 


412  History  of  Littleton. 

this,  but  it  is  reported  that  it  was  caused  by  the  rejection  of  a 
person  or  persons  who  wished  to  take  the  higher  degree  and 
whom  many  thought  it  would  be  unwise  to  admit  owing  to  their 
relation  to  those  engaged  in  the  liquor  traffic.  Afterward  a  lodge 
of  the  same  order  was  established  here,  but  it  never  attained 
the  strength  or  importance  of  the  first,  and  existed  but  a  short 
time.  These  organizations  (Sons  of  Temperance  and  Good  Tem- 
plars) were  followed  by  the  Reform  Club,  which  was  organized 
here  by  Captain  McKelvey,  a  reformed  drunkard  from  Portland, 
Me.,  January  10,  1876.  There  was  a  large  membership,  mostly 
drinking  men,  who  for  the  time  were  greatly  benefited  by  this  con- 
nection. Enthusiastic  and  largely  attended  meetings  were  held 
weekly.  The  plan  of  the  Reform  Club  was  to  obtain  the  sig- 
natures of  all,  and  especially  drinkers,  to  the  pledge,  all  being 
pledged  to  help  each  other  as  well  as  to  abstain  from  the  use  of 
spirituous  liquors.  For  over  a  year  this  organization  flourished, 
but  in  the  closing  months  the  enthusiasm  died  out  and  the 
organization  ceased  to  exist.  This  was  the  last  of  the  purely 
fraternal,  moral-suasion  temperance  societies  here.  They  had 
done  a  good  work,  but  were  not  able  to  stay  the  tide  of  intemper- 
ance, and  the  citizens  of  Littleton  gradually  came  to  believe  that 
legal  suasion,  as  well  as  moral,  must  be  used.  Accordingly  a  meet- 
ing was  held  August  12,  1882,  and  a  large  number  of  the  most  in- 
fluential citizens  signed  an  agreement  to  aid  by  contributions  of 
money  and  of  their  influence  to  put  down  the  illegal  sale  of  liquor 
in  town  by  first  warning  the  illegal  vendors  to  cease  the  traffic, 
and,  if  they  continued  it,  to  prosecute  them.  Some  $ 2,000  aid  was 
pledged,  and  a  committee  of  six  chosen  to  carry  on  the  work. 
The  dealers  were  visited,  and  all  promised  to  stop  their  illegal 
business,  but  did  so  in  only  a  very  few  instances.  Prosecutions 
were  commenced,  but  amounted  to  little,  as  political  influences 
were  brought  to  bear,  and  the  work  in  this  direction  soon  ceased. 

No  further  attempt  of  importance  was  made  until  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Law  and  Order  League  November  21,  1888.  A  number 
of  the  citizens  of  the  town  met  in  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association  rooms,  and  organized  a  league  for  the  suppression  of 
drunkenness  and  the  illegal  sale  of  liquor.  The  officers  elected 
were  Rev.  P.  M.  Frost,  president ;  John  Smillie,  C.  L.  Clay,  vice- 
presidents;  Charles  A.  Farr,  secretary;  Fred  Goodall,  treasurer; 
Rev.  F.  G.  Chuttcr,  Rev.  A.  A.  Iloyt,  Rev.  G.  C.  Waterman,  Rev. 
L.  D.  Cochrane,  C.  1).  Tarbell,  Isaac  Calhoun,  M.  D.  Cobleigh, 
executive  committee;  D.  C.  Remich,  prosecuting  officer. 

The  interest  in  this  work  became  wide-spread,  and  a  movement 


Temperance.  413 

was  made  to  form  a  branch  of  the  Woman's  Christian  Temperance 
Union  in  Littleton.1    July  27,  1881,  a  meeting  was  held  in  the 
Episcopal  Church,  which  Frances  A.  Willard  was  expected  to  ad- 
dress, but  in  her  absence  the  Rev.  George  C.  Osgood  explained  the 
methods  of  work  usually  followed  by  the  Union,  and  a  permanent 
organization  was  effected  which  has  been   an   active  force  ever 
since  that  time.     The  following  officers  were  chosen :  President, 
Mrs.  Evarts  W.  Farr  ;  vice-presidents,  Mrs.  Frank  G.  Weller,  Mrs. 
G.  C.  Waterman,  Mrs.  Ray  T.  Gile  ;  corresponding  secretary,  Mrs. 
Francis  F.  Hodgman  ;  recording  secretary,  Helen  Osgood  ;  treas- 
urer, Julia  Allen.     A  committee,  consisting  of  Mrs.  Henry  C.  Red- 
ington,  Mrs.  Allen  J.   Church,  and  Mrs.   Charles  T.  Tarbell,  was 
chosen  to  formulate  the  work.     April  12,  1882,  the  Union  met  in 
the  Congregational  vestry,  and  Mrs.  G.  W.   Osgood  was  chosen 
president  in  place  of  Mrs.  Farr,  who  resigned  after  a  year  of  ear- 
nest effort.    One  of  the  means  employed  to  accomplish  their  purpose 
of  impressing  on  the  minds  of  the  children  the  evils  of  the  use  of 
intoxicants  was  a  temperance  Sunday-school,  of  which  Minnie  Til- 
ton  was  superintendent,  and  Mrs.  S.  C.  Sawyer,  Mrs.  George  II. 
Tilton,  and  Lydia  Cobb,  assistants,  and  children  were  not  only 
taught  the    evils   of   intemperance,  but  encouraged  to  sign  the 
pledge.     Julia   Coleman's    Catechism  on  Temperance  was  intro- 
duced into  the  schools  of  the  town  through  the  untiring  zeal  of 
Mrs.  H.  H.  Southworth,  Mrs.  Charles  Eaton,  Mrs.  Henry  L.  Til- 
ton,  Mrs.  Catherine  P.  Chickering,  Mrs.  Oscar  Parker,  Mrs.  Edgar 
Aldrich,  Mrs.  Ray  T.  Gile,  Mrs.  Thomas  Carleton,  Julia  A.  Allen, 
Anna  L.  Brackett,  and  others.     Through  their  influence  the  pupils 
in  the  High  School  wrote  essays  on  the  effect  of  alcohol  on  the 
brain  and  human  system,  and  prizes  were  given  for  what  were 
regarded  as  the  best  of  these  by  the  Union.     This  was  only  one 
branch  of  their  work.     At  the  same  time  the  jail  and  almshouse 
department  was  taken  up,  and,  June  18,  1885,  a  committee  con- 
sisting of  Mrs.  Eaton,  Mrs.  Southworth,  and  Mrs.  Rand  visited 
these  places ;  and  this  has  become  an  annual  custom,  and  a  com- 
mittee each  year  carries  flowers,  gifts,  and  a  message  of  hope  and 
cheer  from  the  Union  to   the  unfortunate  inmates.      On   town 
meeting  day,  in  1883,  a  free  lunch  was  served  in  Union  Hall  by 
the  ladies,  with  the  hope  of  saving  from  temptation  those  voters 
who  were  accustomed  to  frequent  saloons  at  the  noon  hour.     This 
was  so  successful  that  it  was  repeated  for  four  years,  when  the 
effort  was  discontinued  and  the  Selectmen  were  petitioned  to  close 

1  This  sketch   of    the  organization  is   condensed  from  an  article  prepared  by 
Eilen  Josephine  Austin. 


414  History  of  Littleton. 

the  saloons  on  election  day.  At  the  same  time  petitions  were  sent 
to  the  Saranac  Glove  Company  and  the  Scythe  Factory  Company, 
praying  that  they  refuse  to  employ  intemperate  men. 

A  good  idea  of  the  wide  field  of  the  activities  of  this  organiza- 
tion may  be  gathered  from  a  statement  of  its  efforts  in  different 
directions.  A  law  was  enacted,  as  a  result  of  petitions  circulated 
by  the  Union,  requiring  instruction  in  physiology  and  hygiene, 
giving  special  prominence  to  the  effects  of  alcoholic  drinks, 
stimulants,  and  narcotics  on  the  human  system.  Petitions  were 
also  circulated  by  them,  urging  that  the  prohibitory  law  be  re- 
tained ;  that  the  exhibition  and  sale  of  stories  of  blood  and  crime 
be  prohibited  by  law ;  that  the  editor  of  a  village  paper  be  re- 
quested to  remove  from  his  paper  an  advertisement  of  Rock  and 
Rye  ;  that  the  Legislature  make  woman  suffrage  the  law  of  the 
State;  that  the  Nuisance  Act  remain  on  the  statute  books  ;  the 
so-called  Polyglot  petition  was  circulated  by  Mrs.  E.  Josephine 
Austin,  and  one  hundred  names  procured  ;  a  petition  to  close  the 
Columbian  Exposition  on  Sunday  ;  to  the  Webb  and  Pullman  Car 
Companies  to  abolish  smoking  compartments  in  their  cars  ;  to  the 
New  Hampshire  Legislature  to  raise  the  age  of  consent;  a  letter 
was  sent  to  the  landlady  of  a  large  mountain  hotel,  asking  her  to 
desist  from  treating  her  invited  guests  with  punch  of  any  kind  : 
an  organized  effort  was  made  to  suppress  the  sale  of  tobacco  and 
cigarettes  to  boys.  All  but  two  of  the  dealers  signed  an  agree- 
ment to  this  effect.  An  attempt  to  prosecute  a  case  of  the  illegal 
sale  of  liquor  was  abandoned,  after  procuring  a  search  warrant 
from  a  justice  of  the  peace  in  Lisbon. 

The  Sunday-school  was  merged  into  the  Band  of  Hope,  and 
this  later  was  termed  the  Loyal  Temperance  Legion  and  was 
under  the  charge  of  Mrs.  Aaron  Eastman.  This  activity  in 
juvenile  work  gave  the  Littleton  branch  the  title  of  the  Banner 
Union. 

A  home  for  fallen  women  was  established  in  Manchester,  called 
the  Mercy  Home,  and  the  Union  furnished  what  is  called  the  Lit- 
tleton Room,  and  has  contributed  $250,  part  of  this  being  the  pro- 
ceeds of  a  Demorest  medal  contest  at  the  Congregational  Church 
which  was  in  charge  of  Mrs.  E.  Josephine  Austin.  Boxes  at  the 
railway  station  and  in  the  barber  shops  were  supplied  with  tem- 
perance literature.  Contributions  were  made  for  a  State  flag ;  the 
Nebraska  temple  ;  to  Harley  mission  in  Michigan  ;  to  the  Ramabai 
fund  ;  to  the  reading-room  at  North  Stratford  ;  for  rescue  work  in 
Michigan  ;  to  Chicago  ;  for  lumbermen,  money,  a  library  with  case, 
and  comfort  bau-s  ;  for  sending  unfortunates  to  the  Keelev  Cure. 


MRS.  GEO.  W.  Os(;oon.  MRS.  KI.I.KN  H.  FAKK.       M  us.  (  ",K. \\VII.I.K  C. \VATKK\I.\\. 

MRS.  X.  H.  Kxox. 
MRS.  SOLON    I,.  SIMONPS.  MRS.  JOSKI-IIIM-:  Ars  IMN.  MRS.  S.  C.  SA\VVI:R. 


Temperance.'  415 

$656.  A  drinking  fountain  was  placed  in  position  on  Main  Street 
at  a  cost  of  $127.20.  The  organization  is  in  the  front  rank  in 
influence,  and  possesses  the  true  missionary  spirit. 

The  presidents  since  Mrs.  George  W.  Osgood  resigned  have  been 
Mrs.  N.  H.  Knox,  Mrs.  F.  A.  Robinson,  Mrs.  M.  S.  Waterman, 
Mrs.  S.  L.  Simonds,  Mrs.  S.  C.  Sawyer,  Mrs.  S.  L.  Simonds  again, 
in  1895,  Mrs.  J.  C.  Osgood,  Mrs.  E.  Josephine  Austin,  Mrs.  Albert 
F.  Nute,  and  Mrs.  Alice  C.  Webster. 

Mrs.  N.  H.  Knox  was  also  president  of  the  State  Woman's 
Christian  Union,  and  was  State  delegate  to  the  national  con- 
vention in  Philadelphia,  and  Mrs.  E.  Josephine  Austin  attended 
as  delegate  the  national  convention  at  Baltimore  in  1895. l 

The  thirteenth  State  convention  was  held  in  Littleton,  at  which 
Mrs.  Frank  B.  Phillips  gave  the  address  of  welcome.  It  has  at 
present  a  membership  of  seventy-five,  and  is  accomplishing  good 
work  in  all  its  different  departments.  Mrs.  Alice  C.  Webster  is 
president ;  Mrs.  S.  C.  Sawyer,  corresponding  secretary  ;  Mrs.  Ella 
B.  Chapman,  recording  secretary ;  Mrs.  D.  C.  Phillips,  treasurer. 

Great  as  the  evils  of  intemperance  were  in  the  early  days  of  our 
history,  there  is  a  pronounced  tendency  at  present  to  magnify  their 
extent  and  picture  the  town  as  having  been  a  Sodom  without  the 
redeeming  number  of  righteous  citizens.  This  habit  doubtless 
springs  from  the  love  of  paradox  and  a  desire  to  magnify  the 
virtues  of  the  present  at  the  expense  of  the  past.  The  truth  is 
that  the  Littleton  of  old  was  a  comparatively  temperate  town. 
Influences  for  the  amelioration  of  conditions  that  were  the 
growth  of  generations  were  early  at  work.  The  National  Tem- 
perance Society,  the  first  society  in  the  country 'in  the  interest 
of  temperance,  was  organized  in  Boston  in  1827,  and  the  follow- 
ing year  an  auxiliary  society  was  formed  here.  It  must  have 
been  among  the  earliest  in  the  State.  Its  membership  was  large 
and  influential.  Subsequently  the  Washingtonians  and  the  Sons 
of  Temperance  flourished  and  served  to  keep  the  town  well  to  the 
front  at  a  time  when  public  sentiment  in  every  community  was 
antagonistic  to  any  effort  at  reform  except  through  the  agency  of 
moral  suasion. 

When  the  railroad  was  extended  to  the  town,  conditions  were 

1  The  Union  lias  elected  delegates  and  alternates  to  the  State  conventions  since 
1882  as  follows  :  Mrs.  S.  C.  Sawyer,  Mrs.  N.  II.  Knox,  Mrs.  Ray  T.  Gile,  Mrs.  E.  Al- 
drich,  Mrs.  F.  A.  Hobinson,  Mrs.  Henry  F.  Green,  Mrs.  H.  II.  Southworth,  Mrs.  L.  J. 
Austin,  Mrs.  Kosette  W.  Kenney,  Mrs.  L.  M.  Buswell,  Mrs.  Sarah  .J.  Dunforth,  Mrs. 
Jennie  L.  Smith,  Mrs.  II.  C.  Libby,  Mrs.  Frank  B.  Phillips,  Mrs.  Aaron  A.  Eastman, 
Mrs.  J.  II.  Hoffman,  Mrs.  S.  L.  Simonds,  Mrs.  1).  C.  Phillips,  Mrs.  B.  H.  Carbee,  Mrs. 
T.  E.  Cramer,  Mrs.  Ella  B.  Chapman,  Mrs.  A.  F.  Nute,  and  Mrs.  Mary  Sherborn. 


416  History  of  Littleton. 

changed  in  a  marked  degree.  Littleton  became  the  centre  of 
the  lumber  business,  and  a  large  nomadic  population  connected 
with  this  industry  made  it  their  headquarters.  They  were  an 
improvident  race,  and  their  earnings  were  freely  spent  in  excesses 
that  sometimes  brought  them  under  the  restraining  influences  of 
the  police  courts.  Their  conduct  was  naturally  credited  to  the 
town,  and  was  mainly  responsible  for  the  irregularities  that  existed 
from  1850  to  1870.  When  the  railroad  was  built  to  Lancaster 
and  the  White  Mountains,  this  disturbing  element  was  lessened 
but  not  entirely  removed.  Another  and  somewhat  analogous 
cause  of  many  of  these  infractions  of  the  peace  comes  from  the 
fact  that  for  many  years  Littleton  has  been  a  market  town,  where 
the  products  of  neighboring  towns  have  been  disposed  of  and  from 
which  supplies  have  been  drawn.  The  liquor  traffic,  like  all  com- 
mercial enterprises,  is  governed  by  the  law  of  demand  and  supply  ; 
hence  the  town  has  suffered  on  account  of  the  sins  of  men  who 
were  not  numbered  among  its  citizens  and  for  whose  conduct  it 
was  in  no  wise  responsible. 

Nor  should  it  be  forgotten  that  "  law  enforcement  "  at  the 
period  when  the  prohibitory  law  was  an  experiment  was  attended 
with  difficulties  and  vexations  unknown  in  recent  years,  and  re- 
quired a  high  degree  of  moral  as  well  as  physical  courage  on  the 
part  of  those  who  invoked  the  agency  of  the  law  for  the  suppression 
of  the  traffic.  Deacon  John  Merrill  and  Dr.  Adams  Moore  were 
among  the  first  to  institute  legal  proceedings,  with  the  result  that 
some  of  the  dealers  were  required  to  pay  a  fine  and  costs,  while 
the  deacon  was  hung  in  effigy  and  the  doctor's  horse  had  its  tail 
shorn  by  infuriated  ruffians.  The  prosecutions  under  the  direc- 
tion of  D.  C.  Remich  and  others  connected  with  the  several  soci- 
eties that  have  been  organized  for  the  purpose  of  eliminating 
the  liquor  traffic  from  our  list  of  business  enterprises  were  effec- 
tive in  driving  many  dealers  out  of  business,  but  not  in  prevent- 
ing the  sale  of  intoxicants  in  the  town.  Closing  a  bar  or  saloon 

o  O 

enlarged  the  sales  by  druggists,  and  transferred  the  transporta- 
tion of  spirits  from  the  freight  department  of  the  railroad  to  the 
express  company.  The  results  were  largely  on  the  credit  side 
of  the  public  ledger,  for  immense  good  was  accomplished,  but  the 
fiction  that  the  traffic  was  ever  entirely  suppressed  is  not  tenable. 
The  suppression  of  open  bars  and  lounging-places  for  tipplers  was 
achieved,  which  was  a  great  triumph  for  good  morals.  It  may 
justly  be  claimed  that  as  much  was  done  here  in  the  direction 
of  extinguishing  the  sale  of  liquor  as  a  beverage  as  is  possible 
of  accomplishment  under  like  conditions  anywhere. 


Temperance.  417 

The  prohibitory  law  of  1855  was  many  times  amended  and 
always  with  the  purpose  of  strengthening  it,  except  by  an  amend- 
ment to  the  so-called  Nuisance  Act,  passed  by  the  Legislature  of 
1897,  which  provided  that  the  determination  of  the  question 
of  "  nuisance  "  should  be  left  to  the  jury  instead  of  the  court. 
Under  the  Act  of  1855  many  abuses  gradually  came  into  existence, 
some  of  an  intolerable  character  more  detrimental  to  the  public 
welfare  than  those  it  was  designed  to  cure,  and  the  question  of 
its  repeal  was  made  the  principal  issue  in  the  election  of  1902. 
The  people  by  a  decisive  majority  decided  in  favor  of  repeal,  and 
the  Legislature  of  1903  enacted  the  license  law  now  in  force. 
The  chief  features  of  the  present  statute  are  the  creation  of  a 
State  commission  whose  powers  include  the  issuance  of  all  li- 
censes, and  qualified  local  option  covering  saloons  only.  The 
first  expression  of  the  voters  of  the  town  under  this  law  was 
given  at  the  annual  March  meeting  in  1903,  when  the  vote  was 
strongly  against  license.  The  matter  of  licensing  druggists  to 
sell  for  medicinal,  and  dealers  in  hardware  for  mechanical,  pur- 
poses was  not  submitted,  as  under  the  law  these  are  a  matter  of 
right.  The  law  has  not  been  in  operation  a  sufficient  length  of 
time  to  test  its  advantages  or  defects. 


VOL.  ii.  —  27 


418  History  of  Littleton. 


XLIII. 

SCHOOLS. 

BY  MRS.  LYDIA  DREW  JACKSON. 

NEXT  to  the  meeting-house,  the  school-room  was  dear  to  the 
hearts  of  the  settlers  of  New  England,  and  New  Hamp- 
shire early  felt  the  obligation  of  training'  for  good  citizenship  the 
youth  within  her  borders.  While  under  the  jurisdiction  of  Massa- 
chusetts, she  seems  to  have  been  in  full  accord  with  the  educa- 
tional spirit  of  her  sister  colony,  and  when  she  became  a  separate 
province  one  of  the  earliest  legislative  enactments,  in  1(398,  re- 
quired the  selectmen  of  each  town  to  raise  money  by  assessment 
to  build  and  repair  school-houses,  to  provide  a  schoolmaster,  and 
imposed  a  fine  of  ten  pounds  in  case  of  failure  to  comply  with 
this  provision.  In  1791  a  law  was  passed  in  New  Hampshire 
requiring  every  town  of  fifty  householders  to  provide  a  school- 
master to  teach  pupils  to  read  and  write,  and  every  town  of  one 
hundred  householders  to  establish  a  grammar  school,  with  a 
fine  of  twenty  pounds  for  non-compliance.  In  the  Constitution 
adopted  by  the  State  in  1784,  is  a  provision  making  it  the  duty  of 
legislatures  and  magistrates  to  cherish  the  interests  of  literature 
and  science  and  all  seminaries  and  public  schools,  and  an  assess- 
ment of  taxes  for  that  purpose  is  provided  for.  The  builders  of 
the  State  had  the  interest  of  her  citizens  at  heart;  but  Belknap, 
the  historian  of  New  Hampshire,  says  that  when  the  leading  men 
of  a  town  were  themselves  persons  of  knowledge  and  wisdom, 
they  would  provide  means  of  instruction  for  the  children,  yet  when 
the  case  was  otherwise,  they  would  evade  the  law. 

The  citizens  of  Littleton  belonged  to  the  former  class,  though, 
because  the  inhabitants  were  few  in  number  and  their  resources 
scanty,  it  is  not  until  1791  that  we  find  the  first  record  of  an 
appropriation  for  establishing  a  public  school  in  Littleton,  when 
sixteen  bushels  of  wheat  were  voted  "  for  the  use  of  schools  next 
winter."  As  a  bushel  of  wheat  was  worth  at  that  time  75  cents, 
this  appropriation  was  equivalent  to  81-.  The  next  year  the 
same  appropriation  was  made,  and  the  town  was  divided  into 


Schools.  419 

Upper,  Middle,  and  Lower  Districts,  the  dividing  line  of  the  Upper 
and  Middle  being  at  the  parting  of  the  State  and  County  roads 
near  the  Wheeler  farm.  The  Lower  and  the  Upper  were  subdi- 
vided in  1795  and  1799,  and  in  the  latter  year  a  new  district  was 
created,  thus  anticipating  the  action  of  the  Legislature  in  1805, 
which  empowered  towns  to  divide  into  school  districts  and  raise 
and  appropriate  money  for  school  purposes. 

Prior  to  this  time  the  schools  had  been  organized  and  main- 
tained by  the  town  under  the  direction  of  the  Selectmen.     The 
necessity  for   economy    had    overcrowded   the    schools.     It   was 
thought  that  by  multiplying  the  centres  of  control  the  interest  of 
each  individual  would  be  awakened,  and  a  more  constant  super 
vision  of  the  schools  assured ;  and  in  compliance  with  this  law 
the  town  chose  a  committee  of  eight  to  make  the  division  into 
school  districts.     This  committee  —  David  Goodall,  John  Milieu, 
James  Williams,  Peter  Bonney,  Joseph  W.  Morse,  Andrew  Rankin, 
John  Nurs,  and  Samuel  Rankin — reported  at  an  adjourned  meet- 
ing  held    March  26,  1805,  at  the  house    of   Jonas   Nurs.     This 
report  was  rejected,  and  the  meeting  proceeded  to  district  the  town 
to  suit  itself,  though  along  the  same  general  lines  followed  by  the 
committee.    The  language  of  the  record  is  somewhat  obscure,  but  it 
is  evident  that  eight  districts  were  established  at  this  time,  for  the 
meeting  proceeded  to  elect  an  officer  to  build  a  school-house  in 
each  district,  and  these  were  eight  in  number:  Bethuel  White, 
Abijah    Allen,  Isaac    Miner,   James    Jackson,   James    Williams, 
Barney  Haskins,  Joseph  W.  Morse,  and  Alexander  Albee.     The 
meeting  also  chose  eight  collectors  of  school  taxes,  one  for  each 
district,    as   the    law    required.     The    districts    then    established 
retained  their  numbers  for  nearly  a  century,  though  as  occasion 
required  they  were  subdivided,  until  nineteen  districts  in  all  wen- 
created.     Nos.  1,  2,  3  and  4  lay  on  the  Connecticut- River,  begin- 
ning at  Dalton  line  and  extending  to  that  part  of  Lyman  which  is 
now  Monroe.     These  districts,  before  the  numboring  in  1805,  were 
popularly  known  by  the  name   of  some  member  of  the  district 
prominent  in  the   community.     Xo.  1   was   called   the  Cushman 
District,  after   Parker   Cushman  ;    Xo.  2,  the  Williams  District, 
after  James  Williams ;    Xo.  8,  the  Rankin    District,    for  James 
Rankin  ;  Xo.  4,  the  Carter  District,  for  Daniel  Carter. 

The  district  newly  created  in  1799,  called  the  Gilc  District  after 
John  Gilc,  was  subsequently  numbered  5.  "It  began  at  the 
south  line  of  the  land  owned  by  Silas  Wheeler  (where  Albert 
Orr  resides),  ran  toward  Concord,  now  .Lisbon,  far  enough  to 
include  the  Jonas  Nurs  place  (now  owned  by  Frank  Fitch),  and 


420  History  of  Littleton. 

thence  extended  in  the  direction  of  the  cross-road  that  ran  by 
what  is  now  known  as  the  Robins  place,  half-way  to  the  Rankin 
Mills."  No.  6  was  the  Meadow  District,  along  the  Ammonoosuc 
River  to  Lisbon  (then  Concord).  No.  7  was  Mann's  Hill  and  that 
part  of  Farr  Hill  not  included  in  No.  5.  No.  8  comprised  all  the 
territory  included  in  Union  School  District  in  June,  1902.  In 
1811  No.  9  was  set  off  from  No.  4,  but  wras  rejoined  to  its  original 
territory  in  1875.  In  1811  also  No.  10,  Farr  Hill,  was  set  off 
from  No.  5  with  a  small  strip  from  No.  7.  In  1814  parts  of  Dis- 
tricts 3  and  5  were  set  off  as  No.  11.  In  1823  No.  12  was  created 
from  the  northeastern  portion  of  No.  1  along  Mt.  Misery.  In 
1828  No.  13  was  constituted  out  of  the  territory  on  Mt.  Eustis, 
and  No.  8  was  extended  to  the  Bethlehem  line. 

In  1833  the  town  found  it  necessary  to  appoint  a  committee  of 
three,  consisting  of  Ezra  Parker,  Joseph  Palmer,  and  Joseph 
Robins,  to  re-establish  district  boundaries,  and  their  report  was 
accepted  at  the  next  town  meeting.  Five  years  later,  No.  14,  now 
known  as  the  Apthorp  District,  was  set  off  from  No.  8.  No.  15 
was  also  created  from  No.  8,  and  comprised  all  the  territory  in  the 
district  west  of  the  Dr.  Burns  place  (now  School  Street).  In 
1850  parts  of  2,  3,  and  5  were  formed  into  District  No.  16,  but 
these  districts  in  1877  received  again  the  territory  they  had  ceded, 
as  the  necessity  for  this  district  no  longer  existed.  In  1853  No. 
17  was  formed  from  that  part  of  No.  8  lying  south  of  the  Ammo- 
noosuc River.  No.  18  was  formed  in  1854  from  that  part  of  No. 
11  near  Partridge  Pond,  and  in  1859  No.  19  was  established  by 
uniting  a  part  of  No.  11  with  the  northerly  section  of  Walker  Hill 
in  Lisbon. 

The  district  system  established  by  the  law  of  1805  was  greatly 
strengthened  by  the  law  of  1827,  which  deserves  more  than  a 
passing  mention,  as  it  was  much  superior  to  any  previous  school 
legislation  in  its  comprehensiveness,  including  all  that  was  good 
in  past  enactments  and  adding  several  new  provisions  of  great 
value.  In  short,  therein  was  contained  the  nucleus  of  the  modern 
system  of  the  government  and  supervision  of  schools.1 

1  This  act  of  1827  is  important  as  being  the  basis  of  the  modern  school  system  in 
this  State.  It  required  the  Selectmen  to  levy  a  tax  to  be  computed  at  a  rate  of  $00 
for  every  one  dollar  of  their  proportion  of  public  taxes  (the  proportion  of  this  town 
in  1828  was  $3.82),  "  to  be  appropriated  to  the  sole  purpose  of  keeping  one  English 
school  or  schools  within  the  towns  and  places  .  .  .  for  teaching  the  various  sounds 
and  powers  of  the  letters  of  the  English  language,  reading,  writing,  English  grammar, 
arithmetick,  geography,  and  such  other  branches  of  education  as  may  be  necessary 
to  teach  in  an  English  school.  .  .  ." 

Section  2  provided  for  the  division  of  the  money  raised  among  the  districts. 

Section  3  required  the  Selectmen  "  to  appoint  a  superintending  school  committee 


Schools.  421 

As  time  passed  on,  the  district  system,  which  at  first  answered 
well  the  purpose  of  its  establishment,  did  not  accomplish  the  best 
results.  Division  into  so  many  districts  rendered  the  sum  avail- 
able for  each  very  small,  and  it  was  necessary  in  some  instances 
to  have  a  very  short  term  of  school  or  to  hire  inferior  teachers. 
These  conditions  brought  about  an  effort  to  re-establish  the  town 
system.  This  aroused  the  advocates  of  the  district  system,  who 
strengthened  the  law  in  1843  by  procuring  an  act  which  required 
the  Selectmen,  under  penalty  of  $100,  to  make  a  division  into 
school  districts  upon  the  application  of  eleven  legal  voters.  This 
led  to  an  abuse  of  the  system  in  many  towns,  and  in  some  it  was 
carried  to  a  ridiculous  extreme.  In  our  own  town  in  1844  a  district 
was  created  containing  the  farms  of  Jonas  Temple,  Parker  Gush- 
man,  and  a  few  others  on  the  Connecticut  River  ;  but  the  good  sense 
which  this  community  has  ever  evinced  must  have  prevailed,  since 
the  district  was  never  organized.  The  opponents  of  the  district 
system  renewed  their  efforts,  and  in  1885  a  law  was  passed  abol- 
ishing that  system,  and  by  this  act  the  number  of  districts  in  the 
State  was  reduced  from  eighteen  hundred  and  ninety  to  two  hun- 
dred and  seventy-five.  This  law  did  not  affect  districts  formed 
by  special  act  of  Legislature,  of  which  there  were  forty-six  in  New 
Hampshire  at  that  time, —  among  them  the  Union  School  District 
in  Littleton,  which  was  organized  in  1866  under  the  Somcrsworth 

consisting  of  not  less  than  three  nor  more  than  five  persons,"  whose  duty  it  should 
be  to  examine  teachers,  to  visit  the  schools,  and  "enquire  into  the  mode  of  discipline 
and  proficiency  of  scholars  and  to  use  their  influence  .  .  .  that  the  youth  in  the 
several  districts  attend  the  schools."  It  gave  them  power  to  dismiss  teachers  for 
cause,  and  expel  scholars. 

Section  4  authorized  the  committee  to  provide  the  text-books  to  be  used  much  as 
at  present  .  .  .  make  reports,  etc.,  etc. 

Section  6.  Schoolmasters  to  be  citizens  of  the  United  States,  and  other  provisions 
as  to  qualifications,  certificates,  etc. 

Section  7.  Penalty  for  neglecting  to  assess  the  tax  doomed  the  Selectmen  to  pay 
the  full  amount  required  by  law,  etc. 

Section  8  was  as  follows:  "  And  be  it  farther  enncted,  That  it  shall  be  the  duty  of 
the  presidents,  professors,  and  tutors  of  colleges,  and  the  preceptors  and  teachers  of 
academies,  and  all  other  instructors  of  youth  to  take  diligent  care,  and  use  their  best 
endeavors,  to  impress  on  the  minds  of  children  and  youth  committed  to  their  care 
and  instruction,  the  principles  of  piety  and  justice,  and  a  sacred  regard  to  truth, 
love  of  their  country,  humanity  and  benevolence;  sobriety,  industry  and  frugality  ; 
chastity,  moderation,  and  temperance  ;  and  all  other  virtues  which  are  the  ornaments 
of  human  society.  And  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  such  instructors,  to  endeavor  to  lead 
those  under  their  care  into  a  particular  understanding  of  the  tendency  of  the  before- 
mentioned  virtues  to  preserve  and  perfect  a  republican  form  of  government,  and  to 
secure  the  blessings  of  liberty,  as  well  as  to  promote  their  future  happiness;  ami  the 
tendency  of  the  opposite  vices  to  slaverv  and  ruin."  (Session  Laws  of  1M>7,  pp. 
213-217.) 

.Another  law,  passed  at  the  same  session,  authorixed  towns  to  raise  money  to 
build  or  repair  school-houses. 


422  History  of  Littleton. 

Act  of  1848,  which  authorized  any  school  district,  when  the  num- 
ber of  pupils  exceeded  one  hundred,  to  keep  a  high  school  as  the 
interests  of  education  might  require.  In  1857  the  Legislature 
authorized  contiguous  districts  to  unite  for  the  same  purpose. 

The  school-houses  erected  in  1805  by  the  committee  appointed 
for  that  purpose  were  rude,  unpainted  structures,  and  all  probably 
resembled  that  erected  in  District  No.  2,  which  Luther  B.  Town 
thus  describes  :  "  I  first  attended  school  in  1818.  The  school-house 
was  a  small,  low-posted  building,  one  end  of  which  was  occupied 
by  a  large  fireplace.  Around  the  other  end  and  the  sides  ran  a 
long  plank  bench  with  no  desks  in  front.  The  only  furnishing  pro- 
vided for  the  teacher  was  a  chair  —  no  table,  no  reference  books, 
nor  any  of  those  supplies  which  are  so  lavishly  provided  at  the 
present  day.  The  walls  were  bare  ;  in  fact,  the  whole  interior 
and  exterior  were  severely  plain,  and  the  instruction  provided 
within  the  walls  was  equally  simple  in  its  character.  This  build- 
ing fell  to  pieces  in  1830,  so  we  had  no  school  that  year  ;  but 
in  1831  a  new  house  was  built  which  had  desks  as  well  as  seats, 
but  were  all  unpainted  and  faced  the  teacher  in  four  rows  with 
three  aisles  between  ;  one  side  of  this  Avas  occupied  by  a  fireplace 
also,  and  even  then  the  teacher  had  no  table  or  desk." 

The  open  fires  were  disastrous  in  many  cases.  The  live  coals 
falling  upon  the  floor  set  lires  which  were  extinguished  only  when 
the  building  had  gone  up  in  smoke.  In  District-  No.  1  and  No. 
7  the  school-houses  were  lost  in  this  manner,  and  new  ones  erected. 
Stoves  did  not  come  into  use  in  the  outlying  districts  until  1842, 
but  were  used  in  the  village  a  few  years  earlier.  These  stoves 
were  made  in  Franconia.  The  first  school-house  in  District  No.  1. 
and  the  second  in  town,  was  built  on  the  west  side  of  the  road 
between  Parker  Gush  man's  and  Obadiah  Carpenter's.  It  was 
burned  in  1825  from  the  open  fire  as  mentioned,  and  was  rebuilt 
on  the  present  site  near  the-  old  Williams  place.  This  having 
been  burned  in  1853,  a  new  house  was  built  and  is  still  standing. 
In  District  No.  7  the  first  school-house  was  on  the  road  leading 
from  Mann's  to  Farr  Hill,  and  was  burned  by  coals  escaping  from 
the  fireplace  in  1823.  It  was  rebuilt  in  1824,  but  was  so  worn 
out  in  1857  that  it  was  torn  down,  and  the  present  building  was 
erected  near  Mr.  Bartlett's.  In  No.  10,  Farr  Hill,  a  school-house 
was  burned  in  1828,  and  another  was  erected  by  Levi  Hildreth 
during  the  summer  of  the  same  year.  Though  this  had  a  fireplace, 
it  existed  until  it  reached  a  dilapidated  condition,  when  it  was 
torn  down  and  the  present  building  erected  on  the  original  site. 
The  first  school-house  in  the  village  district,  No.  8,  stood,  as 


Schools.  423 

lias  been  mentioned  in  Vol.  I.,  on  the  lot  now  occupied  by  the 
house  of  George  Gile.  This  was  built  under  the  direction  of 
Bethuel  White  in  1805.  As  early  as  1826  the  building  was  in 
such  a  decayed  condition  that  it  was  regarded  by  many  of  our 
citizens  unsuitable  for  school  purposes,  and  they  agitated  the 
question  of  building  a  new  structure,  but  could  not  secure  a  vote 
for  that  purpose.  In  July,  1831,  Elisha  Hinds  bought  of  John 
Bowman  a  tract  of  land  adjoining  the  school-house  lot,  which  he 
deeded  as  a  gift  to  the  district.  It  is  evident  from  the  provisions 
of  the  deed  that  "  Esquire  "  Hinds  contemplated  the  gift  to  the 
village  of  a  structure  on  the  same  lot  to  be  used  for  public  meet- 
ings,1 but  circumstances  soon  after  rendered  the  execution  of  his 
plans,  whatever  they  may  have  been,  impracticable.  After  repeated 
failures  to  obtain  a  vote  of  the  district  authorizing  the  erection 
of  a  new  structure,  the  old  building  was  burned  about  1834.  The 
origin  of  the  fire  was  not  known  for  many  years,  when  the  facts 
were  disclosed.  It  seems  that  a  party  of  citizens,  disguised  as 
Indians,  set  the  building  on  fire  and  remained  on  the  ground  till 
they  saw  that  the  structure  was  doomed. 

1  The  conditions  of  the  deed  of  Elisha  Hinds  to  the  district  were  as  follows  :  "  It 
conveys  a  tract  of  land  with  the  rights  and  privileges  of  building,  repairing,  altering, 
rebuilding,  ami  forever  maintaining  and  using  a  school-house  and  the  other  necessary 
buildings  appurtenant  thereto,  for  the  benefit  of  said  district,  on  a  certain  rectangular 
piece  of  land  in  said  district,  which  I,  said  Hinds,  have  this  day  purchased  of  John 
Bowman, -the  side  lines  of  which  are  seven  rods  and  a  half  a  rod  each  in  length  and 
are  parallel,  and  the  end  lines  of  which  are  each  six  rods  in  length  and  parallel, 
which  piece  of  land  is  the  second  piece  described  in  said  Bowman's  deed  of  this  date 
to  me,  said  Hinds,  and  adjoins  the  northeasterly  side  of  another  piece  of  land  two 
rods  wide,  conveyed  by  said  Bowman  to  said  Hinds  and  the  first  piece  described  in 
said  deed  ;  and  except  the  old  school-house  lot  extending  from  the  road  leading  from 
Glynville  to  Mann's  Hill,  otherwise  called  Allen's  Hill,  in  said  Littleton,  to  the  road 
leading  from  said  village  on  the  northerly  side  of  Ammonoosuc  up  the  river  towards 
Portland,  the  piece  on  which  the  rights  and  privileges  aforesaid  are  granted  is  equi- 
distant from  each  of  said  roads,  and  also  the  right  and  privilege  so  far  as  said  Hinds' 
title  extends  of  having  a  public  highway  laid  out  on  said  piece  of  land  two  rods  wide 
without  said  Hinds  claiming  any  compensation  for  any  damage  by  him  so  sustained, 
and  do  further  by  these  presents  give,  etc.,  the  right  and  privilege  of  using  in  a  con- 
venient and  proper  way  and  manner,  so  long  as  the  schools  of  said  district  are  kept 
on  said  land,  so  much  of  said  land  as  may  be  necessary  for  the  comfortable  and 
pleasant  accommodation  of  the  school  or  schools  which  may  be  kept  or  established 
in  said  district,  and  also  the  right  and  privilege  of  having  or  permitting  a  hall  to  be 
erected  over  said  district  school  room  or  rooms  for  any  of  the  purposes,  political, 
moral,  literary  or  religious,  before  named  in  this  instrument,  and  also  for  any  other 
peaceable  meeting  of  the  good  citi/.i>ns  and  residents  of  this  vicinity.  Said  Hinds 
also  reserves  the  right  to  himself  so  far  as  it  shall  not  interfere  with  and  obstruct 
the  rights  and  privileges  hereby  conveyed,  to  erect,  or  cause  to  be  erected,  or  to  give, 
grant  and  convey  the  right  and  privilege  of  erecting  on  a  part  of  the  same  land 
another  building  or  buildings  for  any  of  the  aforesaid  purposes,  literary,  moral,  or 
religious,  and  for  any  other  peaceable  meetings  of  the  good  citi/ens  and  residents 
of  this  vicinity." 


424  History  of  Littleton. 

The  new  school-house  was  built  on  Union  Street,  on  the  site  now 
occupied  by  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Charles  C.  Smith.1  It  was  a  build- 
ing of  one  story  with  a  side  to  the  road,  and  set  well  back  from 
the  street.  It  contained  two  school-rooms,  one  for  advanced  pupils 
and  the  other  for  the  younger  element,  the  first  attempt  at  grading 
schools  in  the  town.  This  house  was  a  great  improvement  on  the 
prevailing  style  of  school-rooms  at  the  time.  The  seats  and  desks 
were  made  of  pine,  and  each  was  arranged  for  the  accommodation 
of  two  pupils.  The  teacher  sat  upon  a  raised  platform  containing 
a  chair  and  a  table,  with  a  small  blackboard  on  the  wall  behind 
the  desk.  This  was  also  the  first  school-house  in  town  to' be  heated 
with  a  box  stove,  which  was  made  by  the  Franconia  Iron  Company- 
The  house  was  abandoned  for  school  purposes  soon  after  the  organ- 
ization of  Union  School  District,  and  was  purchased  by  Charles  C. 
Smith,  who  used  its  timbers  for  a  part  of  the  house  which  he 
erected  in  1870  and  which  still  stands  on  the  lot  which  reverted 
to  the  heirs  of  John  Bowman  when  the  school-house  was  given 
up  and  was  purchased  from  them  byMr.  Smith. 

In  1853  District  No.  17,  on  the  south  side  of  the  Ammonoosuc 
River,  was  organized,  and  a  new  school-house  built  on  the  lot  now 
occupied  by  the  residence  of  George  C.  Smith,  which  a  newspaper 
of  the  time  thus  describes:  "The  rooms  are  very  pleasant  and 
well  planned,  and  the  furniture  is  superior  to  that  we  have  ever 
seen  before.  It  was  bought  of  S.  Wales,  Jr.,  in  Boston.  The  desks 
are  for  two  scholars,  all  made  with  immovable  tops,  the  bottom 
forming  shelves  for  books,  etc.,  underneath.  Every  desk  is  fur- 
nished with  a  glass  ink-well  with  metal  cover,  and  is  also  grooved 
for  pens,  pencils,  etc.  In  brief,  the  school-house,  in  respect  to 
style,  construction,  convenience  of  arrangement,  elegance  of  finish, 
furniture,  and  means  of  ventilation,  as  well  as  amplitude  of 
grounds,  may  be  pointed  to  as  a  model."  This  building  was 
moved  and  converted  into  a  dwelling-house  when  Union  School 
District  was  formed. 

It  is  difficult  to  realize,  in  these  days  of  the  multiplicity  of  text- 
books, how  meagre  was  the  supply  in  the  early  days  of  the  last 
century.  The  speller  and  the  arithmetic  were  the  only  books  in 
which  there  was  any  uniformity.  There  were  no  reading-books 
extant,  but  each  pupil  carried  from  home  some  book  in  which  to 
read,  and  these  were  varied  in  character,  —  some  reading  from  the 
Bible,  some  from  a  history,  and  a  favored  few  from  the  "  Columbian 
Orator."  At  a  later  period  the  demand  for  text-books  caused  the 
publication  of  such  books  on  different  subjects,  and  about  1823  came 

1  Tlie  lot  deeded  by  Elisha  Hinds,  or  a  part  of  it. 


Schools.  425 

into  use  Murray's  Readers  and  a  grammar  by  the  same  author  ;  also 
Woodbridge's  Geography,  with  maps.  Miss  Rankin,  a  former  pupil 
in  No.  3  and  afterward  a  distinguished  teacher  in  our  own  town 
and  in  other  States,  writes  as  follows  :  "  The  maps  accompanying 
Woodbridge's  Geography,  which  were  the  first  we  ever  saw,  pre- 
sented a  new  world  to  our  vision,  and  the  one  particularly  which 
represented  the  moral  condition  of  the  world  was  a  revelation  which 
stirred  the  depths  of  the  soul.  From  the  pictured  representations 
we  learned  that  a  great  portion  of  the  world  was  buried  in  profound 
darkness,  a  less  portion  in  semi-darkness,  and  but  two  or  three 
bright  spots  indicated  that  light  and  knowledge  prevailed.  It  was 
while  seriously  contemplating  the  map  of  the  various  civilizations 
of  the  world  in  that  distant  school-house  that  my  resolutions  were 
formed  to  go  personally  to  some  of  those  dark  domains  of  hea- 
thenism and  bear  the  torch  of  truth  to  souls  for  whom  Christ 
died.  From  Murray's  Reader  came  also  an  inspiration  from  the 
hands  of  a  pious  writer  —  the  sentiments  of  which  I  adopted  as  a 
part  of  my  life,  and  often  in  after  years  repeated  experimentally  : 
*  Should  Fate  command  me  to  the  farthest  verge  of  the  green 
earth,  to  distant  barbarous  climes,  rivers  unknown  to  song,  where 
first  the  sun  gilds  Indian  mountains,  or  his  setting  beam  flames 
on  the  Atlantic  isles,  't  is  naught  to  me,  since  God  is  ever  present, 
ever  felt,  and  where  he  vital  breathes  there  must  be  joy.' ':  Miss 
Rankin  also  adds  that,  "  As  a  passing  and  merited  tribute  to 
Lindley  Murray,  I  will  say  that  no  better  selection  of  matter  for 
the  formation  of  mind  and  character  was  ever  presented  to  our 
schools  than  was  found  in  the  old-fashioned  and  now  obsolete 
'  English  Reader.'  " 

A  fe\v  years  later,  Whelpley's  Compcnd  of  Ancient  History 
was  added  to  the  curriculum  for  advanced  pupils.  In  these  days 
of  kindergarten  methods,  when  the  sole  aim  is  to  keep  the  interest 
of  the  children  unflagging,  the  poor  little  urchin  who  sat  on  the 
rough  benches  in  the  early  days  awakens  our  pity.  No  bright 
pegs,  string  of  beads,  or  gayly-colored  pictures  to  divert  his  mind, 
but  every  active  muscle  strained  to  keep  still  until  he  should  be 
called  to  toe  a  crack  and  learn  his  letters  from  the  spelling-book, 
in  the  back  part  of  which  he  afterwards  read  until  he  was  advanced 
to  the  New  Testament ! 

The  scarcity  of  books,  though  a  drawback  in  many  respects, 
still  had  one  advantage.  The  pupil  became  thoroughly  acquainted 
with  the  contents  of  the  few  books  within  his  reach,  instead  of 
having  a  superficial  knowledge  of  many,  as  is  apt  to  be  the  case 
to-day.  The  poor  boy  or  girl  who  could  procure  no  books  was 


426  History  of  Littleton. 

in  sad  straits  until  the  law  passed  in  1827  required  that  pupils 
should  be  well  supplied  with  books  at  the  expense  of  parents  and 
guardians,  and,  in  case  they  were  not  able,  at  the  public  expense. 
Tn  1858  a  law  was  passed  that  text-books  must  continue  in  use 
for  three  years  from  the  time  of  introduction,  and  not  more  than 
one  such  book  or  series  of  books  used  in  each  class  of  schools 
could  be  changed  in  any  year.  In  1883  an  act  was  passed  author- 
izing any  town  or  district  to  raise  money  by  taxation  or  otherwise, 
for  supplying  pupils  in  the  common  schools  with  text-books  free 
of  charge.  Several  efforts  had  been  made  to  pass  a  compulsory 
free-text-book  law,  but  without  result  until  the  session  of  the 
Legislature  of  1889,  when  a  bill  was  introduced  by  William  H. 
Mitchell  of  Littleton,  then  a  member  of  the  Senate,  and  largely 
through  his  efforts  and  in  the  face  of  strenuous  opposition  the 
present  law  was  passed.  Because  of  the  aid  given  by  this  law, 
many  a  pupil  has  received  instruction  in  our  schools  for  a  longer 
period  than  would  have  been  possible  if  his  parents  had  been 
obliged  to  provide  books. 

This  question  of  text-books  and  suitable  teachers  rendered 
necessary  some  supervision  of  the  schools,  and  this  need  was  met 
very  early  in  the  history  of  education  in  our  town.  In  1808 
an  act  was  passed  making  it  the  duty  of  towns  "  to  appoint  a 
committee  of  three  or  four  persons  who  should  visit  and  inspect 
the  schools  annually  in  a  manner  which  they  might  judge  most 
conducive  to  the  progress  of  Literature,  Morality,  and  Religion." 
In  compliance  with  this  act  school  inspectors  were  chosen  in 
Littleton  in  1809.  This  board  consisted  of  Rev.  David  Goodall, 
Dr.  William  Burns,  and  Robert  Charlton;  the  next  year  Joseph  E. 
Dow  succeeded  Mr.  Charlton.  Judge  Batchellor,  in  an  article  on 
Joseph  E.  Dow  published  in  the  proceedings  of  the  Grafton  and 
Cob's  Bar  Association,  has  rescued  from  oblivion  a  characterization 
of  these  gentlemen  as  they  appeared  to  the  irreverent  minds  of 
some  of  the  pupils,  expressed  in  the  following  lines  attributed  to 
David  Goodall,  Jr. :  - 

"  Lord,  have  pity 
On  this  committee 
That  stands  before  us  now. 
There  's  Old  Bald  Head 
And  Wooden  Leg 
And  Popple  Headed  Dow." 

This    board   evidently   fulfilled  the   duties  of  the   position   in    an 
acceptable   manner,  for  they   were   re-elected    for    three   succes- 


«5T7*- 


. .  'Jif  'A 

.    a-£-.  *: 


Kii.m  K\    SCHOOL    lU 


Schools.  427 

sive  years,  when  John  Charlton  took  the  place  of  Joseph  E. 
Dow.1 

There  is  a  break  in  the  record  of  these  inspectors,  but  they 
were  evidently  appointed,  as  some  old  receipts  for  money  paid  for 
inspecting  schools  have  come  down  to  us,  though  no  record  for 
those  years  is  found  in  the  books. 

Under  the  law  of  1827  we  find  recorded  the  names  of  five  who 
were  chosen  as  superintending  school  committee  :  Drury  Fairbank, 
Walter  Charlton,  William  Burns,  Richard  Peabody,  and  Guy  C.  Rix. 
But  in  1833  complaints  of  the  expense  of  supporting  superintend- 
ing school  committee  were  so  numerous  that  an  act  was  passed 
allowing  towns  to  dispense  with  them  ;  this  was  repealed  in  1846. 

The  election  of  a  prudential  committee  was  also  authorized  by 
the  law  of  1827.  This  officer  was  the  guardian  of  expenditures. 
He  called  the  district  meetings  together,  selected  and  contracted 
for  the  teachers  in  the  district,  provided  them  board,  and  fur- 
nished necessary  fuel.  He  could  not  employ  teachers,  however, 
until  the  superintending  school  committee  had  certified  to  their 
qualifications.  This  law  was  amended  at  different  times,  but 
the  duties  of  the  committee  remained  about  the  same,  and  in 
1872  "  female  citizens  "  were  allowed  to  hold  the  office  of  such 
committee ;  but  Littleton  has  never  honored  this  portion  of  her 
citizenship  by  an  election  to  this  office.2  In  1886  the  town  system 
was  established,  and  from  that  date  a  Board  of  Education  consist- 
ing of  three  members  was  chosen  each  year,  until  1903,  when  by 
an  act  of  the  Legislature  the  schools  of  the  town  were  united  with 
Union  School  District  under  the  control  of  the  same  Board  of 
Education. 

The  money  necessary  for  the  support  of  schools  has  been 
raised  by  taxation;  the  first  assessment  bein<r,  as  we  have 
said,  in  1791,  when  sixteen  bushels  of  wheat,  value  7o  cents  a  bushel? 
were  appropriated.  Two  years  later  the  appropriation  was  in- 
creased from  sixteen  to  thirty  bushels  of  wheat,  or  from  Sl2  to 
S22.50,  and  the  appropriation  was  not  again  increased  until  1796, 
when  S40  was  raised  for  schools,  and  in  1800,  £100  was  appro- 
priated. That  our  citizens  have  always  boon  liberal  in  appropri- 
ations for  schools  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  in  1900,  one  hundred 
years  later,  the  sum  available  for  the  support  of  schools  was 
$13,1,54.99.  Before  1821  direct  taxation  was  the  only  method 

1  A  full  list  of  school  inspectors  ami  superintending  school  committees,  MS  well  as 
the  members  of  the  Board  of  Education,  will  be  found  in  the  statistical  history  of  this 
volume. 

-  hi  March  of  the  present  year  (1904)  two  women  were  elected,  Mrs.  William  II. 
Bellows  and  Julia  A.  Eaton. 


428  History  of  Littleton. 

by  which  money  was  raised  for  educational  purposes.  In  that 
year  the  Literary  Fund  was  established  by  the  Legislature  for  the 
sole  purpose  of  endowing  and  supporting  a  college  for  instruc- 
tion in  the  higher  branches;  but  in  1828  this  idea  was  abandoned, 
and  the  money  divided  among  the  towns  of  the  State  for  the  use 
of  the  common  schools.  This  fund  is  raised  by  a  tax  on  savings- 
banks,  trust  companies,  and  the  deposits,  stocks,  and  accumula- 
tions of  depositors  in  such  institutions  and  incidental  holdings  of 
savings-banks,  and  trust  companies  not  resident  in  the  State.  In 
1890  the  dog  tax  was  added  to  the  money  available  for  school 
purposes.  In  the  year  1900  Littleton  received  $415  from  the 
Literary  Fund  and  $360  from  the  dog  tax.  In  1852  Littleton 
ranked  twenty-seventh  among  the  two  hundred  and  twenty-five 
towns  in  the  State  and  seventh  among  the  thirty-seven  towns  in 
Grafton  County,  in  the  per  cent  of  school  money  raised  above  the 
amount  required  by  law.  In  1853  Littleton  stood  second  among 
the  towns  in  the  State  and  first  among  the  towns  in  the  county. 

The  compensation  for  teaching  has  increased  in  like  ratio  with 
the  appropriations.  In  a  bundle  of  old  receipts  we  find  the 
following:  - 

LITTLETON,  March  22"?  A.D.  1811. 

Received  of  the  Selectmen  of  this  town  forty-two  Dollars  by  the  hand 
of  Ebenezer  Filigree,  Collector  in  District  No.  2  for  teaching  the  school 
in  said  District  three  months  last  past  at  fourteen  Dollars  per  month. 

HUHP.AUD  CARTER. 

LITTLETON,  26  August,  1815. 

Received  of  Richard  Peabody  twelve  dollars  in  full  for  my  teaching 
school  in  Littleton  three  months  the  present  year. 

POLLY  THORNTON. 

Forty  years  later  a  schoolmistress  received  $25,  and  a  master 
$34  a  month.  These  prices  included  board,  which  was  reckoned 
as  worth  $1.50  a  week. 

The  first  school  for  special  training  of  teachers  was  established  by 
Rev.  S.  R.  Hall,  a  Congregational  minister  who  opened  an  academy 
at  Concord,  Vt.,  in  1823.  This  has  been  termed  "  the  first  real 
Normal  School  on  the  American  Continent."1  From  this  school 
Littleton  obtained  teachers,  and  most  of  the  young  men  and 
maidens  received  the  higher  education.  Mr. 
established  a  similar  school  at  Plymouth,  where  Mftwrmi  Raukin, 
a  former  pupil  from  Littleton,  became  his  assistant.  This  was 

1  Bush's  History  of  Education  in  New  Hampshire,  published  by  order  of  Con- 
gress, p.  42. 


Schools.  429 

many  years  before  the  Xormal  School  was  established  there  by 
the  State  in  1870.  Littleton  has  depended  largely  on  this  institu- 
tion for  her  teachers,  and  the  standard  of  education  has  thereby 
been  raised  ;  for  though  normal  instruction  cannot  make  a  teacher 
of  one  lacking  that  indefinable  quality  which  is  the  necessary 
possession  of  every  man  or  woman  who  achieves  success  in  this 
profession,  yet  to  such  a  one  the  training  given  develops  and  per- 
fects this  natural  talent.  All  the  laws  respecting  teachers  have 
required  that  they  should  be  of  good  moral  character,  and  Little- 
ton has  been  especially  fortunate  in  this  regard.  Nearly  all  her 
teachers  have  stimulated  in  their  pupils  a  desire  for  knowledge, 
and  have  aided  in  developing  their  mental  and  moral  faculties  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  give  the  right  impulse  and  direction  to  their 
lives. 

Among  these,  beside  Robert  Charlton  and  Ansel  Hatch,  whose 
connection  with  the  schools  has  been  considered  at  length  in 
Vol.  I.,  were  the  Rev.  Mr.  Churchill,  a  Baptist  minister  in  the  first 
years  of  the  nineteenth  century  ;  General  Cushman,  a  distinguished 
lawyer  in  Maine;  Gen.  Jacob  Benton  and  William  Hey  wood; 
Reuben  Benton,  prominent  in  the  political  life  of  Essex  County, 
Vt. :  Edmund  Holmes,  brother  of  Ariel,  who  taught  in  District 
No.  2  in  1827  and  1828  and  was  an  excellent  teacher,  as  was  also 
Samuel  Fletcher,  captain  in  the  militia,  who  afterwards  went  to 
Lyndon,  Vt.  One  of  the  best  teachers  of  this  period  was  Loreu 
Saucer,  of  St.  Johnsbury,  Vt.,  afterwards  a  graduate  of  Dart- 
mouth. When  Mr.  Palmer,  who  was  committee  that  year,  wished 
to  hire  Mr.  Spencer,  he  was  amazed  because  he  would  not  come  for 
less  than  £14  per  month  and  board.  Such  a  high  price  for  teach- 
ing school  was  unheard  of !  After  recovering  a  little  from  his 
amazement,  he  said,  if  he  had  to  pay  that  sum,  Mr.  Spencer  must 
teach  twenty-six  days  in  a  month  and  have  no  holidays  or  half- 
holidays.  Under  these  conditions  he  taught  three  months,  and 
was  a  good  disciplinarian  as  well  as  instructor.  William  Hubbard 
also  taught  in  Xo.  1  very  acceptably  and  afterwards  became  noted 
as  a  constructor  of  steamboats.  Stephen  Stanley  Hill,  who  mar- 
ried the  eldest  sister  of  Harry  and  George  A.  Bingham.  also  made 
his  mark  as  a  capable  teacher,  and  later  was  a  California  pioneer. 
Among  others  were  P.  F.  Davidson,  afterward  a  Baptist  minister, 
as  was  his  father  before  him  :  Salmon  II.  Rowell,  Roby  Curtis 
Town,  Job  Pingree,  Guy  C.  Rix,  Douglas  Robins,  Joseph  Robins, 
Jr.,  and  Douglass  R.  Dexter. 

Richard  W.  Peabody  was  a  famous  teacher  in  these  early  days. 
He  was  a  man  of  vigor  and  of  undoubted  courage,  —  useful  ad- 


430  History  of  Litthton. 

juncts  at  a  time  when  the  larger  boys  intended  to  run  matters 
if  there  was  a  weak  point  in  the  disciplinary  armor  of  the  teacher. 
In  a  school  which  he  taught  one  winter,  the  boys  formed  a  con- 
spiracy "  to  clean  Peabody  out,"  as  they  expressed  it.  One  night 
they  turned  a  white  horse  into  the  school-room.  Arriving  in  the 
morning,  Mr.  Peabody  saw  how  matters  stood.  Nothing  daunted, 
he  compelled  them  to  drive  out  the  horse,  to  take  brooms  and 
water,  and  no  rest  and  no  school  were  allowed  until  the  room 
was  restored  to  its  original  state  of  cleanliness.  There  was  no 
further  trouble  in  that  district. 

Daniel  Wise,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  the  celebrated  Methodist  author 
and  divine,  was  a  faithful  and  efficient  instructor  in  District  No.  5. 
Samuel  B.  Page,  the  well-known  lawyer  of  Haverhill,  also  met  with 
success  as  a  teacher.  George  Strecter  began  his  career  as  a  teacher 
in  our  schools.  He  afterwards  practised  law  in  New  York  and 
became  a  municipal  judge.  In  the  Civil  War  period  Hiram  K. 
Dewey,  now  cashier  of  the  bank  at  Barton,  Vt.,  taught  in  District 
No.  13.  Daniel  Wilkins,  son  of  Philip  C.  Wilkins,  the  surveyor, 
also  was  famous  as  a  local  mathematician  as  well  as  teacher. 

Frank  Peirce,  late  a  prominent  business  man  in  Michigan,  and 
Elisha  May,  a  noted  lawyer  of  St.  Johnsbury,  Vt.,  taught  in 
Littleton  in  their  early  manhood,  and  gave  satisfaction.  The  late 
Warren  Mclntire  was  a  noted  teacher  for  more  than  thirty  years. 
Not  a  strict  disciplinarian,  he  yet  had  a  happy  faculty  of  arousing 
the  interest  of  the  pupils,  thus  insuring  the  best  possible  discipline, 
that  which  comes  from  earnest  labor.  He  taught  in  New  England 
and  in  New  Jersey  and  the  Western  States,  filling  acceptably  all  tin; 
positions  to  which  he  was  called.  Something  of  romance  gathers 
about  the  school-houses  in  District  No.  8. 

Among  the  teachers  in  the  house  located  on  Pleasant  Street 
was  Calvin  Ainsworth,  Avho  taught  during  the  winter  months 
when  the  strong  arm  was  needed  and  whose  alternate  during  the 
summer  term  was  Eliza  Bellows.  Their  association  as  teachers 
while  he  was  a  law  student  in  her  brother's  office  ultimately  led  to 
their  marriage.  When  the  new  house  was  erected  on  Union  Street 
in  183G,  a  similar  situation  aroused  the  same  sentiments  in  the 
hearts  of  Charles  R.  Morrison,  afterwards  a  prominent  lawyer  and 
judge  of  the  State,  and  Susan  Fitch,  both  of  whom  taught  in  this 
building,  and  were  united  in  marriage  soon  after. 

Among  the  young  women   who  made  successful  teachers  were 
the  daughters  of  Gen.  David  Rankin,  Clarissa,  Melinda,  Mabina. 
Harriet,  and   Persis,  who   began  to  teach  when  very  young,  — 
Melinda  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  —  and  Hannah  G.  Peabody,  who  is 


Schools.  431 

still  living.  At  the  same  early  period  may  be  mentioned  the  Tift 
sisters  and  the  Rowell  sisters.  The  daughters  of  Parker  Cush- 
inan,  Betsey  and  Rebecca,  are  remembered  as  teachers  of  fine 
character,  and  as  meeting  with  much  success  in  their  calling,  as 
is  also  Lavinia  Gile,  the  daughter  of  John  Gile  and  mother  of 
F.  A.  Eastman.  Others  are  Isabel  Charlton,  Polly  Thornton, 
Lydia  Dexter ;  Susan  and  Jennie  Abbott,  daughters  of  Capt. 
Isaac  Abbott,  who  respectively  married  John  and  Wallace  Lind- 
say ;  Adaline  Owen,  from  St.  Johnsbury,  who  married  Lieut. 
Edward  Kilburn  ;  and  Joan  Stevens,  afterwards  the  wife  of  Judge 
Rand. 

Those  of  a  later  date  who  achieved  success  were  Hannah  B. 
Farr,  Luella  J.  Gould,  Sarah  E.  Blair,  Caroline  Farr  (Mrs.  B.  F. 
Page),  Martha  Goodwin,  Olive  Goodwin,  sisters  of  Major  Sam- 
uel G.  Goodwin,  and  the  Calhoun  sisters,  daughters  of  James 
Calhoun,  all  of  whom  are  given  high  praise  for  their  successful 
methods. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  all  the  reports  of  the  superintending 
school  committee  have  not  been  handed  down  in  the  printed  page, 
for  the  few  to  which  we  have  access  furnish  a  vivid  picture  of  the 
schools  and  the  personality  of  the  teacher,  at  least  as  she  appeared 
to  her  superintendent,  whose  frankness  in  discussing  the  qualifi- 
cations of  each  teacher  under  his  supervision  seems  startling  in 
this  age,  when  it  is  the  custom  to  refrain  from  any  criticism  of  our 
public  servants,  except  fulsome  praise.  How  would  the  modern 
schoolmistress  like  to  see  herself  described  as  "  not  up  with  the 
times  ; "  "  too  quiet,  without  enthusiasm  enough  to  be  a  good 
teacher,"  or  "wanting  the  staid  dignity  of  instructress"?  Quite 
as  well,  perhaps,  as  to  see  herself  described  as  u  moving  about 
the  school-room  with  ease  and  gracefulness,"  or  occupying  a 
"school-house  that  was  without  a  broom  and  decidedly  dirty." 

Having  done  his  duty  by  the  teachers,  the  superintendent,  in 
his  report,  turns  his  pen  to  the  parents.  They  are  told  in  one 
district  that,  while  they  have  little  means,  they  have  quite  as  little 
ambition.  Their  school-house  is  without  a  latch,  and  the  door 
fastened  with  a  chip ;  the  sill  is  so  low  that  water  runs  into  the 
school-house.  Another '  district  is  rebuked  for  not  providing  a 
broom,  a  shovel,  and  a  stove.  Still  another  is  told  that,  though 
a  wealthy  district,  its  school-house  is  the  lowest  in  the  scale,  and 
that  he  "  trusts  that  the  report  that  they  are  to  build  a  new  one  is 
true." 

Then,  too,  parents  are  warned  to  bring  up  their  children  at 
home  so  they  will  behave  better  in  school,  arc  scored  for  allowing 


432  History  of  Littleton. 

their  children  to  be  absent  and  tardy,  admonished  to  visit  the 
schools  often  so  the  children  will  not  be  so  "  coy,"  and  urged  to 
cease  their  bickerings  in  those  districts  where  they  find  it  incom- 
patible with  their  feelings  to  live  in  peace.  One  of  these  conflicts 
grew  so  rancorous  that  the  clerk  of  a  district  refused  to  make  a 
certified  copy  of  the  vote  to  repair  a  school-house  to  which  he  was 
opposed,  thus  preventing  the  Selectmen  from  assessing  the  tax. 
Sometimes  the  prudential  committee  came  in  for  a  pen-lashing 
because  he  failed  in  the  duties  prescribed  for  his  office,  so  that 
the  office  of  superintending  school  committee  seems  to  have  also 
made  the  incumbent  a  censor  of  the  manners,  morals,  and  general 
conduct  of  the  community. 

One  of  the  great  difficulties  between  residents  of  the  districts 
and  the  superintendent  was  the  subject  of  text-books.  Parents 
refused  to  purchase  new  text-books,  thinking  that  those  books 
which  were  good  enough  in  their  day  and  generation  would  serve 
for  their  children.  One  superintendent  who  firmly  insisted  on 
furnishing  a  class  of  ten  pupils  who  were  using  five  different 
kinds  of  readers  with  a  uniform  text-book  adopted  by  the  town, 
encountered  a  storm  of  protest  from  a  public  meeting  called  by 
the  residents  of  the  district,  and  only  by  the  most  positive  insist- 
ence was  he  able  to  execute  his  purpose.  The  matter  of  school 
furnishings  seems  to  have  been  neglected  here  as  elsewhere,  for 
in  1851)  we  read  that  only  two  schools  in  town  have  maps,  globes, 
and  charts,  and  very  few  had  even  blackboards.  The  inventor  of 
blackboards  for  the  use  of  schools  was  the  Rev.  Samuel  R.  Hall, 
who  established  the  training  school  in  Concord,  Vt.  In  1875  the 
superintendent  rejoices  that  while  there  are  many  necessary  fur- 
nishings lacking  yet,  all  school-rooms  have  blackboards.  Quite  an 
advance ! 

A  movement,  often  attempted  but  long  delayed,  was  brought  to 
a  successful  conclusion  in  1866,  when  the  village  districts,  Nos. 
8,15,  and  IT,  were  united  in  Union  School  District.  This  move- 
ment met  with  some  opposition,  arising  chiefly  from  a  fear  that 
the  village  at  that  time  was  not  in  a  financial  position  to  undertake 
what  was  regarded  as  an  expensive  enterprise.1 

Each  of  these  districts,  at  meetings  Called  for  that  purpose, 
voted  in  favor  of  the  union,  and  in  April,  1866,  the  first  meeting 
of  Union  School  District  was  held  at  the  old  school-house  in 
No.  8.  This  district  organized  under  the  Somcrsworth  Act. 

1  Accurate  details  of  proceedings  of  several  school  meetings  cannot  be  given,  as 
the  records  were  destroyed  by  the  burning  of  the  residence  of  13.  ¥.  Uobinson,  who 
was  at  that  time  the  clerk  of  Union  School  District. 


Schools.  433 

George  A.  Bingham,  Franklin  Tilton,  Franklin  J.  Eastman,  James 
R.  Jackson,  and  George  Fan*  were  chosen  a  superintending  school 
committee.  The  prudential  committee  consisted  of  George  A. 
Bingham,  Franklin  Tilton,  and  Franklin  J.  Eastman,  and  this 
organization  with  these  officers  continued  until  the  reorganization 
was  effected  under  the  Concord  Act,  two  years  later,  and  the 
organization  of  a  Board  of  Education.  Fending  the  erection  of 
a  school  building,  schools  were  held  in  1866  and  1867  in  the  old 
district  school-houses. 

The  location  of  the  school-house,  as  is  often  the  case,  was  a 
matter  of  contention.  The  committee  had  purchased  a  lot  of 
Franklin  tK Tilton  and  T.  E.  Sanger,  a  part  of  which  is  now  occu- 
pied by  the  Maples.  This  selection  was  not  satisfactory  to 
the  residents  of  old  District  No.  8,  who,  not  improperly  perhaps, 
claimed  that  it  was  too  far  removed  from  the  centre  of  population. 
In  order  to  preserve  harmony  and  insure  the  consummation  of 
plans  then  matured,  George  A.  Bingham  and  William  J.  Bellows 
purchased  of  the  heirs  of  Francis  Hodgman  all  the  land  then  known 
as  the  Burns  pasture,  and  deeded  to  the  district  the  lot  on  which 
the  High  School  building  was  subsequently  erected.  This  selec- 
tion, on  the  whole,  was  far  more  satisfactory  to  the  district. 

The  plans  for  the  new  building  were  drawn  by  Edward  Dow,  a 
Concord  architect.  The  foundation  was  begun  in  the  spring  of 

1866.  A   contract  for  the  erection  of   the  frame  and  covering 
it  was  made  with  Jeremiah  B.  Copp,  who  proceeded  with  the  work 
until  autumn,  when  a  violent  storm  levelled  the  building  with  the 
ground.     This  misfortune  delayed  the  construction  until  the  spring 
of  1877,  when  Charles  Nurse  erected  a  new  frame  and  Dunn  & 
Chandler  took  the  contract  for  finishing  the  building.     In  1868 
the  school-house  was  ready  for  occupancy,  having  cost  837,000. 

The  building  has  been  several  times  remodelled.  The  lower 
floor  remained  unaltered  until  the  summer  of  1003,  when  it  was 
changed  to  provide  an  office  room  for  the  superintendent.  The 
second  story,  as  originally  designed,  contained  rooms  for  the  High 
and  Grammar  schools,  the  partition  separating  them  being  at  first 
of  glass. 

The  bell  began  calling  the  pupils  to  their  duties  in  September 

1867,  but   the    building  was  without  a  clock    until   1875.  when 
Moses  A.   Dow,  the  founder  of  Dow  Academy,  generously  gave 
the    beautiful    and    expensive    timepiece    which    now    ornaments 
the  building,  ticking  a  warning  of  the  flight  of  time  to  dilatory 
pupils. 

The  first  principal  engaged  was  A.  B.  Putney,  but  on  account 
VOL.  ii.  —  28 


434  History  of  Littleton. 

of  illness  he  was  unable  to  assume  the  position,  and  C.  E.  Har- 
rington, now  a  Congregational  minister  of  distinction,  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  position.  It  was  a  difficult  task  to  grade  the 
schools,  but  Mr.  Harrington  was  a  vigorous  man,  intellectually 
and  physically,  with  an  immense  capacity  for  work,  and  he 
accomplished  great  results  during  his  year  of  service. 

The  second  principal  of  the  High  School  was  Franklin  J.  Burn- 
ham,  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth,  1869.  He  had  taught  several 
terms  previous  to  his  year  in  Littleton,  and  had  served  three  years 
in  the  Civil  War.  This  was  a  factor  in  his  success,  discipline 
being  one  of  the  marked  features  of  his  principalship.  He  con- 
tinued the  work  of  grading  and  organizing  the  school,  arranged 
courses  of  study,  and  issued  the  first  catalogue.  He  afterward 
studied  law  in  Chicago  University,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar, 
but  became  president  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Moorhead, 
Minn.,  and  gradually  withdrew  from  the  practice  of  his  profession 
to  give  his  entire  attention  to  that  financial  institution. 

The  one-year  rule,  so  detrimental  to  the  best  interest  of  the 
school,  was  broken  by  the  retention  of  the  successor  of  Mr.  Burn- 
ham  for  three  years.  Mr.  John  J.  Ladd,  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth 
in  1852,  and  a  teacher  in  many  prominent  schools  before  he  came 
to  Littleton,  entered  upon  his  duties  as  principal  of  our  High 
School  in  1870.  His  valuable  experience  as  a  teacher,  his  per- 
sonal magnetism  and  enthusiasm  for  his  work  rendered  him  a 
valuable  man  for  the  position,  and  at  first  he  raised  the  school  to 
a  high  rank;  but  the  latter  part  of  his  stay  he  devoted  more  time 
to  outside  affairs  than  to  the  school,  and  his  resignation  was 
accepted  with  less  reluctance  on  this  account. 

Returning  to  the  one-year  term,  Frank  I).  Hutchins  took  charge 
for  the  year  beginning  September,  1873.  He  is  reported  to  have 
been  a  thorough,  impartial,  scholarly,  and  in  every  sense  highly 
competent  instructor.  He  was  graduated  at  Dartmouth,  and  had 
taught  school  before  coming  to  Littleton.  He  afterwards  studied 
for  admission  to  the  bar,  was  successful  and  practised  a  few  years, 
but  at  length  became  cashier  of  the  Lancaster  National  Bank, 
with  which  he  is  still  connected. 

Frank  P.  Moulton  was  graduated  from  Bates  College  in  1874,  at 
the  head  of  his  class.  He  came  from  that  institution  to  the  prin- 
cipalship  of  the  Littleton  High  School,  where  his  fine  scholarship 
and  aptness  in  instruction  were  greatly  appreciated  for  the  three 
years  that  he  remained.  He  has  always  been  a  progressive 
teacher,  and  is  now  professor  of  Latin  in  the  Providence,  R.  I., 
lliu'h  School. 


FKAN K    1'.  MI urn >\. 
DAN  \    1'.  DA.MK. 


FKANKI.IN   J.  l!i  UN  HAM. 

OlAKI.K-.    I'!.    H  AKKIM,  1  <  i\. 

[••UN   J.  LAUD. 

HIGH    SCHOOL    PRINCIPALS 


Schools.  435 

Another  graduate  of  Dartmouth,  B.  F.  Robinson,  taught  during 
the  years  1877  and  1878.  He  was  a  fine  disciplinarian  and  paid 
special  attention  to  the  study  of  English,  —  a  department  of  instruc- 
tion which  had  been  neglected,  —  and  many  of  his  former  pu- 
pils attribute  whatever  proficiency  they  have  in  this  study  to 
the  teaching  of  Mr.  Robinson.  He  married  one  of  Littleton's 
daughters,  Miss  Adelaide  Kilburn,  and  for  a  time  devoted  himself 
to  a  share  in  Littleton  journalism,  but  retained  his  interest  in 
school  affairs.  He  finally  returned  to  his  old  profession,  and 
became  superintendent  of  schools  in  Mclrose,  Mass. 

Upon  Mr.  Robinson's  resignation,  Austin  H.  Kenerson  was 
secured  as  teacher.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth,  and  had 
much  experience  in  teaching  before  assuming  the  position  at 
Littleton,  which  he  filled  in  an  able  manner.  Under  him  the 
schools  attained  a  high  degree  of  excellence,  and  the  second  class 
ever  graduated  from  our  High  School  finished  their  course  in  the 
summer  of  1880  under  his  tuition.  He  finally  abandoned  the  pro- 
fession of  teaching,  and  is  now  connected  with  a  publishing  house 
in  Boston. 

The  only  native  of  Littleton  who  has  been  principal  taught  in 
1880  and  1881.  This  was  Harry  H.  Mclntire,  who,  like  his 
father,  was  an  able  instructor  and  a  great  favorite  with  his  pupils. 
He  afterwards  removed  to  Minneapolis,  where  later  he  became 
prominent  as  a  dealer  in  real  estate  and  as  a  mining  broker. 

Dana  P.  Dame  took  charge  of  the  school  the  next  year,  with  the 
exception  of  a  few  weeks  at  the  beginning  of  the  term,  when 
A.  G.  Miller,  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  resignation 
of  Mr.  Mclntire,  who  was  compelled  to  leave  on  account  of  ill- 
ness, acted  as  principal.  Mr.  Dame  served  ten  years,  from  1882 
to  1892,  with  a  constant  increase  of  salary.  He  regradcd  the 
schools,  remodelled  the  courses  of  study,  and  brought  the  school 
into  such  working  order  that  from  the  time  he  took  charge  a 
class  has  been  graduated  each  year  from  the  High  School,  while 
previous  to  his  coming  the  graduation  of  a  class  was  a  rare  occur- 
rence. Mr.  Dame  was  very  much  beloved  by  his  pupils,  and 
inspired  them  with  an  earnestness  and  zeal  which  caused  them 
to  make  rapid  advancement  in  their  studies.  It  was  with  intense 
sorrow  that  the  public  received  Mr.  Dame's  resignation,  and  lie 
was  urged  to  remain,  but  wishing  to  be  nearer  the  educational 
centre  he  went  to  Massachusetts,  and  has  continued  to  meet  with 
great  success  as  a  superintendent  of  schools. 

Charles  A.  Williams,  a  graduate  of  Williams,  succeeded  Mi1. 
Dame.  While  very  quiet  and  reserved  in  his  manner,  his  mcth- 


43G  History  of  Littleton. 

ods  were  successful  in  enforcing  good  discipline  and  in  keeping 
the  school  to  its  previous  high  standard.  He  remained  two  years 
and  resigned  to  take  a  post-graduate  course  at  Harvard. 

Mr.  F.  1>.  Pelton  took  charge  in  1894,  and  with  the  enthusiasm 
of  a  young  man  entered  upon  the  work  of  teaching  the  High 
School  as  well  as  superintending  the  lower  grades.  He  was  very 
successful  in  winning  the  affection  of  the  pupils,  and  had  the 
happy  art  of  persuading  boys  to  remain  at  school  when  they 
arrived  at  the  age  when  earning  one's  living  seems  to  be  the  only 
desirable  thing  in  life,  and  inspired  them  with  an  ambition  to 
acquire  a  higher  education  ;  so  that  during  his  administration 
nearly  every  year  Littleton  sent  a  good  quota  of  boys  and  girls 
to  the  different  colleges  of  the  land.  Physics  and  chemistry 
were  exceptionally  well  taught,  Mr.  Pelton  having  made  a  spe- 
cialty of  these  studies  by  pursuing  courses  at  Dartmouth  College 
during  his  vacations,  and  his  Alma  Mater  conferred  on  him  the 
degree  of  A.M.  while  he  was  teaching  in  Littleton.  He  was  active 
also  in  educational  matters  throughout  the  State,  and  was  appointed 
a  member  of  the  State  Board  of  Examiners  of  teachers  by  the 
State  Department  of  Public  Instruction.  Through  his  efforts  ad- 
vanced algebra,  solid  geometry,  trigonometry,  and  typewriting  were 
added  to  the  courses  of  study,  and  the  school,  while  not  reaching 
perfection,  during  his  administration  was  well  to  the  front  of  the 
schools  in  the  northern  part  of  the  State.  He  resigned  in  I'.MJl 
after  seven  years'  service,  and  his  position  was  taken  by  Edward 
Watson,  who  resigned  after  a  year's  service  because  of  ill  health, 
and  Melville  C.  Smart,  a  teacher  of  wide  experience,  was  secured. 
Under  him  the  discipline  is  exact,  the  instruction  thorough,  and 
the  standard  of  excellence  well  advanced. 

At  first  there  was  but  one  assistant  in  the  High  School,  Martha 
E.  Furber,  who  taught  only  one  year.  Hattie  D.  Meserve  succeeded 
her  and  for  seven  years  filled  the  position  ably.  She  was  not  only 
instrumental  in  stimulating  the  minds  of  her  pupils,  but  also  was 
an  aid  to  them  in  building  character,  which  is  one  of  the  first  aims 
of  education.  Clara  Meserve,  Caroline  C.  Ross,  Mrs.  Martha  G. 
Cofran,  Elizabeth  Cushman,  W.  F.  Gibson,  and  Isabel  Parks  were 
the  successors  of  Miss  Meserve,  in  the  order  named.  They  were 
all  faithful  and  earnest  instructors,  and  of  great  help  to  the  prin- 
cipals under  whom  they  served.  Miss  Parks  is  lovingly  remem- 
bered by  her  pupils  as  ever  holding  before  them  a  high  standard 
of  duty,  and  by  her  own  example  urging  them  to  strong  endeavor. 

In  the  course  of  time  a  second  assistant  was  necessary,  and 
Louise  Wellman  was  promoted  to  that  position,  after  teaching  in 


Schools.  437 

the  Grammar  School  a  short  time.  Since  then  the  increase  in  the 
number  of  pupils  and  added  courses  of  study  have  rendered  addi- 
tions to  the  teaching  force  necessary,  and  at  present1  the  regular 
force  in  our  High  School  consists  of  four  teachers  beside  the  prin- 
cipal. Flora  S.  Bean,  a  teacher  of  much  experience ;  Dorcas  Shel- 
ton,  whose  methods  were  inspirational ;  Susan  Crampton,  Mary  I. 
Goodrich,  Edith  A.  Thompson,  Lilian  Haynes,  Alice  J.  L.  Pur- 
ward,  and  the  present  corps  have  all  been  efficient  teachers  in  this 
department. 

Music  was  introduced  into  the  schools  in  1880,  with  Mrs.  Charles 
M.  Taylor  as  teacher,  but  was  dropped  until  1880,  when  it  again 
became  a  part  of  the  curriculum,  with  Mrs.  Charles  Binghnm  as 
instructress,  who  has  faithfully  performed  her  prescribed  duties. 
In  1893  it  was  decided  to  introduce  drawing  into  the  schools,  and 
Ellen  1.  Sanger  was  elected  teacher  in  that  branch.  So  excellent 
was  her  method  and  so  thorough  her  teaching  that  the  pupils 
made  very  rapid  progress  in  the  art.  But  in  189G  she  lesigned, 
and  this  branch  was  dropped  until  1901,  when  Harriet  Z.  Bickford 
was  elected  teacher  in  drawing,  and  has  given  satisfaction  to  the 
present  time. 

In  the  two  years  that  elapsed  between  the  organization  of 
Union  School  District  and  the  erection  of  the  Higli  School  build- 
ing, the  schools  were  held  in  buildings  of  the  old  districts.  At 
that  period  two  teachers  of  note  were  employed,  Louella  Little 
(Mrs.  Louella  M.  Wilson)  and  Emily  French.  The  former  has 
since  had  a  wide  educational  experience.  She  went  West,  after 
teaching  in  Littleton,  and  in  a  few  years  became  superintendent 
of  public  instruction  in  Dos  Moines,  la.,  a  position  she  afterwards 
resigned  to  take  charge  of  a  most  popular  and  successful  young- 
ladies'  school  in  Chicago. 

The  school  has  been  the  recipient  of  many  gifts,  which  have 
greatly  added  to  the  educational  facilities.  A  valuable  microscope 
was  presented  by  B.  W.  Kilburn,  who  also  donated  flags  for  each 
school  building  in  the  district,  to  aid  in  instilling  patriotism  in 
the  hearts  of  the  pupils.  William  II.  Mitchell,  chairman  of  the 
Board  for  sixteen  years,  has  ever  been  a  great  friend  of  edu- 
cation. He  has,  at  different  times,  presented  to  the  schools  books 
of  reference,  and  others  needed*  in  their  scientific  work.  Owing 
to  an  increase  in  population,  the  accommodations  for  the  children 
were  inadequate,  and  two  new  school-houses  were  built,  —  one  on 
the  South  Side  in  18ST,  known  as  the  Mitchell  School,  and  one  on 
the  hill  near  the  High  School  building,  known  as  the  Kilburn 

1  I'JCKJ. 


438  History  of  Littleton. 

School  in  1889.     This  latter  is  one  of  the  most  up-to-date  build- 
ing's for  its  purpose  in  the  State. 

The  boundaries  of  the  districts  remained  the  same  as  in  1866 
until  1900.  During  that  year  old  District  No.  14,  now  known  as 
Apthorp,  was  joined  to  and  made  a  part  of  Union  School  District. 
This  district  refused  to  unite  with  the  others  in  1866.  In  1875 
the  superintending  school  committee,  A.  S.  Batchellor,  urges  the 
advantages  of  a  union,  but  so  conservative  arc  the  free-born  citi- 
zens that  it  was  twenty-five  years  before  the  advice  was  followed. 

The  tide  of  progress  in  our  town  has  been  continuous,  and  the 
cause  of  education  has  kept  well  to  the  front  for  the  last  half- 
century.  While  not  neglected,  for  the  people  have  exceeded  the 
requirements  of  the  statute  in  their  appropriations  for  schools, 
they  were  unmindful  of  the  advantages  of  the  higher  educational 
institutions,  and,  prior  to  1850,  but  two  of  our  sons  had  acquired 
a  collegiate  education.  In  that  long  period  it  was  seldom  that  a 
pupil  pursued  any  branch  not  now  included  in  those  taught  in  the 
ninth  grade.  The  establishment  of  Union  District  was  the  be- 
ginning of  a  better  day.  At  first  the  curriculum,  though  narrow, 
was  an  immense  advance  from  that  of  the  old  schools,  and  was 
supposed  to  be  sufficient  to  fit  pupils  to  enter  college.  Gradually 
the  course  has  been  broadened  until  it  includes  all  branches  taught 
in  the  average  fitting  school,  and  others,  both  useful  and  orna- 
mental, some  of  which  are  usually  found  only  in  commercial  or 
technical  schools. 

The  burden  placed  on  the  taxpayers  in  the  building  of  the 
High  School  structure  was  both  unexpected  and  excessive,  yet  it 
has  been  borne  without  complaint.  The  community  has  voted, 
without  question,  the  constantly  increasing  sums  required  to  meet 
the  demands  of  its  committees  and  instructors.  As  indicating 
what  those  demands  have  been,  it  is  only  necessary  to  state  that  a 
generation  ago  the  expense  of  maintaining  the  schools  in  Union 
District,  with  a  teaching  force  of  seven  teachers,  was  less  than 
$4,000  annually.  At  that  time  there  were  but  about  forty  pupils 
in  the  High  School ;  now  the  teachers  number  eighteen,  counting 
only  those  who  arc  employed  within  the  territory  of  the  original 
district.  The  High  School  students  number  more  than  a  hundred. 
Compared  with  other  schools  of  the  same  character  in  the  State, 
the  cost  of  education,  based  upon  the  number  of  graduates  from 
the  High  School,  is  more  than  in  any  other  town  or  city  in  the 
State.  Still  it  is  to  the  credit  of  our  people  that  to  attain  the  best, 
and  not  the  question  of  cost,  has  always  governed  their  action  in 
making  appropriations  for  the  support  of  schools. 


Libraries.  439 


XLIV. 
LIBRARIES. 

A  HUNDRED  years  ago  libraries  were  expensive  luxuries. 
Comparatively  fe\v  books  were  published,  and  those  were 
nearly  all  of  a  philosophical,  historical,  or  controversial  character. 
People  read  these  works  with  sober  deliberation,  and  when  a  book 
was  finished  they  were  prepared  to  discuss  its  contents  with  intel- 
ligent criticism.  Such  works  left  their  impress  upon  the  minds  of 
readers,  and  were  an  important  element  in  moulding  the  character 
of  the  men  and  women  of  those  days.  They  read  for  instruction, 
not  for  amusement,  and  lingered  over  each  solemn  paragraph  un- 
til they  believed  they  had  received  the  light  the  author  was  sup- 
posed to  transmit  through  the  printed  page. 

If  we  may  be  permitted  to  judge  from  the  titles  in  the  first 
library  founded  in  town,  we  must  conclude  that  the  best  thought 
in  those  days  was  given  to  the  consideration  of  theological  ques- 
tions, and  the  Mysteries  of  Udolpho,  the  trials  of  Clarissa  or 
Amelia,  the  stately  propriety  of  Sir  Charles  Grandison,  or  the 
adventures  of  Jonathan  Wild  had  no  attraction  for  the  men  and 
women  of  that  day.  The  fathers  were  indeed  a  staid  and  sober 
generation,  who  felt  coursing  in  their  veins  something  of  the  chill 
and  depressing  influence  of  their  Puritan  ancestry  from  which 
they  could  not  escape,  and  perhaps  the  happiness  and  usefulness 
of  their  children  would  have  been  augmented,  had  u  stronger  in- 
fusion of  that  element  been  transmitted  to  hold  in  check  the  hot- 
blooded  tendencies  of  the  present  generation. 

The  founders  of  our  first  library  were  the  Rev.  David  Goodall, 
Elder  James  Rankin,  Nathaniel  Webster,  and  the  Rev.  Asa  Car- 
penter, the  minister  at  Waterford.  The  event  occurred  at  a  time 
when  the  importance  of  establishing  such  institutions  was  gen- 
erally recognized,  and  charters  were  granted  by  the  Legislature  for 
the  establishment  of  more  than  a  hundred  libraries  in  the  years 
between  18<)0  and  ISlo.  The  charter  of  k-The  Social  Library  in 
Littleton  "  was  granted  at  the  June  session  in  1801.  After  u'rant- 


440  History  of  Littleton. 

ing  the  usual  powers  conferred  on  corporations  of  its  character, 
it  included  a  provision  for  holding  meetings  at  any  time  for  the 
transaction  of  all  business  "  except  the  raising  of  monies,  which 
shall  always  he  done  at  their  annual  meetings,  and  at  no  other 
time,  at  which  they  shall  vote  all  necessary  sums  for  defraying  the 
annual  expense  of  preserving  -said  Library,  and  for  enlarging  the 
same." 

It  is  not  known  when  the  grantees  organized,  or  just  when  the 
library  was  opened  for  the  transaction  of  business.  It  was  proba- 
bly, however,  in  1802.  The  number  of  volumes  was  never  large 
and  at  no  time  exceeded  one  hundred.  The  theological  works  of 
Paley,  Butler,  and  Jonathan  Edwards  were  included  in  the  first 
purchase,  and  both  the  reverend  proprietors  added  by  gift  a  few 
volumes  of  sermons.  The  library  was  located  at  the  residence  of 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Goodall,  who  was  the  first  librarian.  How  long  it 
continued  in  existence  or  what  its  history  may  have  been  is  not 
known  beyond  the  fact  that  it  was  in  use  in  1828,  and  that  when 
its  affairs  were  closed  up  the  books  were  divided  among  the  sur- 
viving proprietors. 

The  experiment  at  the  west  part  of  the  town  was  so  successful, 
notwithstanding  its  pronounced  limitations,  that  Elisha  Hinds, 
William  Burns,  and  Ephraim  Curtis  made  application  to  the 
Legislature,  at  its  June  session  in  1813,  to  be  incorporated  under 
the  name  of  the  "  Proprietors  of  Glynville  Library,*'  and  secured 
a  charter.  The  instrument  is,  in  a  general  way,  similar  to  that 
granted  twelve  years  before  to  the  proprietors  of  the  first  library. 
It  contained  the  same  provision  as  to  the  time  for  appropriating 
moneys,  and  also  one  requiring  "  that  the  collection  of  books 
which  now  does,  or  which  may  hereafter,  constitute  said  library, 
shall  forever  be  deposited  and  kept  in  some  suitable  place  at  or 
near  where  the  store  of  Roby,  Curtis  &  Co.  now  stands,  and  shall 
never  be  removed  more  than  half  a  mile  therefrom  unless  by  a 
vote  of  two-thirds  of  the  proprietors." 

In  compliance  with  the  requirements  of  the  charter,  the  first 
meeting  of  the  proprietors  was  held,  September  2,  1813,  at  the 
office  of  Elisha  Hinds  (in  the  Hale  house).  Those  present  beside 
Mr.  Hinds  were  William  Brnckctt,  William  Burns,  George 
Wheeler,  Asa  Lewis,  Hiram  Hughes,  Guy  Ely,  and  Simeon 
Dodge.  Dr.  William  Burns  was  chosen  moderator,  and  Elisha 
Hinds  clerk  and  librarian.  Asa  Lewis,  William  Bracket i.  and 
Elisha  Hinds  were  made  members  of  a  committee  to  draft  by- 
laws. It  was  then  voted  "  to  adjourn  to  meet  at  Hinds'  office  in 
said  village  on  the  first  Monday  of  September  instant  (being  the 


Libraries.  441 

sixth  day  of  September,  A.D.  1813)  at  six  of  the  clock  in  the 
forenoon."  The  hour  to  which  the  meeting  adjourned  would  be 
an  inconvenient  one  for  the  present  generation. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting  Asa  Lewis  was'  moderator,  and 
Ephraim  Curtis,  Asa  Lewis,  and  Guy  Ely  were  elected  directors. 
At  an  adjourned  meeting  held  on  the  27th  of  the  same  month, 
the  by-laws  were  reported;  they  bear  all  the  characteristic  ear- 
marks of  Mr.  Hinds.  They  contain  twenty-five  sections,  and 
cover  nine  pages  of  foolscap.  They  are  exceedingly  minute  in 
detail  and  provide  for  all  possible  and  some  imaginary  contin- 
gencies. The  capital  stock  of  the  corporation  was  fixed  at  8100, 
divided  into  fifty  shares  of  the  par  value  of  82  each.  These  were 
assessable,  and  each  holder  was  liable  to  a  fine  for  each  infraction 
of  the  by-laws,  which  in  time  became  burdensome  and  led  to 
several  changes  in  proprietors. 

The  stockholders  were  Elisha  Hinds,  William  Brackett,  Wil- 
liam Burns,  George  Wheeler,  Asa  Lewis,  Hiram  Hughes,  Guy 
Ely,  Simeon  Dodge,  Ephraim  Curtis,  Abijah  Allen,  Gideon  Griggs, 
Michael  Fitzgerald,  Lot  Woodbury,  Peter  Bonuey,  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Godard,  Xoali  Farr,  James  Woodbury,  John  Wilder, 
Thornton  Barrett,  Thornton  Crooks,  Solomon  Hughes,  Job  Fili- 
gree, Joseph  Robins,  Joseph  W.  Morse,  Solomon  Mann,  Jr., 
Willis  Wilder,  Isaac  Stearns,  Washington  Williams,  Isaac  F. 
Williams,  Jonathan  B.  Rowell,  Alpheus  Kenney,  X.  Rix,  Jr., 
John  Bowman,  Webster  B.  Merrill,  Jonathan  Lovejoy,  Alpha 
Burnham,  Aaron  Brackett,  and  T.  A.  Edson,  previous  to  1820; 
nearly  all,  in  fact,  before  1817.  Subsequent  to  1820  Truman 
Stevens,  Solomon  Fitch,  Austen  Taylor,  Isaac  Abbott,  Simeon 
B.  Johnson,  David  Goodall,  Prcscott  White,  Samuel  T.  Morse, 
Lewis  L.  Merrill,  and  Henry  A.  Bellows  were  members  of  the 
corporation. 

By  vote  of  the  proprietors,  the  selection  of  the  first  books  was 
left  to  the  judgment  of  the  librarian.  Mr.  Hinds  purchased  fifty- 
one  volumes  of  twenty-eight  titles.1  Others  were  procured  from 
time  to  time,  until,  the  library  contained  upward  of  two  hundred 

1  Tliis  purchase  contained  the  following-  titles  :  Watts  on  the  Mind,  History  of 
Greece,  History  of  England,  History  of  Home  (Goldsmith),  Mason  on  Self-Knowledge, 
Ramsay's  Lift-  of  Washington.  The  Life  of  General  Putnam,  Paley's  Philosophy  : 
Ramsay's  American  Revolution,  '2  vols.  ;  Bigland's  View  of  the  World,  •">  vols.  ; 
Life  of  Howard,  Miller's  Retrospect,  -  vols.  ;  Belknap's  History  of  New  Hampshire. 
3  vols.  ;  Rnrler's  Analogy,  Rise  and  Progress.  Paley's  Theoloiry  ;  Hamilton  on 
Education,  2  vols.:  Paley's  Evidence,  Dana's  Sermons,  Adams'  Historv  of  New 
England.  "Appeal,"  Young's  Centaur,  Path  to  Happiness,  Riley's  Narrative:  Spec- 
tator, 11  vols.;  .Josephus'  Works,  (>  vols.,  and  Robertson's  America.  The  list  is 
given  as  it  appears  in  the  Records. 


442  History  of  Littleton. 

and  fifty  volumes.  All  purchased  before  1828  were  of  an  his- 
torical, biographical,  or  theological  character,  except  Homer's 
Iliad  and  Odyssey  and  a  two-volume  edition  of  Shakespeare. 

The  advent  of  Henry  A.  Bellows  brought  to  the  corporation  new 
blood.  He  began  his  work  at  the  roots  of  the  institution  by 
amending  its  by-laws,  reducing  their  cumbersome  proportions 
from  twenty-five  to  fifteen  sections,  and  simplifying  its  machinery. 
His  influence  was  soon  manifest  in  the  selection  of  books.  There 
were  no  additions  to  the  ancient  tomes,  with  a  wealth  of  theologi- 
cal lore,  that  not  only  graced  its  shelves  but  were  read  and  re- 
read until  Squire  Ely,  Noah  Farr,  Simeon  Dodge,  Abijah  Allen, 
Lot  Woodbury,  and  other  sober-minded  members  must  have 
known  Butler,  Paley,  and  Dana's  Sermons  so  well  that  they 
could  repeat  much  of  the  "Analogy,"  the  "  Theology,"  the  "  Evi- 
dence," and  the  sermons.  These  solid  works  were  interspersed 
with  others,  new  at  the  time,  which  came  from  the  enchanted  pen 
of  the  "  Wizard  of  the  North."  "The  Antiquary  "  is  found  nest- 
ling between  Chalmers'  "  Discourses  "  and  the  works  of  Fortus, 
and  scattered  along  the  shelves  amidst  the  solemn  dignitaries  of 
letters,  as  if  it  were  necessary  in  this  way  to  tone  their  exuberant 
fancy,  were  "Rob  Roy,"  "  Ivanhoe,"  "  Quentin  Durward,"  and 
their  cousin  from  the  wilds  of  America,  "  The  Last  of  the 
Mohicans."  Further  down  these  time-worn  pages  we  find  those 
marvellous  friends  of  all  the  world,  "The  Vicar  of  Wakefield  " 
arid  "  Robinson  Crusoe,"  reposing  between  Whclpley's  ''  Compend  " 
and  "Mulligan's  Plea." 

It  is  interesting  to  note  the  characteristic  tendencies  of  the 

o 

"  proprietors,"  as  evinced  in  their  selections  from  the  library. 
Squire  Hinds  occupies  the  post  of  honor  on  the  first  page.  It 
appears  that  he  made  a  heavy  draft  on  the  religious  and  educa- 
tional department  of  the  institution,  and  kept  at  it  until  it  was 
exhausted.  Squire  Brackett  was  interested  in  education  rather 
than  theology,  and  more  in  history  than  in  either.  Bigland's 
"  View  of  the  World  "  seems  to  have  been  his  companion  for  some 
months,  when  he  turned  to  Ramsay's  "American  Revolution" 
and  kindred  topics  in  his  hours  of  relaxation  from  business  cares. 
His  family  were  among  the  first  patrons  of  Scott,  and  it  was  natural 
that  the  few  works  of  fiction  in  the  library  first  found  their  way 
into  homes  where  there  were  young  ladies,  as  in  his.  Old  soldiers 
like  Thornton  Barrett,  Thornton  Crooks,  and  some  few  others 
gave  their  time  to  the  literature  of  the  war  exclusively,  and  read 
and  re-read  the  lives  of  Washington,  Putnam,  and  Marion,  and 
then  turned  to  Belknap's  "  New  Hampshire."  Abijah  Allen  was 


Libraries.  443 

evidently  of  a  speculative  turn  of  mind,  as  indicated  by  the  works 
he  read,  for  the  first  on  his  list  were  "  Rise  and  Progress," 
Butler's  "Analogy,"  Paley's  "Theology,"  "Evidence  and  Philos- 
ophy," Dana's  "  Sermons,"  and  works  of  a  kindred  character. 
Squire  Bonney  finished  the  historical  works  before  he  dipped 
into  Paley,  and  Job  Pingree  followed  his  example  closely.  Some 
of  the  stockholders  read  all  the  books  or  at  least  took  them 
from  the  library,  as  we  find  every  title  charged  to  their  account. 
Timothy  A.  Edson  and  Joseph  Robins  confined  their  reading  to 
history  and  travel,  as  did  Josiah  Kilburn.  Henry  A.  Bellows 
and  Brackett  Gile  each  started  his  course  of  reading  with  the 
"  Spectator,"  and  followed  it  with  history  and  fiction,  which  means 
the  Wavcrley  Novels,  or  two  or  three  of  the  works  of  Cooper  or 
Irving.  Both  had  a  liking  for  the  good  tilings  on  the  library 
shelves,  for  fe\v  of  the  classics  are  wanting  in  their  lists. 

The  provision  of  the  by-laws  prohibiting  the  location  of  the 
library  at  a  point  more  than  a  half-mile  from  the  Roby  &  Curtis 
store,  seems  to  have  been  religiously  observed.  As  a  rule,  the 
books  were  kept  in  the  place  of  business  of  the  librarian  for  the 
time  being.  Mr.  Hinds  served  less  than  a  year,  and  in  September, 
1815,  was  succeeded  by  Solomon  Mann,  who  removed  the  library 
to  the  store  of  Henry  Oakcs,  where  the  annual  meeting  in  1816 
was  held.  Asa  Woodbury  then  became  librarian  and  the  Roby  & 
Curtis  store  the  headquarters.  The  succeeding  librarians  were 
Webster  B.  Merrill,  in  1819,  when  tbc  library  was  at  his  shoe- 
sliop,  and  Aaron  Brackett,  in  1821,  when  the  books  were  kept  at 
the  store  of  AY.  C.  it  A.  Brackett.  The  Major  continued  in  office 
until  the  corporation  was  dissolved  in  1845  or  1846.  The  board 
of  directors  was  so  made  up  from  year  to  year  that  nearly  every 
member  was  called  upon  to  serve  at  some  time  in  that  capacity. 
The  librarian  was  the  only  paid  official,  and  one  of  the  first  acts  at 
each  annual  meeting  of  the  corporation  was  to  pass  in  solemn  form 
a  vote  appropriating  82  for  the  payment  of  his  annual  salary. 

The  system  of  fines  in  vogue  in  the  organization  was  one  of  the 
causes  of  its  undoing,  but  the  main  influence  in  bringing  about  its 
dissolution  was  a  neglect  to  purchase  books  to  meet  the  growing 
demand  for  modern  literature,  and  it  was  finally  decided  to  close 
out  by  dividing  the  books  among  the  several  proprietors.  Many 
of  the  volumes  finally  found  their  way  into  the  library  gathered 
by  Dr.  Burns.  It  cannot  be  doubted  that  the  Glynvillc  Library 
wrought  a  great  amount  of  good  in  its  day,  both  in  the  cultivation 
of  a  literary  taste  in  the  community  and  in  the  wider  field  as 
an  educational  force. 


History  of  Littleton. 

One  of  the  later  efforts  of  the  people  of  Littleton  to  create 
a  library  was  about  1858,  when  quite  a  number  of  the  citizens 
became  members  of  the  People's  Circulating  Library.  This  library 
was  started  by  Mr.  A.  B.  Palmer,  of  Orford,  a  gentleman  of  lit- 
erary tastes,  who  was  incapacitated  from  doing  any  hard  work. 
Being  desirous  of  benefiting  the  people  of  this  region  and  at  the 
same  time  furnishing  himself  with  a  light  occupation,  he  started 
the  library.  We  know  but  little  of  the  system  of  the  library.  A 
local  agent  or  librarian  was  engaged  in  each  town  whose  duty  it 
was  to  look  after  the  books  and  make  the  exchanges.  At  regular 
periods  Mr.  Palmer  drove  over  his  circuit,  exchanging  books  that 
had  been  read  in  one  town  for  those  he  had  collected  from 
another  town,  thus  furnishing  fresh  reading  matter  to  each.  Mar- 
quis L.  Goold  was  the  librarian  for  this  town.  After  about  three 
years  for  some  reason  the  work  was  given  up  and  the  books  were 
distributed  among  the  members. 

A  lost  opportunity  to  establish  a  public  library  occurred  when  the 
town  failed  to  improve  the  opportunity  presented  by  the  will  of  Dr. 
William  Burns,  who  was  an  early  promoter  of  public  libraries, 
having  been  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Glynville  Library  in  1803. 
Pie  was  a  reader  and  lover  of  books.  He  was  doubtless  the  most 
liberal  patron  of  the  book  trade  that  the  town  could  boast 
in  his  day,  and  he  collected  an  extensive  private  library.  His 
books  were  of  a  substantial  character  and  represented  a  varied 
literature,  lie  shared  the  use  of  his  library  with  his  townsmen, 
but  required  a  moderate  fee  for  the  privilege.  One  of  his  patrons 
says  the  charge  for  the  loan  of  a  book  was  ten  cents.  He  enter- 
tained the  purpose  of  establishing  a  public  library  for  the  people  of 
Littleton,  the  basis  being  his  own  collection.  Accordingly  his  will 
(executed  July  5, 1864)  contained  the  following  provision  :  "  I  give 
in  money  and  books  the  sum  of  8-300  to  the  Burns  Library  to  be 
established  in  Littleton  Village."  He  nominated  Marquis  L.  Goold 
to  be  his  executor,  but  that  gentleman  declined  the  trust,  and 
James  J.  Barrett  was  appointed  administrator  with  the  will  an- 
nexed. Dr.  Burns  died  September  23,  1868. 

It  would  seem  that  in  law  and  in  equity,  in  justice  and  in  decent 
respect  to  the  memory  of  the  donor,  there  was  but  one  course  to 
pursue  under  such  a  will.  The  trust  should  have  been  executed 
in  its  terms  and  spirit  according  to  the  manifest  intention  of  its 
founder.  If  trustees  were  not  named,  it  was  competent  for  the 
court  to  appoint  in  order  that  the  trust  might  not  fail.  Municipal 
affairs  were,  however,  at  that  time  under  the  domination  of  a 
peculiar  influence.  The  Burns  Library  soon  found  itself  at  the 


Libraries.  445 

tender  mercy  of  a  regime  that  held  that  the  sooner  things 
generally  were  reduced  to  personal  ownership  the  better  it  would 
be  for  all  concerned.  In  due  time  the  books  which  constituted  the 
literary  accumulations  of  the  lifetime  of  Dr.  Burns  were  sold  at 
auction,  and  the  principal  citizens  of  the  town  ';  stood  by  while 
they  stoned  Stephen." 

The  administrator  caused  an  appraisal  to  be  made  by  S.  B. 
Johnson,  Josiah  Kilburn,  and  C.  H.  Greene,  and  the  books  were 
inventoried  at  $300.  The  number  of  volumes  found  by  the 
executor  is  not  given.  It  cannot  be  supposed  that  the  sale  was 
procured  in  the  interest  of  a  public  library  for  the  people  of 
Littleton  on  the  Burns  foundation.  A  forced  sale  at  auction  in 
the  village  of  Littleton  at  that  time  meant  nothing  but  a  dispersion 
of  the  books  at  a  nominal  price  and  the  diversion,  for  inconsequen- 
tial town  uses,  of  the  little  fund  resulting  from  the  destruction  of 
the  trust.  The  administrator  realized  from  the  sale  of  the  books 
the  sum  of  $164.11,  which  he  turned  into  the  town  treasury. 
The  Selectmen  at  this  time  (1869)  were  John  W.  English,  Ben- 
jamin Atwood,  M.  P.  Burnham  ;  1870,  John  Sargent,  Nelson 
Gilc,  John  Foster ;  1871,  George  Abbott,  Eliphalet  Fulford,  A.  P. 
Wallace.  The  purchasers  of  books  at  the  auction  sale  were 
James  J.  Barrett,  John  G.  Sinclair,  Harry  Binghani,  John  F. 
Tilton,  Charles  W.  Rand,  E.  Kilburn,  James  R.  Jackson,  T.  E. 
Sanger,  Nelson  Parker,  John  Smillie,  Alonzo  Weeks,  William  H. 
Stevens,  George  Farr,  and  C.  H.  Greene.  Mr.  Barrett  bought  to 
the  amount  of  $56.50  ;  Mr.  Sinclair,  645  ;  Mr.  Tilton,  $11.30. 
None  of  the  others  bought  to  the  amount  of  $10.  A  few  minor 
sales  not  reported  probably  make  up  the  balance  to  the  amount 
reported  as  realized. 

That  the  policy  adopted  was  short-sighted  is  made  the  more 
evident  by  the  beneficial  results  occurring  from  the  free  public 
library  established  more  than  twenty  years  after  Dr.  Burns' s 
death.  The  intervening  period  was  subjected  to  an  educational 
loss  that  was  certainly  not  the  fault  of  this  sagacious  and  public- 
spirited  citizen. 

The  women  of  the  village  in  1866  inaugurated  a  movement  that 
resulted  in  the  organization  of  the  Littleton  Village  Library 
Associates  on  the  sixth  day  of  February,  1867.  It  was  a  voluntary 
association  formed  under  the  provisions  of  chapter  152  of  the  Com- 
piled Statutes  of  New  Hampshire,  its  purpose  being  "  to  establish 
in  Littleton  Village  a  permanent  Circulating  Library,  from  which 
the  members  of  said  corporation  and  others  may  take  books  at 
such  times,  and  upon  such  terms  as  the  corporation  may  from 
time  to  time  prescribe." 


446  History  of  Littleton. 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  corporation  by-laws  were  adopted, 
and  a  board  of  directors  consisting  of  Mrs.  William  J.  Bellows, 
Mrs.  C.  W.  Rand,  Mrs.  Charles  Hartshorn,  Mrs.  John  Parr,  and 
Elizabeth  Moore,  elected.  Mrs.  Bellows  was  subsequently  chosen 
president,  and  Mrs.  Rand  secretary  and  treasurer.  The  member- 
ship was  nineteen,  all  of  whom  but  Charles  W.  Rand  and  William 
J.  Bellows  were  women. 

The  first  librarian  was  Mrs.  C.  C.  Bowman,  who  was  re-elected 
in  1868,  at  which  time  Mrs.  William  Bailey  became  president  and 
Mrs.  E.  W.  Parr  secretary  and  treasurer.  The  board  of  directors 
was  usually  changed  in  order  to  distribute  the  labor  and  responsi- 
bility of  the  gratuitous  service.  In  1870  Mrs.  Maria  Weller  be- 
came president,  and  Myra  E.  Green  was  elected  librarian,  and  it 
was  voted  to  remove  the  library  from  Mrs.  Clark's,  where  it  had 
been  since  it  was  opened  for  business,  with  the  exception  of  the 
first  few  months  when  it  was  in  the  office  of  C.  W.  Rand,  to  the 
store  of  Miss  Green  in  the  west  end  of  Tilton's  Block.  In  1871 
the  officers  were  the  same,  except  that  Jane  M.  Rand  succeeded  to 
the  presidency.  In  1872  Caroline  A.  Brackett  was  chosen  libra- 
rian ;  the  other  officers  remaining  the  same  as  in  the  previous 
year.  The  following  vear  the  only  change  was  the  election  of 
Mrs.  D.  Y.  Clark  as  librarian.  In  1874  Mrs.  Truman  Stevens  was 
president ;  Mrs.  P.  G.  Weller  secretary  and  treasurer,  and  Mrs. 
John  kSmillie  librarian, —  a  position  she  continued  to  hold  until 
the  corporation  was  merged  in  the  Littleton  Public  Library  in 
1880.  At  the  same  time  the  library  was  moved  to  her  store  in 
the  building  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Andrew  W.  Bingham. 

From  1&75  until  the  extinction  of  the  corporation  its  govern- 
ment was  merely  perfunctory.  The  institution  was  perishing  as 
had  its  predecessor  and  for  substantially  the  same  cause.  Its  zeal 
had  departed  with  the  members  who  gave  it  an  existence,  and  it 
failed  to  keep  pace  with  the  demands  upon  it  for  the  quantity  and 
quality  of  reading  matter  by  the  public  upon  whose  patronage  it 
depended  for  support.  As  a  popular  institution  it  was  forced  to 
cater  to  the  prevailing  taste  of  the  reading  public,  which  was  not 
high  and  whose  requirements  were  almost  wholly  for  a  class  of 
fiction  that  would  be  ignored  by  any  well-governed  public  library. 
It  owned  some  works  of  the  highest  literary  character  in  good 
editions ;  among  these,  works  of  Prescott  and  Motley,  and  Scott, 
Dickens,  and  Cooper,  and  others  that  deserved  to,  and  have  sur- 
vived, the  fickle  demands  of  inconsiderate  readers.  When  the 
library  became  town  property,  it  had  cost  the  corporation  nearly 
$2,000,  and  the  liberal  valuation  placed  upon  it  at  that  time  was 


Libraries.  447 

only  $600.  Notwithstanding  its  shortcomings  it  had  filled  a  de- 
cided public  want  and  rendered  a  large  and  wholesome  public 
service. 

The  failure  of  the  Village  Library  to  keep  pace  with  the  require- 
ments of  the  public,  the  growth  of  the  town,  and  the  increasing 
interest  generally  in  libraries  under  the  ownership  of  the  public, 
combined  to  cause  the  town  to  take  action  looking  to  the  ultimate 
establishment  of  a  Free  Public  Library.  At  the  annual  March 
meeting  in  1876  Harry  Bingham  and  James  J.  Barrett  were  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  consider  the  question  of  establishing  a 
library  and  report  their  conclusions  at  the  next  annual  meeting. 

The  matter  rested  here  for  several  years,  but  at  the  March  meet- 
ing in  1888  Edgar  Aldrich,  Albert  S.  Batchellor,  and  James  11. 
Jackson  were  appointed  a  committee  to  further  consider  the  ad- 
visability of  action  in  regard  to  founding  such  an  institution. 

The  question  of  founding  a  public  library  came  up  for  consider- 
ation at  the  annual  meeting  in  March,  1889,  when  the  committee 
appointed  in  1888  through  A.  S.  Batchellor  submitted  a  lengthy 
report  in  which  the  various  phases  of  the  subject  were  discussed. 
The  report  ended  with  the  recommendation  that  a  town  library 
be  established  on  the  following  basis  :  — 

"1.  A  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Town  Library  shall  be  constituted 
by  the  election  in  the  March  town  meeting,  which  shall  be  non-partisan 
and  non-sectarian.  The  Board  shall  consist  of  nine  members,  who 
shall  hold  oftice  as  follows:  Of  those  elected  at  the  first  meeting,  three 

~  7 

shall  serve  for  three  years,  three  for  two  years,  and  three  for  one  year, 
and  thereafter  each  person  elected  to  the  board  for  a  full  term  shall 
hold  olh'ce  for  three  years.  Such  board  shall  have  charge  of  the  pur- 
chase and  collection  of  books,  the  employment  of  a  librarian,  providing 
rooms  for  the  library,  prescribing  rules  to  regulate  the  use  of  books  and 
the  general  use  of  the  Library. 

'2.  "The  sum  of  five  hundred  dollars  shall  be  annually  appropriated, 
for  rent  of  library  rooms,  fuel  and  lights,  compensation  of  librarian, 
purchase  and  repair  of  books;  but  this  provision  is  upon  the  following 
condition,  viz.  that  within  three  months  from  the  date  of  this  meeting 
one  thousand  dollars  in  voluntary  contributions  of  books  and  money 
shall  be  made  to  the  acceptance  of  said  trustees  for  said  library.'' 

The  report  was  accepted  and  adopted,  and  Edgar  Aldrich  offered 
the  following  resolution  which  was  passed  by  a  unanimous  vote  of 
the  meeting:  — 

Jtesolred,  That  a  public  library  be  established  to  be  known  as  the 
Littleton  Public  Library,  and  the  sum  of  five  hundred  dollars  be,  and 


448  History  of  Littleton. 

the  same  is  hereby,  appropriated  annually,  for  a  period  of  five  years,  for 
the  support  and  maintenance  of  the  same,  and  the  Selectmen  are  hereby 
directed  to  raise  said  sum  annually,  and  the  Treasurer  is  authorized  to 
pay  the  same  to  the  trustees  of  said  library.  Said  libraiy  shall  be  lo- 
cated and  controlled  by  a  board  of  trustees,  to  consist  of  nine  persons, 
to  l>e  chosen  as  follows:  three  to  serve  for  a  term  of  three  years, 
three  for  a  term  of  two  years,  and  three  for  a  term  of  one  }'ear,  and 
hereafter  three  members  of  said  board  of  trustees  shall  be  elected  annu- 
ally at  the  March  meeting,  all  of  whom  shall  serve  without  compensa- 
tion. This  resolution  not  to  be  in  force  after  three  months,  unless 
$1,000  in  books  and  money  to  the  acceptance  of  the  trustees  shall  be 
voluntarily  contributed  to  said  library." 

On  motion  of  Elbert  C.  Stevens  a  committee  of  five  was  appointed 
to  select  a  board  of  trustees  and  report  to  the  meeting- :  they  rec- 
ommended the  election  of  these  persons:  William  J.  Bellows, 
Frank  C.  Albee,  Jane  Augusta  Stevens,  to  serve  one  year;  Edgar 
Aldrich,  James  W.  Remick,  Mandane  A.  Parker,  to  serve  two 
years  ;  James  R.  Jackson,  Albert  S.  Batchellor,  Anna  L.  Brackett, 
to  serve  three  years  ;  and  they  were  duly  elected  by  ballot.  It  was 
also  voted  that  all  public  documents  in  the  office  of  the  town  clerk 
be  placed  in  the  library. 

Soon  after,  on  March  13,  the  trustees  met  at  the  dwelling-house 
of  Anna  L.  Brackett  for  organization.  The  temporary  officers 
were:  William  J.  Bellows,  president ;  Mandane  A.  Parker,  secre- 
tary, and  J.  Augusta  Stevens,  treasurer.  Edgar  Aldrich,  Man- 
.  dane  A.  Parker,  Anna  L.  Brackett,  and  Frank  C.  Albee  constituted 
a  committee  to  solicit  contributions  to  the  fund  made  necessary 
by  the  provisions  of  the  vote  of  the  town  conditionally  establish- 
ing the  library,  and  James  R.  Jackson,  A.  S.  Batchellor,  Edgar 
Aldrich,  James  W.  Remick,  and  Anna  L.  Brackett,  appointed 
members  of  a  committee  to  prepare  and  report  by-laws  for  the 
government  of  the  board  and  the  library. 

The  first  objective  point  of  the  trustees  after  their  temporary 
organization  was  to  raise  the  sum  of  81,000,  upon  which  was  de- 
pendent the  future  of  the  library.  The  committee  made  a  thorough 
canvass  of  the  town,  giving  every  citizen  an  opportunity  to  con- 
tribute his  or  her  mite  to  the  fund,  and  were  successful  in  their 
quest.1 

1  The  committee  submitted  the  report  of  their  work  to  the  board,  which  was 
embodied  in  its  first  annual  report  of  its  transactions  to  the  town.  The  names  of 
the  subscribers  and  their  contributions  is  appended  :  The  Village  Library,  books 
appraised  by  the  trustees,  $000 :  cash  from  the  same,  $28.50 ;  George  A.  Bingham, 
6100;  Ira  Parker,  $100;  James  R.  Jackson,  §100;  Edgar  Aldrich,  §100  ;  Henry  F. 
Green,  §75 ;  Harry  Bingham ;  §50 ;  A.  S.  Batchellor,  §50  ;  Rev.  Lucius  Waterman, 


Libraries.  449 

The  question  of  location  and  whether  a  reading-room  should  be 
maintained  in  connection  with  the  library  were  somewhat  trouble- 
some propositions,  and  their  consideration  covered  a  period  of  sev- 
eral weeks.  The  first  was  settled  by  locating  the  library  in  the 
small  building  just  vacated  at  the  time  by  James  W.  Remick, 
where  he  had  had  his  first  law  office.  It  was  owned  by  Royal  D. 
Rounsevel,  and  stood  on  the  site  of  his  present  block  at  the  cor- 
ner of  Main  and  Jackson  Streets.  The  proposition  to  establish  a 
reading-room  in  connection  with  the  library  was  urged  by  influen- 
tial citizens,  and  had  several  friends  in  the  board.  The  legal 
questions  involved  as  to  the  powers  of  the  trustees  under  the 
laws  and  the  vote  of  the  town  were  such  that  the  proposition  was 
finally  negatived  by  a  unanimous  vote. 

At  a  meeting  held  on  May  25,  1880,  events  had  insured  the 
establishment  of  the  library  by  a  compliance  with  the  condition 
imposed  in  the  vote  of  the  town,  aud  the  trustees  formally  declared 
the  fact  by  adopting  the  following  preamble  and  resolution  :  — 

"  Whereas,  the  Trustees  find  upon  examination  that  the  contributions 
already  made  in  mone}-  and  books  towards  the  establishment  of  a  town 
library,  under  the  vote  of  the  town  at  the  annual  meeting  holdeu  March 
12,  1889,  exceed  the  sum  of  one  thousand  dollars;  and  that  said  con- 
tributions have  been  made  for  the  purpose  aforesaid  to  their  satisfaction  : 

Therefore,  be  it  resolved  that  the  Littleton  Public  Library  con- 
templated by  said  vote  of  said  town  is  established  and  in  legal  opera- 
tion and  existence." 

§50;  W.  H.  Mitchell,  §50;  J.  E.  Henry,  850;  Charles  Eaton,  $50;  R.  1).  Rounsevel, 
§50;  Eureka  Glove  Co.,  §35;  Wm.  J.  Bellows,  §25;  O.  C.  Hatch,  §25;  Hay  T.  Gilt, 
§'25;  John  Fair,  $25;  Arthur  F.  Dow,  §25;  C.  1).  Tarbell,  §25;  Mrs.  Cyrus  Youn-;, 
§25;  C.  L.  Clay,  S25  ;  Mrs.  H.  C.  Islington,  S25;  Dr.  M.  F.  Young,  wife,  and  Min- 
nie Tilton,  §25  ;  Mrs.  Henry  Merrill,  §25  ;  Edson  &  Bailey,  §20  ;  Isaac  Calhoun,  §15  ; 
I.  C.  Richardson,  §15  ;  James  W.  Remick,  $15;  Frank  Thayer,  §10  ;  George  II.  Til- 
ton,  §10;  John  Tierce,  $10;  Mrs.  Jane  M.  Rand,  §10;  G.  E.  Lane,  §10;  I'.  B. 
Watson,  §10;  Dr.  G.W.  McGregor,  §10  ;  Dana  P.  Dame,  S10;  Noah  M.  Ranlett.  S10  ; 
F.  B.  Hatch,  §10;  J.  Augusta  Stevens,  §3;  Henry  W.  Fitch,  §3.  Total,  §1,024.50. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  the  following  young  ladies  gave  their  services  in  arrang- 
ing the  hooks  and  fitting  the  rooms  for  occupancy:  Stella  B.  Fair,  services  as  li- 
brarian for  one  year ;  Mary  E.  French,  Isabel  M.  Ranlett,  Myra  G.  Eaton,  Helen  M. 
Farr,  Mrs.  C.  E.  Wright,  Hannah  F.  Merrill,  Minnie  Williams,  Addie  M.  Jones, 
Blanche  Bowman,  Florence  M.  Aldrich,  and  Mrs.  A.  W.  Bingham. 

Cyprian  C.  Twombly  gave  his  services  as  janitor  for  a  year.  W.  F.  Andrews,  Eli 
B.  Wallace,  and  George  C.  Furber,  each  §10  in  printing,  and  1).  F.  Chase  §5. 
Other  contributions  were  the  Littleton  Water  &  Light  Co.,  by  Col.  B.  II.  Corning, 
light  for  one  year,  which  was  continued  indefinitely.  George  Farr,  G.  W.  Richard- 
son in  wood  ;  Henry  M.  Fisher,  E.  D.  Dunn,  J.  1).  F.  Ililliker,  and  Henry  O.  .Jackson 
in  labor. 

Gifts  have  since  been  made  to  the  libra^,  of  books,  furnishings,  and  money,  amount- 
ing in  the  aggregate  to  a  considerable  sum,  which  are  referred  to  in  another 
connection. 

VOL.  ii.  —  29 


450  History  of  Littleton. 

A  meeting  of  the  trustees  was  held  at  the  residence  of  Ira 
Parker,  on  the  22d  day  of  June,  for  the  purpose  of  effecting  a  per- 
manent organization. 

The  committee  appointed  for  that  purpose  reported  a  set  of 
by-laws,  which,  after  slight  changes,  were  adopted,  as  were  the 
regulations  for  the  library  reported  at  the  same  time.  Officers 
were  elected  as  therein  directed,  each  by  a  unanimous  vote  of 
the  trustees  :  Edgar  Aldrich,  president ;  J.  Augusta  Stevens, 
secretary  ;  Mandane  A.  Parker,  treasurer ;  committee  on  books, 
James  R.  Jackson,  Anna  L.  Brackett,  and  A.  S.  Batchellor  : 
on  finance,  William  J.  Bellows,  J.  Augusta  Stevens,  Frank 
C.  Albee;  on  rooms,  Edgar  Aldrich,  Mandane  A.  Parker,  and 
James  W.  Remick. 

At  a  previous  meeting  A.  S.  Batchellor  had  been  appointed  a 
committee  to  procure  an  act  of  incorporation  from  the  Legislature 
then  in  session,  which  was  done  with  despatch,  and  the  act  was 
accepted  at  a  meeting  held  August  10, 1889. 

In  the  month  of  October  the  committee  on  books  visited  Boston 
on  the  business  of  the  library,  and  purchased  about  nine  hundred 
volumes,  mostly  standard  works,  in  the  departments  of  history, 
biography,  and  science,  with  a  fair  share  of  juvenile  publications. 
It  was  the  desire  of  the  committee  especially  to  strengthen  the 
library  in  respect  to  the  literature  covering  American  and  English 
history  and  biography,  and  this  it  did,  to  the  extent  of  the  limit 
imposed  by  the  amount  of  funds  at  its  disposal. 

The  library  was  informally  opened  to  the  public  on  Friday, 
January  24,  1890.  Stella  B.  Farr,  librarian,  and  Julia  A.  Eaton, 
assistant.  The  number  of  volumes  on  the  shelves  at  this  time 
was  2,700,  and  the  circulation  during  the  first  full  month  1,600, 
and  for  the  first  year  averaged  250  volumes  a  week,  of  which 
77  per  cent  were  fiction.  The  following  year  the  number  of  vol- 
umes was  increased  to  3,405  and  the  circulation  to  15,189,  or  a 
weekly  average  of  300.  Of  these,  83  per  cent  were  fiction,  which 
was  the  highest  per  cent  in  this  respect  during  the  first  ten  years. 

The  year  1892  is  memorable  in  the  history  of  the  library  for 
having  received  its  first  considerable  donation,  —  a  gift  of  more 
than  six  hundred  volumes  from  Col.  Charles  A.  Sinclair.  These 
were  especially  valuable,  as  they  were  selected  with  care  for  the 
purpose  of  strengthening  weak  places  in  several  departments  that 
had  been  necessarily  neglected  for  want  of  funds.  When  the 
Colonel  concluded  to  make  the  gift,  he  left  the  selection  of  the 
volumes  to  the  book  committee  of  the  library,  his  only  desire 
beinn;  to  add  to  the  usefulness  of  the  institution  as  an  educational 


Libraries.  451 

influence.  The  only  other  considerable  gift  was  a  bequest  in  the 
will  of  the  late  Harry  Bingham  of  the  sum  of  §1,000,  which  has 
been  invested,  and  the  income  is  used  in  the  purchase  of  books, 
the  selections  being  restricted  by  the  exclusion  of  works  of  fiction. 

As  originally  founded,  the  collection  contained  very  few  of  the 
works  of  writers  of  current  fiction.  There  was  a  fairly  good 
selection  of  the  classics,  and  standard  authors,  but  fiction,  now 
so  much  in  vogue  was  confined  to  authors  who  were  publishing 
in  the  years  from  1850  to  1875,  and  was  out  of  fashion  when 
it  came  into  the  possession  of  the  trustees  from  the  old  village 
library.  It  was  therefore  necessary  that  a  large  share  of  the 
annual  addition  of  books  should  consist  of  the  class  fiction  then 
in  demand.  In  fact,  the  funds  available  in  the  hands  of  the 
trustees  have  seldom  been  sufficient  to  more  than  meet  this  de- 
mand and  that  required  for  the  use  of  the  several  literary  clubs, 
which  calls  for  special  lines  rather  than  works  of  a  general  char- 
acter. Consequently  the  library  has  continued  deficient  in  some 
of  the  departments  that  must  be  strong  if  it  is  to  be  an  edu- 
cational institution  rather  than  one  designed  for  intellectual 
recreation. 

Change  has  been  the  tendency  of  the  governing  board  from  the 
beginning.  Mr.  Bellows  retired  after  a  year's  service,  Mrs.  Stevens 
by  removal  from  town,  Mr.  Batchellor  on  account  of  pressure 
of  business  affairs,  Mr.  Remick  for  the  same  reason,  and  at  tin- 
close  of  the  fifth  year  of  its  existence  as  a  town  institution,  the 
only  members  of  the  original  board  of  trustees  in  service  were 
Edgar  Aldrich,  Mrs.  Parker,  and  Miss  Brackett.  Mrs.  Parker 
served,  continuously,  longer  than  any  other  member,  her  term 
extending  from  1889  to  1903.  During  most  of  the  time  she  was 
a  member  of  the  board  she  also  served  as  its  treasurer.  Judge 
Aldrich  follows  next  in  order,  his  services  being  from  1889  to 
1898.  He  was  the  first  president  of  the  board,  and  continued  in 
that  position  until  continuous  absence  from  town  caused  his 
retirement.  Judge  Batchellor  has  been  accorded  more  elections 
or  appointments  to  the  board  than  any  other  person,  having  been 
a  member  no  less  than  five  different  times,  and  having  resigned 
from  it  nearly  as  many. 

The  present  officers-and  members  are  as  follows  :  A.  S.  Batch- 
ellor, president;  Elizabeth  K.  Retnich,  vice-president;  II.  M. 
Morse,  secretary;  Charles  F.  Eastman,  treasurer;  and  Delia  B. 
Mitchell,  Julia  A.  Eaton,  Stella  B.  Farr,  George  11.  Tilton,  ami 
(r.  S.  Whittakcr.  The  librarians  have  been  Stella  B.  Farr,  first 
year;  Julia  A.  Eaton,  and,  since  1x92,  Hannah  F.  Merrill. 


452  History  of  Littleton. 

The  rooms  occupied  by  the  library  in  the  Rounsevel  Building 
had  long  been  inadequate,  and  when  the  town  building  was  erected 
in  1895,  provision  was  made  for  it  on  the  second  floor,  over  the 
court-room.  The  books  and  furnishings  were  moved  to  the  new 
quarters,  which  were  adorned  with  pictures  presented  by  Mrs. 
Ira  Parker  and  the  Rev.  F.  G.  Chutter.  Other  gifts  were  the 
presentation  of  a  settle  for  the  reading-room  by  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
B.  W.  Kilburn.  two  chairs  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  H.  Mitchell,  and  a 
table  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  D.  C.  Remich.  These  rooms  were  opened 
to  the  public  on  Saturday,  June  1.  1895,  and  were  ample  for  their 
purposes.  Several  years  before,  legislation  had  been  obtained 
authorizing  towns  to  appropriate  money  and  maintain  reading- 
rooms,  and  this  occasion  was  availed  of  for  the  opening  of  a 
reading-room  well  supplied  with  magazines  and  newspapers. 

At  the  annual  town  meeting  in  March,  1902,  action  was  taken 
directing  the  purchase  of  a  lot  for,  and  the  erection  of,  a  library 
building,  which  was  to  be  a  gift  from  Andrew  Carnegie,  and  was 
to  cost  a  sum  not  exceeding  $15,000.  Oscar  C.  Hatch,  Daniel  C. 
Remich,  Charles  F.  Eastman,  Henry  F.  Green,  and  Fred  H.  Eng- 
lish were  chosen  a  building  committee  with  full  powers.  This 
committee  purchased  of  Dr.  George  W.  McGregor  the  property  at 
the  corner  of  Main  and  School  Streets,  so  long  owned  and  occupied 
as  a  residence  by  Dr.  William  Burns,  as  a  site  for  the  library 
building.  By  this  act  they  unconsciously  made  some  reparation 
for  the  gross  injustice  to  the  Doctor's  memory  perpetrated  by  the 
town  officers  by  selling  and  distributing  among  indifferent  pur- 
chasers the  hundreds  of  volumes  he  gave  the  town  as  a  foundation 
for  a  public  library.  Owing  to  differences  with  his  associates  in 
regard  to  the  purchase  of  adjoining  property  to  enlarge  the  lot, 
D.  C.  Remich  resigned  from  the  committee,  and  Cortes  F.  Nutting 
was  appointed  to  the  vacancy. 

The  new  building  is  now  in  process  of  erection,  and  the  town 
will  soon  have  a  substantial  home  for  one  of  its  most  cherished 
institutions,  the  Littleton  Public  Library. 


Music  and  Musical  Associations.  453 


XLV. 
MUSIC  .AND   MUSICAL   ASSOCIATIONS. 

SO  far  as  .we  have  any  authentic  information  Capt.  Peleg  Wil- 
liams was  our  first  musician.  Before  the  organization  of  the 
town  he  was  noted  for  skill  in  playing  the  violin,  and  for  thirty 
years  furnished  music  for  dancing  in  this  vicinity.  Dr.  Ainsworth, 
too,  was  an  expert  in  drawing  the  bow,  but  regarded  it  as  beneath 
his  dignity  to  become  in  any  sense  a  rival  to  the  doughty  captain 
in  the  way  of  fiddling  while  the  belles  and  beaux  tripped  the  light 
fantastic  toe.  Captain  Williams  retired  from  the  musical  arena 
before  1816,  and  was  succeeded  by  David  Goodall,  Jr.  who  played 
the  "  bag  fiddle  "  much  to  his  devout  mother's  disgust,  and  by 
James  Dow,  the  drummer  and  fifer  of  the  War  of  1812,  who  fur- 
nished music  for  more  than  a  generation  of  dancers. 

In  1835  Cephas  Brackett,  Luther  T.  Dow,  and  Charles  II. 
Lovejoy  were  among  those  who  were  active  in  forming  the  first 
band.  They  and  their  associates  engaged  a  Mr.  Bond,  of  Boston, 
as  teacher  and  director  of  a  brass  band.  Whether  he  was  the 
same  person  who  was  afterward  noted  through  New  England  as 
the  leader  of  Bond's  Cadet  Band  we  do  not  know,  but  it  is  not 
unlikely  that  such  was  the  fact.  It  was  under  his  direction  that  the 
Littleton  Band,  the  first  musical  organization  of  this  character  in 
the  town,  came  into  existence  in  1835. 

After  Mr.  Bond  a  Mr.  Wood  was  engaged  as  teacher.  Cephas 
Brackett  took  the  new  leader  to  a  ball  at  Waterford,  Vt.,  and 
introduced  him  as  Mr.  Timber.  Then  John  Windus,  a  musician 
of  note  at  the  time,  was  employed  as  teacher  and  director.  In 
18U4  Luther  T.  Dow  gave  to  George  C.  Furber  this  list  of  the 
members  of  the  band:  John  Windus,  cornet  and  leader:  Luther 
T.  Dow,  first  copper  bugle ;  William  B.  Douglass,  second  liuirle  ; 
Hiram  B.  ^mith,  trumpet;  Cephas  Brackett,  tenor  trombone; 
Fred  Hughes,  tenor  trombone;  Charles  B.  Allen,  B-ilat  clarinet; 
Charles  II.  Lovejoy,  B-flat  clarinet ;  Daniel  M.  Young,  Ivtlnt  clari- 
net ;  Nat  Allen,  bass  horn  ;  Elisha  Burnham,  bass  horn,  and  Fred- 


454  History  of  Littleton. 

erick  Hazeltine,  French  horn.  Oilman  K.  Morrison  and  Andrew 
M.  Quimby  were  afterward  members.  Mr.  Quimby  and  Natt  Allen 
were  noted  Abolitionists ;  the  former  was  the  local  correspondent 
of  the  "Herald  of  Freedom"  and  the  "Liberator"  and  at  one 
time  postmaster  at  North  Littleton.  Mr.  Morrison  is  the  only 
survivor  of  this  membership.  The  band  was  in  existence  four  or 
five  years.  Its  principal  public  exhibitions  were  at  the  May 
training's  in  town,  musters  at  Lisbon,  and  Fourth  of  July  cele- 
brations. After  the  Band  which  Mr.  Windus  instructed  went  out 
of  business  there  was  no  similar  organization  until  1855,  when 
the  Littleton  Brass  Band  was  formed.  The  membership  and 
instrumentation  of  this,  as  appears  from  its  roster,  was  :  Franklin 
G.  "Weller,  leader,  E-flat  cornet ;  Luther  T.  Dow,  E-flat  cornet ; 
Cyrus  E.  Burnham,  E-flat  cornet ;  Daniel  Quimby,  B-flat  cornet ; 
Albert  H.  Quimbv,  B-flat  cornet;  Frederick  Hazeltine,  E-flat 
alto;  Henry  H.  Lovejoy,  E-flat  alto;  Charles  Hodgman,  E-flat 
alto ;  Ai  Fitzgerald,  B-flat  tenor ;  Ira  Q.  Blake,  B-flat  tenor : 
Henry  L.  Tilton,  B-flat  bass;  George  L.  Russell,  E-flat  tuba: 
William  W.  Weller,  E-flat  tuba ;  Henry  B.  Burnham,  snare 
drum;  David  P.  Sanborn,  bass  drum;  Luther  D.  Sanborn,  cym- 
bals. Franklin  G.  Weller  was  leader  until  1861,  when  Daniel 
Quimby  was  elected  and  served  until  his  death.  Franklin  G  Wel- 
ler was  then  elected  again  and  continued  until  1865.  When  the  war 
broke  out,  II.  B.  Burnham,  Cyrus  Burnham,  II.  II.  Lovejoy  (who 
was  at  that  time  a  member  of  the  band),  Albert  H.  Quimby,  John 
Palmer,  and  F.  D.  Sanborn  enlisted  in  either  the  Second,  Third, 
or  Thirteenth  Regiment  Band.1  Nearly  all  of  these  served  to  the 
close  of  the  war,  and  came  home  in  1865.  In  the  fall  of  1865 
Henry  B.  Burnham  was  elected  leader  and  continued  in  that  capac- 
ity, with  the  exception  of  one  year,  until  1887  ;  he  was  also  leader 
during  the  season  of  1889.  Another  case  of  long  service  in  this  old 
band  is  that  of  Chauncey  H.  Greene,  who  joined  in  1863  and  was 
soon  after  elected  secretary  and  treasurer,  in  which  capacity  he 
served  most  of  the  time  for  fifteen  years.  At  the  time  the  Littleton 
Brass  Band  was  organized  Professor  Whipple,  of  Lancaster,  was 

1  II.  B.  Bnrnham,  solo  alto;  John  YV.  Palmer,  TC-flat  cornet;  F.  D.  Sanborn,  B 
tenor  (enlisted  as  private  in  Company  D,  but  after  Frederiesburg:  was  detailed  to  the 
band),  enlisted  in  the  Thirteenth  Regiment  and  belonged  to  the  regimental  band 
until  it  was  dissolved.  Cyrus  E.  Burnham.  tuba;  II.  H.  Lovejoy,  B  cornet,  enlisted 
in  the  Third  Kegiment  Hand.  Albert  Quimby,  B  cornet,  enlisted  in  the  Fifth 
Regiment  Band.  When  the  regimental  bands  were  disbanded,  about  18(32.  F.  D. 
Sanborn,  John  Palmer,  and  II.  B.  Burnham  became  members  of  the  Second  Brigade 
Band,  Third  Division,  Twenty-fourth  Army  Corps.  Cyrus  Burnliani  and  II.  II. 
Lovejoy  went  into  the  Seventeenth  Kegiment  as  musicians  after  regimental  bands 
were  disbanded. 


ALBERT  H.  QIMMBY. 
FREDERICK  HA/ELTINE.  CHARLES  HODGMAY 

Al    FlT/.GERALD.  CYRl'S    H.  Bl'RNHA.M.  HFARV    H.   LOVEJOV. 

IKA  O.  BI.AKE.  DANIEL  QUIMBY.  LUTHER  T.  Dow.  HENRY  L.  TILTOY 

WM.  W.  WELLER.  FRANK  G.  WEI.LER.  GEORGE  L.  RUSSEI  L. 

DAVID  p.  SANBORN.  Li  THI  R  D.  SANBORY 

HENRY  B.  BURNHAM. 


Music  and  Musical  Associations.  455 

employed  as  teacher,  and  afterwards  Prof.  Walter  Dignam,  of 
Manchester.  The  membership  of  the  band  was  naturally  more  or 
less  changed  each  year,  but  some  of  the  original  members  served 
for  a  long  time ;  -notable  among  these  were  Ai  Fitzgerald,  who 
was  a  member  about  twelve  years,  and  Luther  T.  Dow,  who  was 
a  member  nearly  as  long.  In  1865  the  name  was  changed  to 
"Littleton  Cornet  Band,"  and  this  was  retained  until  1880  or 
1881,  when  it  was  changed  to  "  Saranac  Band  "  on  account  of 
the  liberal  gifts  presented  by  the  Saranac  Glove  Company.  After 
that  date  the  name  was  not  changed  until  the  organization  was 
disbanded  in  1889.  For  the  most  part  it  had  a  fine  record 
and  ranked  among  the  best  bands  in  the  State.  After  Mr.  Burn- 
ham  gave  up  the  leadership  he  had  several  successors,  —  Henry 
H.  Lovejoy,  Harry  C.  Parker,  Francis  H.  Palmer,  and  George  H. 
Wilder,  now  the  leader  of  Wilder's  Orchestra,  of  Montpelier,  Vt. 
Since  then  several  efforts  have  been  made  to  organize  a  band,  but 
with  indifferent  success.  The  town  has  twice  appropriated  money 
for  the  purpose  of  patronizing  the  movement,  the  last  sum  of  -f400 
being  given  under  the  guise  of  providing  band  concerts  during 
the  summer  of  1903,  to  a  band  under  the  leadership  of  William 
H.  Nute. 

Albert  H.  Bowman  was  for  a  long  time  Drum  Major  of  the 
Littleton  Cornet  Band  and  its  successor  the  Saranac  Band.  With 
an  imposing  figure,  arrayed  in  a  bearskin  hat  and  a  uniform  not 
wanting  in  gold  braid  and  other  rich  adornments,  on  parade  he 
was  the  observed  of  all  observers.  The  Major  filled  the  require- 
ments of  this  position  to  the  letter.  Major  Bowman  has  long 
been  a  patron  of  outdoor  sports,  especially  of  baseball  and  foot- 
ball, and  a  generous  contributor  to  the  funds  raised  for  their 
maintenance.  He  gave  his  services  freely  as  Drum  Major,  and 
his  pecuniary  gifts  to  the  band  helped  them  out  of  financial  diffi- 
culty on  more  than  one  occasion. 

The  first  band  stand  was  erected  in  the  summer  of  1868  at  the 
corner  of  Main  and  Jackson  Streets,  and  was  used  until  1874, 
when,  having  become  worthless,  it  was  destroyed  one  night  by 
some  of  the  fun-loving  lads  of  the  town.  In  the  summer  of  1875 
Isabel,  daughter  of  H.  L.  Tilton,  raised  money  by  subscriptions 
sufficient  to  build  a  new  stand,  and  it  was  erected  on  the  old 
location  in  May,  1875.  This  was  used  for  many  years,  but  the 
band  at  last  outgrew  its  proportions  and  the  stand  was  removed 
to  the  lower  park,  where  it  now  stands.  In  the  fall  of  1894  1>.  W. 
Kilburn  and  D.  C.  Remich  erected  the  stand  in  Hillside  Park,  at 
a  cost  of  about  $350. 


456  History  of  Littleton. 

A  movement  was  made  as  early  as  1866  to  organize  a  musical 
association  to  hold  conventions  in  Lancaster  and  Littleton.  Those 
interested  in  the  matter  at  the  time  of  its  inception  were  residents 
of  the  former  town  and  held  a  convention  there  in  1867,  which 
was  so  successful  that  its  managers  were  encouraged  to  hold  one 
in  this  town  in  the  summer  or  early  autumn  of  that  year.  They 
received  the  support  of  several  men  in  Littleton  who  were  inter- 
ested in  music,  of  whom  Frank  G.  Weller,  George  Abbott,  and 
Henry  L.  Tilton  were  the  most  active  in  promoting  its  success. 
The  following  year  a  convention  was  held  under  the  direction  of 
the  Lancaster  association,  and  met  with  a  fair  degree  of  patronage. 

These  conventions  awakened  much  interest  among  the  lovers 
of  music  in  Littleton  and  neighboring  towns,  and  in  the  autumn 
of  1868  it  was  decided  to  hold  a  convention  the  following  winter, 
under  the  management  of  a  committee  of  residents  of  this  town. 
A  paper  was  circulated  which  received  numerous  signatures  pledg- 
ing "  the  undersigned  "  to  contribute  equally  to  such  fund  as  might 
be  necessary  to  make  up  any  deficiency  arising  from  an  excess  of 
expenditures  over  receipts  in  holding  the  convention.  The  sub- 
scribers to  the  guarantee  fund  held  a  meeting  and  appointed  a 
committee  to  carry  out  their  plans.  Xo  record  of  their  transac- 
tions was  kept,  and  the  names  of  the  members  or  their  number 
is  not  known  beyond  the  fact  that  William  J.  Bellows  was  chair- 
man, Frank  G.  Weller  secretary,  and  Francis  F.  Hodgman  treas- 
urer. Henry  L.  Tilton,  F.  0.  Weller,  George  Abbott,  and  Charles 
A.  Sinclair  were  among  the  members  of  the  committee. 

The  convention  was  held  in  the  last  week  in  Januarv,  I860, 
with  C.  M.  Wyman,  of  Keene,  as  conductor ;  Martha  Dana  Shepard. 
pianist,  and  J.  P.  Cobb,  of  Boston,  humorist.  The  chorus  num- 
bered one  hundred  and  forty-four.  There  were  no  professional 
soloists,  except  Mr.  Cobb,  but  very  satisfactory  substitutes  were 
found  in  Mr.  Wyman,  the  conductor,  who  sang  with  effective 
pathos  "Over  the  River:"  George  H.  Doane  and  Mrs.  Doane,  of 
Concord;  Mr.  Ingalls,  of  the  same  city;  Mrs.  Warren  and  Mrs. 
Kimball,  also  of  Concord  ;  Mrs.  Hibbard,  of  Lisbon,  and  Ardelle 
Knapp  of  this  town.  Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  attend- 
ance was  large  and  the  expenditures  kept  down  to  the  lowest 
possible  mark,  the  signers  to  the  guarantee  fund  were  required  to 
pay  83.60  each  to  make  up  the  deficit.  It  was  then  thought  that 
the  convention  would  be  the  last,  as  it  was  the  first,  held  under 
the  auspices  of  our  townsmen. 

The  spirit  awakened  by  Hie  convention  of  1869  survived,  though 
dormant  for  months,  and  an  accident  awakened  it  to  activitv. 


Al.BEKT     H.     Bo\V.\IAX. 


Music  and  Musical  Associations.  457 

In  the  last  week  of  November  of  that  year  a  sacred  concert  given 
for  a  charitable  purpose  was  held  on  Sunday  evening  in  Music 
Hall,  Boston,  at  which  Mrs.  H.  M.  Smith,  Addie  Ryan,  William  IT. 
Fessenden,  and  Henry  C.  Barnabee  were  the  singers.  It  was  at- 
tended by  two  of  those  who  had  contributed  to  the  guarantee  fund 
which  furnished  the  sequel  to  the  convention  of  the  preceding 
January,  and  they  left  the  hall  with  a  distinct  purpose  of  organ- 
izing at  home  a  musical  association,  holding  a  convention,  and 
having  the  quartette  of  that  evening  as  the  attraction. 

Within  a  week  they  secured  the  co-operation  of  H.  L.  Tilton, 
William  J.  Bellows,  T.  E.  Sariger,  Henry  Merrill,'  F.  G.  Weller, 
Evarts  W.  Farr,  George  Farr,  Frank  Thayer,  and  a  few  others, 
and  held  a  public  meeting  in  Weeks  Hall  to  consider  the  project. 
This  meeting  was  well  attended.  Dr.  Sanger  was  appointed 
chairman,  and  James  R.  Jackson  acted  as  secretary.  The  plan 
was  unfolded  and  favored  by  several  of  those  mentioned  as  its 
supporters.  It  was,  however,  apparent  that  a  majority  were  of  the 
opinion  that  it  could  not  be  successfully  carried  out.  Their  argu- 
ment was  that  the  expense  would  be  great,  the  public  would  not 
lend  it  their  patronage  when  the  price  of  seats  was  placed  at  a  sum 
before  unknown  in  the  town,  and  there  was  no  suitable  hall  for  the 
concerts.  The  projectors  maintained  that  the  great  ability  of  the 
artists  was  alone  sufficient  to  warrant  the  proposed  charge  of  ad- 
mission and  to  fill  the  hall  to  its  full  capacity,  and  that  in  various 
ways  the  number  of  seats  in  the  hall  could  be  increased.  They  pro- 
posed that  the  time  of  the  convention  should  be  treated  as  a  festival 
week  and  those  attending  from  abroad  should  be  received  and  enter- 
tained by  the  friends  of  the  association.  Doubtful  of  the  result 
should  the  question  be  acted  upon  at  the  time,  an  adjournment  was 
taken  for  one  week.  When  the  meeting  reconvened,  all  were  pre- 
pared to  give  the  proposed  convention  at  least  one  trial.  A  consti- 
tution prepared  in  the  interval  between  the  meetings  was  read  for 
consideration,  and  the  meeting  adjourned  to  the  29th  of  December. 

The  meeting  reassembled  at  the  time  to  which  it  had  been 
adjourned.  The  constitution  proposed  at  the  preceding  meeting 
was  adopted,  and  with  two  immaterial  changes  has  been  in  force 
thirty-four  years.  The  meeting  proceeded  to  organize  under  the 
provisions  of  the  constitution  then  adopted.  William  J.  Bel- 
lows was  chosen  president ;  Chauncey  H.  Greene,  George  Abbott, 
and  George  Farr,  vice-presidents  ;  F.  G.  Weller,  corresponding 
secretary;  Luther  D.  Sanborn,  recording  secretary;  Francis  F. 
Hodgman,  treasurer,  and  Henry  L.  Tilton,  Ira  Parker,  Henry  H. 
Lovejoy,  Aaron  D.  Fisher,  and  Thaddcus  E.  Sanger  constituted  the 


458  History  of  Littleton* 

executive  committee.  The  meeting  approved  the  action  of  the 
committee  previously  appointed,  ratified  the  engagement  of  Mrs. 
H.  M.  Smith,  and  directed  the  committee  to  also  engage  Henry  C. 
Barnabee  upon  the  terms  he  had  submitted.  The  proportion  to 
secure  the  services  of  Miss  Ryan  and  Mr.  Fessenden  was  referred 
to  the  executive  committee.  It  was  subsequently  decided  not  to 
hazard  the  expense  of  engaging  other  talent  than  that  already  em- 
ployed. But  fourteen  persons  became  members  of  the  association 
at  this  meeting,  though  at  least  three  times  that  number  had  been 
present  and  participated  in  its  proceedings.1  Before  the  convention 
in  January,  1870,  twenty-three  others  had  joined  the  association. 

The  third  convention  (those  of  1868  and  1869  being  counted  in 
the  enumeration)  was  held  during  the  third  week  in  January, 
1870,  beginning  on  Tuesday,  the  18th,  and  closing  on  Friday,  the 
21st,  of  that  month.  It  was  under  the  direction  of  C.  M.  Wyman, 
who  had  served  as  conductor  of  that  of  the  previous  year.  Beside 
the  eminent  vocalists  from  Boston  there  were  in  attendance  Mr. 
Harlow,  the  blind  pianist,  who  afterward  made  his  home  in  this 
town  for  some  years,  the  Harrington  family,  of  St.  Johnsbury, 
Vt.,  and  Mrs.  Shepard,  who  was  present  on  the  last  day  only. 
The  order  governing  the  proceedings  then  established  has  been 
substantially  followed  in  the  conventions  since.  On  Wednesday 
night  there  was  a  promenade,  and  concerts  were  given  on  the  even- 
ings of  Thursday  and  Friday.  Each  was  a  pronounced  success. 
Mrs.  Smith  and  Mr.  Barnabee  were  received  with  great  favor  and 
enthusiasm.  People  attended  the  convention  from  all  the  sur- 
rounding towns,  and  the  hospitality  of  the  citizens  contributed  in 
no  small  degree  to  the  success  of  the  occasion.  The  financial 
result  was  also  of  a  satisfactory  character,  about  two  hundred 
dollars  remaining  in  the  treasury  after  the  payment  of  expenses. 

In  1871  John  G.  Sinclair  was  president,  and  the  executive  com- 
mittee consisted  of  Henry  L.  Tilton,  Ira  Parker,  Chauneey  II. 
Greene,  Charles  A.  Sinclair,  and  Minot  Weeks.  The  talent  en- 
gaged for  the  third  convention  comprised  Mrs.  H.  M.  Smith,  Addie 
Ryan,  Henry  C.  Barnabee,  William  H.  Fessenden,  and  Mrs.  Shep- 
ard. Mr.  Wyman  having  died,  Solon  Wilder,  of  Boston,  was 
engaged  as  conductor,  and  proved  a  satisfactory  successor  to  the 
genial  and  accomplished  Wyman. 

The  association  was  thus  firmly  established  in  the  confidence  of 
the  public,  and  only  on  two  or  three  occasions  in  nearly  a  score 

1  The  original  members  were  T.  E.  Sander,  James  R.  Jackson,  Henry  L.  Tilton, 
Evarts  W.  Fair,  Charles  A.  Sinclair,  Ira  Parker,  William  II.  Sturtevant,  J.  S.  Davis, 
Charles  U.  Applehee,  L.  I).  Sanborn,  William  J.  Bellows,  F.  K.  Glover,  A.  1).  Fisher, 
and  A.  J.  Church. 


Music  and  Musical  Associations.  459 

of  years  did  the  annual  convention  fail  to  add  to  the  funds  in  the 
bank.  Its  purpose  was  to  bring  within  the  reach  of  all  the  best 
musical  talent,  to  cultivate  a  public  taste  for  a  high  order  of 
vocal  and  instrumental  music,  and  to  furnish  an  amusement  cal- 
culated to  have  a  lasting  impression  on  the  minds  of  its  patrons. 
In  each  respect  it  has  been  successful. 

Its  musical  directors  have  been  men  of  high  repute  in  their 
profession.  Carl  Zerrahu,  Emil  Mollenhauer,  William  0.  Perkins, 
R.  H.  Palmer,  W.  W.  Davis,  George  W.  Dudley,  L.  A.  Torrens, 
J.  Wallace  Goodrich,  and  Henri  G.  Blaisdell  attest  the  character 
of  the  artists  who  have  conducted  the  conventions.  Many  of  the 
eminent  professional  singers  of  New  England  have  appeared  upon 
its  stage,  and  artists  and  organizations  of  renown  as  instrument- 
alists have  been  engaged  for  its  annual  concerts,  some  of  whom 
have  a  national  reputation.  Notable  in  this  class  are  Barnabee, 
Whitney,  McDonald,  and  Fessenden,  the  organizers  and  bright 
particular  stars  of  the  Boston  Ideal  Opera  Company.  Others  who 
shone  in  their  time  in  song  were  Mrs.  H.  M.  Smith,  Addie  Ryan, 
Gertrude  Edmands,  Mrs.  E.  Humphrey  Allen,  Mrs.  Kempton,  Mrs. 
Knowles,  Mrs.  Jennie  Patrick  Walker,  Mrs.  H.  E.  Sawyer,  Anna 
Granger  Dow,  Miss  Nellini,  Miss  McLane,  Miss  Clarey,  Miss  Kaula, 
and  many  others,  especially  those  who  have  appeared  in  recent 
years,  —  and  Bartlett,  Want,  W.  W.  Clark,  Saxton,  Babcock.  In 
the  list  of  quartettes  are  such  well-remembered  organizations  as  the 
Temple  Quartette  when  it  was  composed  of  its  original  membership 
of  Fitz,  Fessenden,  Barnabee,  and  Clark,  and  since  it  has  passed 
through  several  changes ;  the  Schubert  Male,  the  Albion,  the 
Schubert  Female,  and  others.  In  instrumental  music  have  ap- 
peared the  Mendelssohn  Quintette,  the  Schubert,  Gcrmania,  and 
Blaisdell's  orchestras,  and  Arbuckle,  the  celebrated  cornetist  of  his 
day,  whose  mellow  notes  still  linger  in  the  memory  of  the  older 
patrons  of  the  organization. 

We  cannot  give  the  names  of  those  who  are  enrolled  in  the  list 
of  the  "home  talent."  They  were  many,  and  came  from  far  and 
near  to  be  for  a  week  the  guests  of  their  Littleton  friends,  and  add 
their  voices  to  swell  the  volume  of  the  chorus  or  make  up  the 
programme  of  the  Thursday  matinee. 

A  distinguishing  feature  of  the  convention  for  thirty  years  was 
the  attendance  of  Martha  Dana  Shcpard,  the  pianist,  whose  cul- 
tured musical  talent,  wide  acquaintance  with  musicians,  freedom 
from  the  sensitiveness  which  is  supposed  to  furnish  no  small  part  of 
the  equipment  of  the  musician,  whose  energy  and  readiness  at  all 
times  to  take  upon  herself  the  burden  of  guiding  the  convention 


460  History  of  Littleton. 

over  its  rough  places,  and  whose  love,  deep  and  abiding,  for  her  art 
rendered  her  services  through  almost  a  generation  invaluable  to 
the  organization,  and  furnish  a  theme  to  which  all  who  have  at- 
tended the  festivals  of  the  association  recur  with  pleasure.  Her 
last  appearance  here  was  in  1897.  She  has,  however,  withdrawn 
from  the  musical  world  only  in  the  professional  sense,  and  contin- 
ues to  "  play  "  when  old  friends  are  near. 

One  of  the  difficulties  encountered  by  the  association  in  the 
management  of  its  affairs  has  been  that  of  providing  an  enter- 
tainment that  would  please  all  sorts  and  conditions  of  men.  The 
general  public  is  fond  of  the  humorous  and  grotesque,  a  few  wor- 
ship at  the  shrine  of  classical  music,  while  there  is  an  intermedi- 
ate class  who  demand  that  the  programme  shall  consist  largely 
of  church  music,  varied  occasionally  with  a  sentimental  ballad. 
The  pervasive  art  of  compromise  has  governed  the  selection  of 
the  talent.  While  the  main  purpose  of  instruction  in  the  higher 
branches  of  music  has  been  adhered  to  as  a  rule,  the  comical  has 
found  a  place  in  the  programme  of  nearly  all  recent  conventions. 
In  the  early  days  Barnabce  supplied  from  his  large  and  varied 
entertaining  equipment  amusement  of  this  kind.  He  was  followed 
by  the  professional  humorists,  Thomas,  Wilder,  Grilley,  and  others, 
who  were  received  with  uproarious  acclaim,  much  to  the  disgust 
of  the  sober-minded  in  the  audience. 

As  often  happens,  many  incidents,  both  serious  and  humorous, 
not  down  on  the  programme,  have  occurred  in  these  assemblages 
to  stir  them  to  unwonted  enthusiasm.  In  old  times  a  peculiar 
character  known  as  "  Whetstone"  Palmer  was  a  constant  attend- 
ant. He  was  a  man  of  intelligence  who  had  seen  better  days, 
but  he  had  acquired  convivial  habits  and  sunk  into  a  condition  of 
vagabondage.  He  possessed  some  musical  ability  and  was  a  great 
lover  of  song;  these  qualities  were  so  strong  that  they  enabled 
him  once  a  year  to  summon  all  the  remaining  strength  of  his 
enfeebled  will  for  the  supreme  effort  to  reach  a  condition  of  so- 
briety that  would  enable  him  to  take  a  part  in  the  chorus  of  the 
convention.  His  voice,  once  sweet  and  strong,  was  then  some- 
what infirm  and  uncertain,  and  a  source  of  occasional  merriment 
but  his  most  striking  mirth-provoking  quality  lay  in  the  widely 
varying  expression  of  his  countenance  when  Barnabee's  droll  tales 
aroused  his  dormant  sensibilities  into  enthusiastic  activity  of  facial 
contortions  which  caused  the  audience  to  abandon  itself  to  shouts 
of  laughter  for  many  minutes. 

Another  scene,  but  of  a  different  character,  was  occasioned  by 
a  belated  train  which  was  bearing  the  Temple  Quartette  to  the 


Music  and  Musical  Associations.  461 

convention  concert.  To  quicken  the  dragging  hours  the  chorus 
began  to  sing  familiar  hymns,  and  met  with  such  pronounced 
approval  from  the  large  audience  that  it  was  continued  for  more 
than  an  hour,  to  the  great  satisfaction  of  all  present.  This, 
with  the  programme  that  followed  by  the  quartette,  is  remem- 
bered as  one  of  the  most  delightful  evening  entertainments  ever 
given  by  the  association. 

It  was  formerly  the  custom  in  the  closing  hours  of  the  conven- 
tion for  the  president  of  the  organization  to  make  an  address  of 
the  usual  character,  thanking  the  conductor,  artists,  chorus,  and 
audience  for  their  presence  and  achievements.  These  addresses 
were  always  of  a  pleasing  character,  and  were  responded  to  by  the 
directors  ;  but  once,  during  the  presidency  of  John  G.  Sinclair, 
who  had  with  his  usual  felicity  put  the  assemblage  in  good  humor 
and  resumed  his  seat,  the  director  called  upon  E.  I).  Rand,  presi- 
dent of  the  Lisbon  association,  to  respond  to  the  brief  speech 
of  Mr.  Sinclair.  Then  followed  a  scene  that  will  abide  in  the 
memory  of  all  who  were  present.  It  was  a  clash  of  two  of  the 
brightest  minds  that  have  illumined  this  north  country,  wit  and 
humor  flashed  and  sparkled  at  every  exchange,  and  a  sympathetic 
audience  would  not  let  the  combatants  quit  the  stage  for  a  long 
time.  Spurred  on  by  the  applause  and  laughter  of  their  listeners, 
they  furnished  an  entertainment  the  like  of  which,  for  brilliancy  of 
wit,  quickness  and  patness  of  repartee,  and  the  admiring  appre- 
ciativeness  of  an  intensely  interested  concourse  of  people,  is  not 
likely  to  be  duplicated. 

From  the  beginning  the  association  has  successfully  summoned 
to  its  executive  department  the  services  of  prominent  citizens.  A 
full  list  of.  those  who  have  served  as  its  officers  may  be  found 
in  the  statistics  in  this  volume.  The  burden  of  management 
has  fallen  upon  the  executive  committee,  treasurer,  and  corre- 
sponding secretary.  As  members  of  the  executive  committee 
Henry  L.  Tilton  served  for  a  period  of  eleven  years ;  Ira  Parker, 
eight ;  Chauncey  H.  Greene,  eight ;  B.  F.  Robinson,  eight ;  II.  II. 
Southworth,  seven ;  W.  H.  Bellows,  seven ;  P.  F.  Ouverand,  six  ; 
and  M.  F.  Young  was  continuously  on  the  board  sixteen  years  ; 
while  F.  R.  Glover  was  a  member  from  1874  to  1897  inclusive,  a 
period  of  twenty-four  years,  and  since  his  retirement  from  the 
position  has  filled  that  of  president,  in  all  thirty-two  years  in  the 
service  of  the  association. 

Seldom  has  an  organization  of  this  character  maintained  its 
usefulness  and  popularity  through  so  many  changing  years  or 
preserved  its  elevating  influence. 


462  History  of  Littleton. 


XLVL 
TAXATION.1 

THE  record  of  taxation  not  only  shows  the  wealth  or  poverty 
of  a  town,  but  is  a  sure  indication  of  its  growth  or  retro- 
gression. It  indicates  what  public  institutions  are  being  added  to 
its  resources  and  how  they  are  fostered,  whether  the  population 
is  increasing  or  decreasing,  and  various  other  points  which  might 
be  enumerated. 

The  record  of  Littleton  in  this  regard  is  no  exception  to  the 
rule,  although  the  early  records  are  meagre  as  compared  with  those 
of  the  present  day,  and  lead  the  reader  many  times  to  wish  tin1 
town  officials  had  left  a  fuller  account  of  the  doings  of  those  days. 
for  there  are  none  now  left  to  tell  us  what  they  were. 

Chiswick  was  granted  in  1764.  The  charter  lapsed  in  176!>. 
when  by  mutual  agreement  between  Governor  Wentworth,  the 
grantees  of  the  lapsed  Chiswick  grant,  Moses  Little,  and  others, 
the  territory  was  regranted  under  the  name  of  Apthorp,  Colonel 
Little  and  his  associates  being  the  proprietors.  Neither  Chiswick 
nor  Apthorp  was  an  organized  town  ;  under  the  former  charter 
there  was  no  population,  and  under  the  latter  there  were  but  four 
families  in  town. 

It  will  be  seen  that  under  these  conditions  the  towns  had  no 
taxing  machinery,  and  if  there  had  been  such  it  is  improbable  that 
the  few  people  here  would  have  been  able  with  their  slender  re- 
sources to  meet  the  demands  imposed  upon  them  by  the  iStatc. 

Notwithstanding  these  hard  conditions^  the  town  has  been  regu- 
larly apportioned  for  taxes  from  1777  to  the  present  time.  In 
1777  the  apportionment  was  <£!  16*.  5|c?.,  and  remained  the 
same  for  three  years.  It  is  apparent  that  this  sum  would  have 
exhausted  the  specie  in  circulation,  as  only  three  or  four  families 
were  settled  here.  A  protest  from  Captain  Caswell  reduced  this 
apportionment  in  1780  to  15*.  "2(7.,  at  which  figure  it  remained 

1  An  article  under  this  title  was  prepared  by  George  C.  Furber,  some  of  winch 
has  been  retained.  Many  additions  have  been  made,  and  omissions  have  been 
rendered  necessary  because  the  same  ground  has  been  covered  elsewhere. 


Taxation.  463 

until  the  organization  of  Littleton  and  Dalton  in  1784,  when  it 
was  increased  to  £1  2s.  Sd.  A  book-keeping  blunder  on  the  part 
of  the  State  treasurer  caused  the  town  to  be  still  entered  on  the  list 
as  Apthorp  until  1789,  when  it  is  recorded  under  its  proper  title. 

In  1780  the  town  was  taxed  eight  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  of 
beef  for  the  army,  and  in  January,  1781,  ten  hundred  and  sixty 
pounds  were  demanded.  In  August  of  the  same  year  a  tax  of 
seven  and  one-half  gallons  of  West  India  rum  was  levied,  with  the 
provision  that  New  England  rum  could  be  substituted  in  the  pro- 
portion of  six  quarts  of  the  latter  for  one  gallon  of  the  former. 
For  each  gallon  not  furnished,  the  town  should  pay  one  Spanish 
milled  dollar  or  its  equivalent  in  other  coin. 

After  the  division  of  Apthorp  attention  was  forced  upon  the 
people  by  the  reiterated  demands  of  the  treasurer  of  the  State  for 
the  payment  of  accumulated  taxes,  and  in  response  to  one  of  these 
demands  Captain  Caswell,  in  behalf  of  the  town,  sent  the  fol- 
lowing communication  :  l  — 

STATE  OF  NEW   HAMI-SHIKE. 

LITTLETON,  June  3d,  1786. 

To  the  Honourable  General  Court  of  sd  State  to  be  Conven'd  at  Concord 

on  the  first  Wednesda\"  of  June  instant  — 

Humbly  sheweth  the  Inhabitants  of  Littleton  in  the  Count}"  of  Graf 'ton 
&  State  aforesaid  ;  that  they  were  at  the  Commencement  of  the  late  war 
just  beginning  Settlement  on  said  tract  of  land  which  has  until  very 
lately  been  known  by  the  name  of  Apthorp,  that  they,  being  poor  and 
much  expos'd  to  our  Enemy  during  said  war  never  paid  any  taxes  into 
the  Treasury  of  said  State  —  That  notwithstanding  the  Division  of  said 
Apthorp  into  two  Towns  Precepts  have  lately  been  sent  to  the  Select- 
men of  Apthorp  for  sums  much  too  Large  as  may  appear  by  our  return 
herewith  exhibited  —  we  therefore  pray  that  our  Doomages  may  be 
taken  off  and  the  Selectmen  of  Littleton  be  enabled  to  assess  and  col- 
lect any  and  all  sums  of  money  now  Due,  within  the  lines  thereof  on 
the  proprietors  of  said  Littleton  or  otherwise  as  may  appear  Just  —  and 
your  petitioners  will  pray  &c 

NATUAX  CASWKLL 
For  and  at  the  request  of  said  Inhabitants 

This  letter  and  other  representations  led  the  General  Court  to 
pass  a  relieving  act  June  29,  1787.  By  its  provisions  all  taxes, 
except  the  portion  laid  on  lands  from  177»>  to  1784,  were  abated, 
and  those  on  lands  were  reduced  one-half.  The  proportion  of 
Littleton  in  the  Apthorp  arrearages  was  fixed  at  seven-twelfths. 
State  taxes,  accruing  prior  to  the  division,  were  to  be  levied  in  the 

1  State  Papers,  Vol.  XII.  p.  425. 


464  History  of  Littleton. 

manner  first  indicated,  and  those  accruing  subsequently  were  to 
fall  on  both  real  and  personal  property.  Distinct  tax  bills  were 
to  be  provided  for  the  two  periods,  and  the  extents  of  the  State 
treasurer  were  stayed  until  the  next  session  of  the  General  Court. 
At  the  town  meeting  held  in  March,  1788,  Capt.  Peleg  Williams 
was  made  agent  of  the  town  to  secure  relief  from  the  legislature 
in  regard  to  the  unpaid  taxes,  and  to  provide  for  a  tax  for  build- 
ing a  highway  through  the  town.  After  reaching  Concord  he  pre- 
sented to  the  legislature  the  following  statement :  — 

STATE  OF  NEW  HAMPSHIRE. 

CONCOHD,  l(>th  June,  1788. 

To  the  Honhk  Gen1  court  of  said  state  now  setting  — 

The  Petition  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Littleton  in  said  state  humbly 
sheweth,  that  your  Petitionors  for  eighteen  3'ears  last  past,  have  laid 
under  many  and  grievous  dificulties  —  your  Petitionors  cannot  ascertain 
the  number  of  acres  of  Land  in  said  Littleton,  neither  can  we  find  out 
the  original  Proprietors  of. said  Town,  so  that  we  can  not  Tax  said  land 
except  we  have  a  special  act  of  this  IIonbk'  court  for  that  purpose,  your 
Petitionors  woo'd  further  inform  your  honors  that  although  we  were 
promised  by  said  Proprietors  or  owners  of  land  (as  they  call'd  them- 
selves) to  have  our  land  given  us  for  settlement  &  that  the  compliment 
of  settlers  according  to  charter  shoo'd  then  soon  be  in  Town,  that  they 
woo'd  make  good  roads  through  said  Town  Build  Mills  &c  —  all  of 
which  is  neglected  by  said  land  owners,  and  although  it  is  eighteen  years 
since  said  Town  began  to  settle,  there  is  but  nine  families  in  it  at  this 
time,  and  there  is  no  mills  in  said  Town,  nor  can  we  git  at  any  under 
fifteen  miles,  the  Publick  .Road  that  runs  through  said  Town  is  eleven 
miles  in  length,  and  almost  Impossible  to  pass  in  the  same,  which  road 
your  Petitionors  have  to  travel  to  git  to  mill,  to  market,  to  courts,  and 
almost  every  kind  of  Business  —  so  that  your  Petitioners  have  got  under 
such  poor  and  dilicult  circumstances,  that  we  cannot  live  in  said  Town 
nor  move  out  of  the  same,  except  your  honors  will  Interpose  in  our 
behalf. 

Therefore  your  Petitioners  most  humbly  pray  that  your  honors 
woo'd  take  our  singular  Situation  under  your  wise  consideration,  and 
grant  that  a  special  act  of  this  court  be  made  that  said  Town  he  setled 
according  to  charter  in  years  from  this  date  your  Petitioners  further 

o  fj  ., 

pray  your  honors  that  a  special  act  of  this  IIon'l!c  court  be  made,  to 
assess  and  collect  the  taxes  now  due  or  that  ma}"  be  due  from  said 
Town  —  we  further  pray  your  honors  that  a  committee  be  appointed  by 
this  Ilonllc  court  to  lay  out  and  make  a  road  through  said  Town,  and 
that  the  cost  be  paid  by  the  land  owners  thereof  and  on  their  neglecting 
or  refusing  to  pay  said  cost  of  laying  out  and  making  said  road  your 
Petitioners  most  humbly  pra}-  your  honors  to  give  order  that  so  much 
land  in  said  Town  be  sold  as  will  pay  the  cost  aforesaid  or  otherwise 


Taxation.  4G5 

as  your  honours  shall  think  most  expedient  and  your  Petitioners  as  in 
duty  bound  will  ever  pray  — 

PELEG  WILLIAMS 
In  behalf  of  said  Inhabitants 

Supplementary  to  the  above  letter  the  voters  of  the  town  united 
in  a  petition  to  the  General  Court  the  following  December,  a  copy 
of  which  has  been  preserved  in  the  N.  H.  State  Papers,  Vol.  XII. 
p.  480.  It  reads  as  follows  :  — 

STATE  OF  NEW  HAMPSHIRE,  GRAKTON  ss 

LITTLETON,  December  the  12  —  1788 

To  the  Honorable  Gen1  Court  of  said  State  to  be  Conveaned  at  Exeter 
on  the  24  Day  of  Instant  December  — 

The  Petition  of  the  Inhabitants  of  said  Littleton  humbl}-  shews 
that  it  is  Eighteen  3'ears  since  the  Town  began  to  Settle  and  the  sellers 
ware  promised  by  the  owners  of  the  Land  that  they  wood  make  a  good 
Rode  throw  said  Town  erect  and  keep  in  good  repair  a  grest  mill  and 
saw  mill  in  said  town  and  that  they  wood  Soon  have  the  Town  settled 
with  such  a  number  of  Setelers  as  to  make  it  Convenient  for  your  pe- 
titioners all  of  which  the\'  have  neglected  and  thare  is  now  in  Town  but 
nine  families  and  the  Country  road  through  the  same  is  twelve  miles 
and  is  very  wet  hill}'  and  Stoney,  your  Petitioners  cannot  git  at  any 
mill  Short  of  twelve  or  fifteen  mildes  and  if  a  Scarce  time  of  grinden 
must  wait  for  the  Inhabinec  of  the  town  to  which  the  mill  belongs 
to  have  thare  grist  ground  first  besides  we  have  the  aforesaid  road  to 
travel  through  without  our  horses  being  Shod  as  thare  is  no  Blacksmith 
neigher  than  a  mill  3'our  Petitioners  are  not  only  few  in  number  but 
poor  and  must  remain  so  Except  the  aforesaid  Dificulties  Can  be  removed 
all  or  allmost  all  of  said  town  is  owned  by  two  Gentlemen  one  of  which 
Living  in  Massachusetts  the  other  in  Vermonnt l  and  we  know  not  who 
ware  the  original  Proprietors  of  said  town  or  how  much  land  thare  is  in 
the  Same  as  it  has  been  granted  and  regranted  and  Divided  and  Sub- 
divided so  that  under  every  circumstances  if  your  Petitioners  Should  be 
Cald  on  by  your  honours  to  do  thare  duty  as  others  Towns  it  will  be 
more  than  we  Can  possably  Do  — 

Wharefore  your  Petitioners  most  humbly  pray  your  honors  to  take 
our  Siiigelur  Case  into  your  wise  Consideration  and  grant  a  tax  of  two 
pence  on  Each  acre  of  Land  in  said  Town  for  the  purpose  of  makim* 
and  repairing  a  road  through  the  same  and  that  a  Committee  be  apinted 
by  your  honours  to  Carry  the  same  into  afect  your  Petitioners  further 
pray  your  honners  not  to  Call  on  us  for  an\-  State  taxes  untill  the  town 
Shall  be  so  settled  that  we  Can  possably  git  a  Living  tharein  but  that 
the  owners  of  Land  in  said  town  may  pay  all  the  taxes  tharefrom  untill 
the  present  time  and  that  Sume  person  or  persons  be  apinted  by  vour 

1  Moses  Little,  of  Newbury,  Mass.,  and  Gen.  Jacob  Barley,  of  Xewbury,  Vt. 
VOL.  ii.  —  30 


466  History  of  Littleton. 

honours  for  the  purpose  of  assaing  &  Collecting  the  Same  or  that  we 
may  have  releafe  in  Sum  other  way  or  manner  which  to  3'our  honours 
may  apeare  Just  and  reasonable  and  3-0111-  Petitioners  are  in  Duty  bound 
Shall  ever  pra}'  — 

PELEG  WILLIAMS  THOMAS  MINER  SAMUEL  LEARNED 

NATHAN  CASWELL  JR       ROBERT  CHARLTON       ISAAC  MINER. 
BENJMX  NURS  NATHAN  CASWELL 

The  above  representations  of  their  deplorable  condition  led  the 
General  Court  to  take  prompt  measures  for  the  relief  of  the  town. 
In  January  following  legislation  was  enacted  which  enabled  them 
to  "  assess  and  cause  to  be  collected  all  pnblick  taxes  due  there- 
from, prior  to  the  first  day  of  January  1789,  on  the  lands  of  the  pro- 
prietors of  said  town,  in  one  tax  bill,  in  way  and  manner  as  taxes 
by  law  are  collected  of  non-resident  proprietors  in  other  towns." 

That  the  above  did  not  prove  as  effective  as  was  anticipated  is 
shown  by  the  following  petition  :  — 

To  the  Honorable  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in  General 
Court  convened  and  now  siting  this  12th  day  of  February  1781  — 

The  petition  of  the  Selectmen  of  Littleton  in  said  state  Humbly 
shew  that  an  act  passed  the  General  Court  January  1789  —  directing 
the  Selectmen  of  said  Town  for  the  time  being  to  assess  and  cause  to 
be  collected  all  publick  Taxes  due  there  from  prior  to  the  first  day  of 
January  1789  on  the  lands  of  the  proprietors  of  said  Town  in  one  tax 
bill  in  way  and  manner  as  taxes  by  Law  are  collected  of  Non-resident 
proprietors  in  other  Towns  in  this  state  which  act  your  petitioners 
would  have  most  chearfully  complyed  with  had  it  been  in  their  power 
but  said  Littleton  together  with  a  Town  or  part  of  a  Town  known  by 
the  name  of  Dalton,  was  first  granted  by  the  name  of  Cheswich  after- 
ward by  the  name  of  Apthorp  then  divided  into  Littleton  and  Dalton 
to  particular  Gentlemen  and  not  in  proprietor)'  shares  as  is  usually  the 
custom  in  other  towns  in  this  state  —  your  petitioners  would  further 
Sugjest  that  the  act  for  taxing  Lands  in  said  Littleton  and  Dalton  for 
the  purpose  of  making  and  repairing  roads  therein  is  under  the  aforesaid 
Imbarisments  — 

Your  petitioners  would  therefore  pray  your  Honors  to  pass  an  act 
Impowering  the  Selectmen  of  said  Littleton  for  the  time  being  to  assess 
and  cause  to  be  collected  all  publick  taxes  due  from  said  Town  in  one 
tax  bill  on  the  lands  therein  not  confining  them  to  any  particular  rights 
but  to  sell  as  much  of  said  Lands  in  one  body  as  will  pa\-  said  tax  with 
Incidental  charges  also  in  the  same  way  and  manner  to  sell  as  much 
land  as  will  cornpeat  said  road  throng  said  Town  as  also  that  they  may 
be  Impowered  in  the  same  way  and  manner  to  sell  as  much  land  in 
Dalton  as  will  complete  the  road  leading  through  the  same  and  give  a 
reasonable  time  to  levy  and  collect  said  Taxes  or  grant  such  other  relief 


Taxation. 

in  the  premises  as  to  your  Honors  ma}'  appear  reasonable  and  Just  and 
stay  the  extents  against  said  Littleton  untill  a  final  determination  be 
had  and  3-0111'  petitioners  as  in  duty  bound  shall  ever  pray  — 

SAML  YOUNG 
in  behalf  of  the  Selectmen  of  Littleton  &  Inhabitants  of  Dalton. 

The  above  request  was  not  granted,  but  a  general  law  was  passed 
February  22,  1794,  under  which,  in  connection  with  the  special 
legislation  previously  obtained,  they  attempted  to  lay  a  tax  and 
raise  money  to  meet  the  arrearages. 

At  the  annual  town  meeting  held  March  10, 1795,  it  was  "  Voted 
for  Mr.  James  Rankin  to  go  to  General  Court  to  settle  Back  Taxes." 
On  the  petition  of  Mr.  Rankin  the  General  Court  passed  another 
special  act  June  18, 1795,  relating  to  these  arrears  of  taxes  that 
had  not  been  raised  or  paid  to  either  State  or  county.  It  provided 
for  the  reduction  of  the  paper  taxes  to  seven  shillings  specie  for 
every  twenty  shillings  paper,  and  that  the  extents  against  the 
town  be  again  stayed  for  a  limited  period,  and  powers  were  given 
certain  officials  similar  to  those  granted  by  the  act  of  February 
22,  1794. 

These  arrearages  were  afterwards  disposed  of  without  further 
special  action  of  the  Legislature,  but  special  acts  were  repeatedly 
passed  in  the  few  years  preceding  1805  for  the  purpose  of  aid- 
ing the  town,  by  way  of  extra  taxation  of  proprietary  and  other 
lands,  in  the  matter  o'f  providing  highways  and  bridges  for  the 
accommodation  of  public  travel. 

In  1796,  under  relief  legislation  obtained  from  the  State  the 
town  voted  eighteen  shillings  each  to  Mr.  Symonds,  John  Wheeler, 
James  Rankin,  Sen.,  to  make  up  back  taxes.  At  the  same  meeting 
the  following  taxes  were  abated :  "  allowed  Isaac  Miner  Ozias 
CaswelPs  county  tax  when  he  was  collector  3  shillings  l|d ; 
Allowed  James  Williams  highway  tax  on  account  of  meadow 
farm  $1  off  his  rates ;  abated  John  Wheeler's  highway  tax  on 
account  of  being  off  the  road." — In  1797  occurs  the  first  record  of 
a  delinquent  tax  sale  when  six  large  tracts  of  land  were  bid  off  for 
about  $500.  This  same  year  $80  was  raised  for  schools  and  town 
charges,  but  nothing  for  roads.  In  subsequent  years  the  following 
sums  were  raised  :  $50  for  schools  and  £70  for  roads  in  1798, 
£70  for  highways,  $60  for  schools,  $15  for  town  charges.  In  1800 
$100  for  schools,  $10  for  town  charges,  and  £80  for  highways. 
In  1802  the  total  tax  was  $370;  in  1805,  $450;  in  1804,  $540. 
This  year  a  long  list  of  delinquent  taxpayers  was  published,  indi- 
cating hard  times,  but  there  is  nothing  further  in  the  record  to 


468  History  of  Littleton. 

substantiate  this  supposition.  It  is  interesting  to  note  the  period 
of  transition  from  the  old  English  currency  of  pounds,  shillings, 
and  pence  to  our  more  convenient  and  familiar  dollars  and  cents, 
and  to  examine  the  original  record  and  see  the  evident  perplexity 
of  the  writer  in  the  earlier  records  of  the  decimal  system.  It  was 
probably  at  that  time  regarded  as  a  great  and  needless  trouble  to 
change  their  methods  of  computation  and  book-keeping. 

It  will  be  evident  to  even  the  casual  reader  that  the  high- 
ways of  the  town  were  the  principal  source  of  expense,  and 
that  the  inhabitants  willingly  taxed  themselves  heavily  to  keep 
them  even  in  a  passable  condition.  Next  to  the  highways  the 
schools  received  the  largest  financial  support,  showing  that  the 
people  of  those  early  days  realized  the  importance  of  educat- 
ing their  children  and  giving  them  a  proper  start  in  the  world. 
During  these  years  several  times  money  was  appropriated  for 
preaching,  as  then  it  was  common  to  support  preaching  by  tax- 
ation of  the  whole  people,  the  practice  coming  from  the  mother 
country. 

Commencing  with  the  year  1805,  the  town  records  include 
an  invoice  of  the  property  of  the  town  and  the  total  money 
tax  raised  for  all  purposes  each  year  to  the  present  time.  All 
the  statistics  of  taxation  from  that  time,  so  far  as  practicable, 
have  been  compiled,  and  will  be  found  in  Tables  2  and  3  of  this 
volume. 

Aside  from  the  taxes  raised  as  shown  in  the  table  the  town 
of  Littleton  received  its  proportion  of  the  "  Surplus  of  1836," 
distributed  under  what  was  known  as  the  "  Distribution  Act.'' 
This  surplus  was  a  sum  of  money  amounting  to  825,000,000,  or 
630,000,000,  which  had  accumulated  in  the  U.  S.  Treasury  from 
the  sale  of  public  lands,  and  by  act  of  Congress  was  dis- 
tributed among  the  various  States  in  proportion  to  their  con- 
gressional representation,  with  the  proviso  that  it  should  be 
returned  to  the  United  States  if  called  for.  The  State  of  New 
Hampshire  voted  to  distribute  its  proportion  among  the  several 
towns  according  to  population,  taking  a  bond  from  each  for 
the  return  of  the  same  if  called  for.  The  State  records,  as  well  as 
those  of  our  own  town,  do  not  give  the  amount  received,  either 
by  the  State  or  the  town  of  Littleton,  but  the  recollection  of  our 
older  citizens  fixes  the  amount  that  was  received  by  this  town 
at  from  £3,000  to  64.000.  The  town  treasurer's  book  for  that 
period  cannot  be  found,  but  the  town  clerk's  records,  without 
giving  any  definite  figures,  show  what  was  done  with  Littleton's 
share  of  the  surplus.  We  give  several  extracts  from  the  clerk's 


Taxation.  409 

records  bearing  on  this  subject.     The  first  is  from  the  records  of 
a  town  meeting  held  February  2,  1837,  and  reads  as  follows :  — 

"  Voted  to  receive  the  proportion  of  money  to  which  this  town  is 
entitled  by  virtue  of  a  Law  of  this  state  pass'1  at  the  November  session 
of  the  General  Court,  A.  D.  1836  ;  and  approved  January  13th,  1837, 
entitled 

"  'An  act  providing  for  the  disposition  of  the  public  money  of  the 
United  States  which  shall  be  deposited  with  this  state  on  the  terms  and 
provisions  of  said  act.' 

"'•Voted  to  pledge  the  faith  of  this  town  for  the  safe  keeping  and 
repayment  of  said  mone}1  in  the  mode  prescribed  b}'  said  act. 

"  Voted  that  the  agent  who  shall  be  chosen  to  receive  this  money 
shall  procure  a  sufficient  bond  for  the  faithful  performance  of  that  trust 
and  deposit  the  same  with  the  selectmen. 

kt  Chose  by  ballot  Truman  Stevens  agent  to  receive  said  mono}'  and 
.execute  certificates  of  deposit  therefor  according  to  law. 

"  Voted  that  the  agent  pay  over  said  money  to  the  selectmen  on  his 
receiving  the  same,  and  that  the  selectmen  loan  the  same  in  sums  not 
exceeding  two  hundred  dollars  nor  less  than  fifty  dollars. 

"  Voted  that  said  money  be  loaned  on  personal  security  only  such  as 
shall  be  good  as  bonds,  and  for  a  term  of  time  not  exceeding  one  3"ear, 
and  said  notes  to  be  on  demand." 

At  a  town  meeting  held  March  14,  1837,  it  was  "  voted  to  let 
the  interest  that  shall  accrue  from  the  surplus  revenue  money 
remain  for  the  present  with  the  principal." 

Further  action  regarding  this  surplus  was  taken  at  the  annual 
town  meeting  held  March  13,  1838,  when  it  was 

"  Voted  that  the  interest  on  the  surplus  money  as  fast  as  it  accrues 
be  appropriated  to  pay  town  charges.  Voted,  also,  that  the  selectmen 
be  authorized  to  place  the  amount  of  the  surplus  money  deposited  with 
this  town  in  the  hand  of  some  individual,  who  shall  give  the  town  satis- 
factory security  for  the  same  and  pa}-  to  the  town  six  per  cent  interest 
thereon,  when  required  ;  and  who  will  engage  to  furnish  to  the  town  at 
six  per  cent  interest  such  amount  of  money  as  may  be  needed  not 
exceeding  the  amount  of  such  surplus  money." 

At  a  special  town  meeting  held  February  11,  1830,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  building  a  bridge  across  the  Ammonoosuc  River,  the  last 
of  the  surplus  was  disposed  of,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  following 
entry  under  that  date :  — 

"  Voted  to  erect  a  bridge  across  the  Ammonoosuc  River  in  Littleton 
Village  near  John  Bowman's  house  ;  and  chose  a  committee  of  three  by 
ballot  to  superintend  and  carry  into  effect  said  object.  Isaac  Abbott, 
S.  B.  Johnson,  and  S.  C.  Gibb  constituted  said  committee. 


470  History  of  Littleton. 

"  Voted  to  appropriate  for  the  above  purpose  the  remainder  of  the 
unappropriated  surplus  money  which  belongs  to  this  town,  consisting,  as 
was  supposed,  of  about  one  thousand  dollars." 

Whether  or  not  the  surplus  was  all  carefully  husbanded  and 
paid  out  for  legitimate  expenses  the  records  do  not  show,  the  one 
thousand  dollars  in  the  last  paragraph  being  the  only  definite  sum 
mentioned.  That  amount  beyond  question  went  for  a  good 
purpose,  and  saved  the  people  of  that  time  taxation  to  what  was 
then  a  considerable  amount. 

Next  to  the  highways  the  schools  of  Littleton  have  received 
more  consideration  from  the  taxpayers  than  any  other  object. 
The  early  settlers  realized  the  importance  of  schooling  their  chil- 
dren, and  gave  liberally  from  their  scanty  means  for  this  purpose. 
Their  descendants  have  not  retrograded  in  this  respect,  and  a 
liberal  number  of  district  schools  was  maintained  up  to  1866, 
when  the  need  of  something  better  than  the  common  school  in  the 
three  districts  comprising  the  village  of  Littleton  was  realized.  A 
charter  for  a  union  district  was  accordingly  obtained,  and  May  12, 
1866,  a  meeting  was  held  in  Rounsevel  Hall  to  see  what  should 
be  done  about  building  a  school-house  and  raising  money  for  the 
same.  It  was  decided  to  go  ahead.  The  resolution  offered  by 
John  Farr  and  adopted  showed  that  the  voters  endeavored  to  limit 
the  expenditures  of  the  committee  and  the  burden  in  the  way  of 
taxation  they  Avere  taking  upon  themselves.  The  resolution  was 
as  follows :  — 

"  Resolved,  that  the  building  committee  be  instructed  to  keep  down 
the  cost  of  building  the  school-house  to  as  low  a  figure  as  practicable, 
and  in  no  event  to  graduate  it  on  such  a  scale  as  to  make  the  whole 
expense  of  buildings,  grading,  and  land  to  exceed  the  sum  of  810,000." 

It  was  voted  to  raise  83,000  of  this  amount  on  the  inventory 
taken  the  April  preceding,  and  87,000  on  notes  of  the  district  at 
a  rate  not  exceeding  7y\,-  per  cent,  83,000  to  become  due  October 
1,  1S67,  and  82,000,  each,  the  1st  of  October,  1868  and  1860,  the 
finance  committee  to  issue  the  notes  and  keep  a  list  of  the  dates, 
amounts,  and  when  and  to  whom  payable. 

The  building  was  erected  and  finished  on  the  lot  where  it  now 
stands  at  the  corner  of  High  and  School  Streets.  It  is  an  ex- 
cellent structure,  but  its  cost  far  exceeded  what  was  expected,  and 
there  was  much  ill  feeling  and  many  bitter  words  spoken  in 
consequence.  A  meeting  wras  held,  and  it  was  voted  to  have  a 
detailed  list  of  the  expenditures  printed  and  distributed  among 
the  taxpayers.  This  was  done,  and  it  was  found  there  had  been, 


Taxation.  471 

Bills  audited  and  paid    by  the  finance  committee   amount- 
ing to $23,025.61 

Unpaid  bills  outstanding 5,260.58 

Other  expenses  as  per  finance  committee's  report .     .     .     .         2,077.17 

$30,363.36 

Indebtedness  of  district 6,084.51 

Estimated  expense  to  finish 1,000.00 

$37,447.87 
Articles  sold,  856.98. 

Such  a  revelation  as  this  must  have  astounded  those  who  had 
not  kept  informed  as  to  the  condition  of  affairs.  There  was  no 
escape,  however,  except  to  pay  the  bills  ;  so  bonds  were  issued 
running  a  long  series  of  years,  and  the  last  of  them  was  recently 
paid.1  It  was  a  heavy  burden  in  addition  to  the  expense  of  main- 
taining the  school,  but  it  has  been  manfully  borne,  and  Littleton 
has  a  school  of  which  any  town  might  well  be  proud. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  follow  further  the  details  of  taxation  in 
the  town,  as  they  will  be  found  in  Table  3  of  this  volume.2  That  the 
tables  may  be  understood,  we  will  state  that  the  reduced  valuation 
of  a  poll  in  1805  was  $1.30  ;  in  1831  it  was  changed  to  81.10  ; 
in  1833,  increased  again  to  $1.50;  and  remained  at  this  figure 
until  1852,  when  it  was  reduced  to  81.20  ;  in  1868  it  was  still  fur- 
ther reduced  to  75  cents  and  in  1872  to  50  cents,  where  it  has 
since  remained.  The  assessed  valuation  was  double  the  amount 
given.  While  this  valuation  indicates  the  material  growth  of  the 
town,  the  actual  wealth  was  much  greater.  Owing  to  the  vicious 
system  of  assessing  property  in  this  State  arising  from  a  disregard 
of  the  law,  property  is  not  assessed  at  its  real  value,  but  varies 
according  to  the  conscientiousness  of  the  Selectmen  in  the  various 
towns,  and  it  has  become  a  rule  to  undervalue  taxable  property 
anywhere  from  25  to  50  per  cent.  In  this  town  it  is  the  practice 
to  place  the  valuation  at  66|  per  cent.  Assuming  that  this  rule 
has  been  uniformly  followed,  the  Selectmen  of  1890  considered  the 
total  valuation  of  the  town  to  be  82,200,134,  instead  of  81,506,756, 
as  returned.  In  1900  it  was  82,555,391,  instead  of  81,703,594. 
Nor  is  this  all,  as  the  Selectmen  never  succeed  in  discovering  all 
the  taxable  property.  "  Cash  on  hand,"  "  Money  at  interest,''  or 
otherwise  invested  abroad  but  taxable  in  the  town,  eludes  their 
search.  A  conservative  estimate  of  the  actual  value  of  these 

1  This  was  wrriten  in  1890. 

2  For  some  reason  the  statistician  did  not  deem  it  necessary  to  give  the  valua- 
tion of  the  town  prior  to  1877,  probably  because  of  the  labor  involved  in  ascertaining 
the  amount  of  that  valuation,  as  the  totals  are  not  given  in  the  town  records. 


472  History  of  Littleton. 

items  would  double  the  valuation  of  the  town  as  returned  by  the 
Selectmen. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  table  above  referred  to  that  the  first 
village  district  tax  was  levied  in  1850,  when  the  town  rate  was 
81.12  on  a  hundred  of  the  valuation,  and  in  the  village  it  was  $1.46. 
A  similar  tax  was  raised  in  1852  and  1853,  when  the  town  rate 
was  $1.15  and  $1.05  respectively  and  the  village  rate  $1.20  each 
year.  No  further  district  tax  was  assessed  until  1866,  when 
Union  School  District  was  organized  and  the  rate  in  the  village 
was  increased  to  $3.20. 

The  high-water  mark  of  indebtedness  antedating  1894  was 
reached  in  1870,  when  the  debt  of  the  town  was  $71,973.66,  and 
that  of  Union  School  District  approximately  $30,000,  a  total  of 
$101,973.66.  The  assets  of  the  town  cannot  be  accurately  stated, 
but  were  probably  about  $9,000,  consisting  of  sums  due  from  the 
tax-collector  and  collectors  of  previous  years,  from  the  county 
and  other  towns  for  sums  paid  for  the  maintenance  of  the  poor  by 
this  town  and  chargeable  to  the  county  and  certain  towns.  Practi- 
cally the  assets  may  be  considered  as  cash.  Thus  estimated,  the 
combined  debt  of  the  town  and  Union  School  District  was 
$92,973.66.  The  valuation  of  the  town  was  $807,668 ;  the  State 
apportionment,  $5.61  ;  the  local  tax  rate  in  the  town,  $2.70,  and 
that  of  the  village,  $3. 85.  At  the  close  of  the  fiscal  year  March  1, 
1871,  the  town  debt  had  been  reduced  $10,276.87,  and  then 
amounted  to  $61,696.79.  In  the  same  period  the  indebtedness  of 
Union  School  District  had  been  decreased  about  $1,300.  The 
total  income  of  the  fiscal  year  was  $30.833.26  ;  the  expenditures, 
$29,331.02  ;  cash  in  the  treasury,  $1,172.24.  The  principal  items 
in  the  expenditure  account  were  :  town  poor,  $529.96  ;  county  poor, 
$721.61  ;  a  litigated  pauper  claim  in  favor  of  the  town  of  Lyman, 
$1,117.10  ;  for  the  support  of  schools,  $8,425.91 ;  debt  and  interest, 
$11,310.23;  coupons  on  bonds,  $1,944;  town  officers.  $388.50; 
collector  of  taxes  (percentage),  $349.33;  police  officers,  $40. 

The  financial  event  of  the  decade  ending  with  December,  1879, 
was  the  refunding  of  the  bonded  debt  of  the  town  in  1878.  The 
first  bonded  indebtedness  was  created  in  1864,  when  bonds  to 
the  amount  of  $32,000  bearing  interest  at  the  rate  of  six  per- 
cent payable  semi-annually  were  issued.  In  1878  the  Selectmen 
were  authorized  to  refund  the  indebtedness  at  four  per  cent  inter- 
est,—  a  low  rate  for  town  bonds  at  that  time.  Early  in  May  John 
M.  Mitchell,  for  the  Selectmen,  issued  a  circular  calling  for  sub- 
scriptions to  the  new  bonds.  The  total  issue  was  to  be  $25,000,  of 
which  $2,000  were  to  be  redeemable  on  the  first  of  July  each  year, 


Taxation,  473 

beginning  in  1881.  The  exchange  was  satisfactorily  made,  re- 
sulting in  a  saving  to  the  town  in  its  interest  account  of  33£  per 
cent.  A  sinking  fund  for  the  extinguishment  of  the  indebtedness 
was  also  established. 

The  fiscal  year  ending  March  1, 1880,  showed  the  financial  affairs 
of  the  town  in  good  condition.  The  debt  of  the  town  during  the 
decade  then  ending  had  been  reduced  from  $61,696.79  to  819,083.99, 
deducting  the  assets,  which  were  cash  due  the  town  from  various 
sources. 

The  receipts  during  the  fiscal  year  had  been  $26,005.97 ;  the 
disbursements,  $24,442.19.  The  chief  items  in  the  expenditure 
account  were :  State  tax,  $2,732 ;  county  tax,  $4,599.31  ;  pre- 
cinct tax,  $1,200;  Union  School  District,  $1,868;  legal  ex- 
penses in  Sargent  case,  $412.65 ;  town  officers,  1,243.08 ;  town 
poor,  8262.22  ;  county  poor,  $2,160.52  ;  highways  and  bridges  (in 
addition  to  the  half  of  one  per  cent  paid  in  work),  $264.96  ;  inci- 
dental expenses,  $603.52;  debt  and  interest,  $4,040.52. 

In  this  period  the  average  annual  receipts  had  been  about 
$26,000,  until  1889,  when  they  were  $36,046.24.  The  increase  is 
partly  accounted  for  by  the  appropriation  in  March,  1888,  of  $2,000 
to  defray  town  charges,  the  purchase  of  a  part  of  the  Moulton 
farm  for  park  purposes,  and  the  payment  in  cash  of  one-half  of 
the  money  raised  for  the  repair  and  maintenance  of  highways. 

The  tax  rate  in  1880  was  as  follows  :  town,  $1.90  ;  village,  $2.54  ; 
State  apportionment,  $6.83.  In-1890  it  was  :  town,  $1.80  ;  village, 
$2.14,  and  the  State  apportionment  $7.27.  The  decrease  in  the 
town  debt  in  the  ten  years  was  from  $19,083.99  to  $615.67. 
Union  School  District  had  built  the  Mitchell  School-house  on  the 
south  side,  and  the  debt  thus  entailed  had  been  practically 
extinguished. 

The  last  decade  of  the  century  witnessed  a  remarkable  change 
in  popular  sentiment  in  regard  to  public  expenditures.  For  more 
than  a  hundred  years  the  influences  that  had  directed  the  finances 
of  the  town  had  been  most  conservative.  Citizens  were  slow  to 
venture  upon  a  system  of  public  improvements  that  involved  the 
creation  of  a  town  debt.  "  Pay  as  you  go  "  had  always  been  their 
motto,  with  two  exceptions.  In  the  beginning  they  were  poor, 
and  could  not  meet  the  demands  of  the  State  treasurer,  and  in 
the  war  for  the  preservation  of  the  Union  to  have  raised  by  tax- 
ation the  large  sums  required  would  have  been  a  herculean,  if  not 
an  impossible  task.  But  through  that  trying  period  they  raised 
by  taxation  far  more  than  their  share  of  an  expense  that  was  in- 
curred in  part  for  the  benefit  of  distant  generations  to  whom  all  the 


474  History  of  Littleton. 

financial  burdens  it  imposed  might  well  have  been  transmitted. 
Then  a  town  debt  was  not  regarded  as  a  blessing,  arid  when  the 
demands  of  the  hour  led  them  to  depart  from  the  frugal  custom  of 
years  and  incur  a  debt,  it  was  discharged  at  the  earliest  moment. 

In  March,  1894,  the  auditor's  report  stated  that  the  town  was 
free  from  debt  and  had  a  surplus  of  $643.27  in  its  treasury.  For 
many  years  there  had  been  a  strong  sentiment  in  the  town  in 
favor  of  many  needed  public  improvements,  but  it  was  deemed  by 
the  majority  impolitic  to  inaugurate  such  a  system  until  the  debt 
had  been  paid.  The  public  was  paying  an  annual  rental  of  $625 
for  the  use  of  sucli  rooms  or  buildings  as  were  required  for  its 
use,  and  it  was  then  deemed  a  suitable  time  to  make  a  beginning 
in  the  direction  of  town  ownership  of  public  utilities. 

The  financial  results  of  this  policy  are  easily  traced  through  the 
pages  of  the  annual  reports  of  our  municipal  officers  issued  since 
the  inauguration  of  the  system.  Before  the  close  of  the  decade  the 
combined  debt  of  the  town,  village  precinct,  Town  School  District, 
and  Union  School  District  aggregated  $127,000  above  their  avail- 
able assets,  and  the  rate  of  taxation  in  the  village  precinct  has 
been  as  high  as  $2.87  on  each  hundred  of  valuation.1  This  was 
the  highest  rate,  and  that  of  1899  of  $2.48  per  hundred  the  lowest 
since  1894.2  In  the  same  period  the  valuation  increased  from 
$1,578,334  to  $1,751,778. 

The  practice,  once  rare  but  now  quite  common,  of  exempting 
from  taxation  the  capital  and  plant  of  manufacturing  concerns 
has  been  in  vogue  in  this  town  for  nearly  forty  years.  Votes, 
both  general  and  specific,  for  such  purpose  were  adopted  before 
1871,  but  were  not  effective,  as  the  conditions  named  therein  were 
not  complied  with.  In  March,  1871,  it  was  voted  to  exempt  from 
taxation  for  ten  years  any  establishment  for  the  manufacture  of 
hoes,  shovels,  scythes,  or  either  of  them.  Under  this  vote  the 
scythe  factory  built  on  the  present  site  of  the  Pike  Manufactur- 
ing Company's  shop  was  exempt  from  taxation  for  the  period 
named.  When  the  same  property  passed  into  the  possession  of 
C.  F.  Harris  &  Co.  in  1887,  it  was  again,  by  vote  of  the  town, 
exempted  from  taxation  for  ten  years,  and,  when  taken  over  by 
the  Pike  Company  in  1903,  was  exempt  for  the  third  time  and 
for  a  like  period.  When  this  term  expires  in  1913,  this  real 
estate  will  have  been  free  from  taxation  for  thirty  years  of  the 
forty-two  which  have  passed  since  the  town  first  granted  this 
special  privilege. 

1  This  rate  was  in  1897. 

2  This  was  the  rate  in  both  1898  and  1903. 


Taxation.  475 

In  1878  the  town  passed  a  general  vote  exempting  from  taxa- 
tion for  ten  years  the  capital  invested  in  any  establishment  erected 
for  the  manufacture  of  fabrics  of  cotton  or  wool  or  articles  of  wood 
or  iron  when  such  capital  should  exceed  the  sum  of  $5,000. 
By  virtue  of  this  vote  the  Granite  State  Glove  Company,  the 
Eureka  Glove  Manufacturing  Company,  and  the  White  Mountain 
Glove  Works  were  not  taxed  for  several  years,  it  being  supposed 
that  the  general  vote  of  exemption  was  valid.  In  the  case  of  the 
Cox  Needle  Co.  v.  Gilford,1  the  Supreme  Court  held  such  a  vote 
insufficient,  and  at  a  special  meeting  held  April  14,  1884,  it  was 
voted  that  each  of  these  corporations  be  exempt  from  taxation  for 
the  term  of  ten  years  from  the  date  when  each  began  business, 
all  parties  to  the  original  transaction  having  acted  in  good  faith, 
believing  they  were  within  their  right  under  the  law. 

The  old  Kilburn  foundry  was  exempted  in  1883  for  the  usual 
period,  when  a  sum  not  less  than  -$5,000  had  been  invested  in 
converting  it  into  a  factory  for  the  manufacture  of  cotton  or 
woollen  goods.  This  action  was  in  contemplation  of  the  property 
being  used  by  Tilton  &  Goodall  in  making  knit  underwear.  The 
business  was  continued  less  than  two  years.  At  the  same  meet- 
ing exemption  was  refused  the  Chiswick  Inn  property  on  the 
ground  that  the  statute  did  not  contemplate  the  exemption  of  that 
class  of  property.  In  1889,  however,  this  policy  was  reversed  in 
the  case  of  the  Maples,  a  summer  hotel,  and  in  1899  the  town 
voted  not  only  to  exempt,  but  also  to  grant  a  largess  of  lands  or 
money,  or  both,  to  a  hotel  company  which  proposed  to  build  a 
summer  hotel  on  Pine  Hill. 

There  has  been  a  notable  increase  in  recent  years  of  the  number 
of  purposes  for  which  towns  are  authorized  to  raise  money.  The 
fathers  were  parsimonious,  and  by  the  acts  of  February  8,  1791, 
and  September  15, 1792,  limited  the  power  of  towns  to  raise  money 
by  taxation  to  the  following  objects  :  "  To  the  settlement,  mainte- 
nance, and  support  of  the  ministry ;  schools  ;  meeting  houses  ; 
school  houses;  the  maintenance  of  the  poor;  for  laying  out  and 
repairing  highways;  for  building  and  repairing  bridges,  and  for 
all  the  necessary  charges  arising  within  the  said  town."  :  The 
first  grant  of  power  named  in  this  law  was  repealed  by  the  passage 
of  the  Toleration  Act  of  1819.  Otherwise  for  more  than  half  a 
century  this  act  prescribed  the  purposes  for  which  towns  were 
permitted  to  raise  money  by  taxation.  Beginning  with  the  grant 
to  aid  in  procuring  enlistments  during  the  war  of  1801-1805, 

1  02  X.  II.  Reports,  p.  503. 

2  Laws  of  New  Hampshire,  ed.  of  1815,  p.  24 G,  sec.  10. 


476  History  of  Littleton. 

the  powers  of  towns  have  been  enlarged  from  time  to  time  until 
the  statute  now  reads  :  — 

"  To  encourage  volunteer  enlistments  in  case  of  war  or  rebellion  ;  to 
procure  and  erect  a  monument  or  memorial  building  to  perpetuate  the 
memory  of  such  soldiers  belonging  thereto  as  may  have  sacrificed  their 
lives  in  the  service  of  their  country,  including  a  suitable  lot  therefor 
and  fence  for  its  protection  ;  to  defray  the  expense  of  decorating  the 
graves  of  soldiers  or  sailors  who  have  served  in  the  arm}'  or  navy  of  the 
United  States  in  time  of  war,  not  exceeding  two  hundred  dollars  yearly, 
to  be  given  to  or  expended  by  committees  appointed  b}*  the  Grand 
Arm}"  of  the  Republic  so  long  as  they  shall  continue  the  services  of 
Memorial  day  as  originally  established  and  at  present  observed  by  that 
organization,  and  thereafter  to  such  persons  or  organization  as  shall 
continue  such  service  in  the  several  towns  ;  to  provide  and  maintain 
armories  for  military  organizations  stationed  therein  which  form  a  part 
of  the  New  Hampshire  National  Guard  or  reserved  militia,  not  exceeding 
6200  yearly  for  each  organization  ;  to  provide  means  for  the  extinguish- 
ment of  fires  ;  to  establish  and  maintain  public  libraries  and  reading 
rooms  for  the  free  use  of  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  ;  to  establish 
cemeteries,  or  parks,  or  commons,  and  to  improve  the  same  ;  to  pro- 
vide and  maintain  receiving  tombs  ;  to  set  out  and  care  for  shade  and 
ornamental-  trees  in  highways,  cemeteries,  commons  and  other  public 
places;  to  provide  and  maintain  suitable  coasting  and  skating  places, 
not  exceeding  five  hundred  dollars  yearly  ;  to  procure  the  detection  and 
apprehension  of  any  person  committing  a  felony  therein  ;  to  prepare 
and  publish  the  history  of  the  town  and  record  weather  observations  ; 
to  establish  hospitals  therein;  to  provide  a  free  hospital  bed  for  the  use 
of  such  inhabitants  of  the  town  or  city  as  are  entitled  to  receive  assist- 
ance from  said  town,  not  to  exceed  three  hundred  dollars  :  such  sum, 
not  exceeding  five  thousand  dollars,  for  the  permanent  endowment  of 
a  free  hospital  bed  for  the  use  of  such  inhabitants  as  are  provided  for 
in  the  preceding  section,  and  a  sum  not  exceeding  four  hundred  dollars 
for  public  band  concerts." 

The  first  burdensome  debt  of  the  town  was  that  incurred  for 
war  purposes  in  1861-1865.  The  amount  of  these  liabilities  can- 
not be  accurately  stated,  but  they  were  not  less  than  870,000  nor 
more  than  $75,000.  A  sinking  fund  was  created  for  its  extin- 
guishment, and  this  was  accomplished,  as  lias  been  stated,  in 
1894.  In  order  to  meet  the  requirements  of  the  sinking  fund  the 
tax  rate  in  the  years  from  1865  to  1804  was  large,  falling  below 
two  per  cent  only  in  the  years  1883-1884  and  1885,1  and  then  but  a 
few  cents  below,  and  in  eight  years  it  was  above  three  per  cent,  vary- 
ing between  3.25  and  4.06  on  a  hundred  of  valuation. 

1  The  rate  here  given  is  that  of  the  village  which  pays  the  largest  share  of  the  tax. 


Taxation.  477 

Comparisons  are  not  always  valuable  for  the  light  the)7  cast,  as 
conditions  are  variable,  but  they  are  interesting.  These  figures 
are  taken  from  the  auditor's  report  covering  the  fiscal  year  ending 
March  1,  1891,  and  show  the  cost  of  the  administration  of  the 
town  government  without  including  payments  on  account  of  debt 
and  interest,  except  interest  on  temporary  loans  made  in  antici- 
pation of  taxes. 

State  and  county  taxes $6,212.92 

Schools 9,743.65 

Town  officers 1,524.31 

Highways  and  bridges 9,548.06 

Library '.  600.00 

Electric  lights 1,067.20 

Town  poor 693.56 

County  poor 2,034.66 

Miscellaneous 912.68 

Fire  precinct 2,800.00 

Interest  on  temporaiy  loans 182.83 

Sheep  killed  by  dogs 183.00 

Watering  troughs 122.43 

$35,625.30 

The  item  in  regard  to  county  poor  should  perhaps  be  treated  as 
an  unliquidated  asset,  as  much  if  not  all  of  it  was  repaid  to  the 
town. 

For  the  fiscal  year  ending  February  15,  1901,  the  expense  of 
municipal  administration  was:  — 

State  and  county  taxes $7,058.65 

Schools 15,491.26 

Town  officers 1.395.50 

Highways  and  bridges 6,118.06 

Library' 800.00 

Electric  lights 1,355.50 

Town  poor 54.67 

County  poor ' 488.02 

Miscellaneous 634.00 

Village  precinct 8,810.98 

Paid  for  sheep  killed  by  dogs 24.00 

Watering  troughs 109.00 

Dependent  soldiers • 57.95 

Expense  town  building 1,321.89 

Park  and  hotel  committee 295.00 

Town  history 809.09 

$44,823.57 


478  History  of  Littleton. 

The  total  income  of  the  town  for  the  fiscal  year  ending  February 
15,  1891,  was  $44,789.89  ;  for  the  year  ending  February  15.  1901, 
it  was  $51,200.  77.  The  sum  represented  by  the  difference  between 
receipts  and  expenditures  was  mainly  applied  on  the  debt  and  in- 
terest account.  These  sums  represent  the  money  raised  by  tax- 
ation by  the  town,  the  village  precinct,  Union  School  District,  and 
the  Town  School  District.  The  expenditures  include  the  cost  of 
maintaining  each  of  these  departments,  if  they  may  be  termed 
such,  and  in  the  income  of  the  town  as  given  is  also  included  the 
sums  raised  at  the  annual  meetings  of  these  departments  as  well 
as  that  raised  by  the  town. 

The  village  district  pays,  in  round  numbers,  75  per  cent  of  all 
the  money  raised  by  taxation.  The  total  valuation  of  the  town 
in  April,  1904,  was  $1,802,713.  Of  this  amount  $1,335,306  was 
assessed  on  property  within  the  village  district,  and  $467,407  in 
the  town  district.  In  the  statistical  history  are  given  the  valuation 
and  the  rate  of  taxation  in  every  year  since  1877,  and  in  that  of 
every  census  year  prior  to  that  date. 


.H, 

Reduced  from  P.C.Wilkins 
Plan  of  1877. 

BY 

RayT.Gite. 
168? 


S  cole  about  213*Rods  = 
'Highways. 


>v 


s*\ 


Surveys.  479 


XL  VII. 

SURVEYS. 
BY  ADAMS  MOORE,  A.M.,  M.D. 

T  HAVE  found  no  evidence  that  the  entire  outlines  of  Chiswick 
•A-  were  ever  run  according  to  the  original  charter,  farther  than 
they  had  been  fixed  by  surveys  of  the  towns  adjoining.  No  record 
of  distances  has  been  kept,  except  what  appear  on  the  back  of  the 
charter.  If  the  boundaries  of  Lyman,  Concord  (Lisbon),  and  Lan- 
caster had  been  marked,  their  bounds,  with  the  Connecticut  River, 
would  be  the  bounds  of  Chiswick. 

The  first  authentic  survey  was  made  by  Dudley  Coleman],  in 
1769,  as  a  preliminary  step  for  obtaining  the  new  charter  of  Ap- 
thorp.  The  marks  which  he  made  on  trees  at  that  time  were 
visible  eighty  years  after,  and  by  removing  a  block  of  the  wood 
over  the  original  scar  the  number  of  grains  could  be  counted 
which  showed  the  exact  age  of  the  line. 

Disputes  between  towns  as  to  their  boundary  lines  are  very  fre- 
quent, and  great  carelessness,  if  not  intentional  fraud,  has  in  many 
cases  been  practised.  Between  Littleton  and  Lyman  there  has 
never  been  any  trouble  in  following  the  line.  It  was  described  by 
Coleman  in  1769  to  run  from  the  northeast  corner  of  Lyman  to 
the  Connecticut  River,  north  57  west.  That  line  now 2  runs 
north  53 J  west.  From  the  southeast  corner  of  Apthorp,  when 
run  out  at  that  time,  it  followed  the  line  of  Gunthwaite  (now  Lis- 
bon) north  57.}"  west  to  the  northeast  corner  of  Lyman.  The  line 
now  3  existing  between  the  towns  of  Littleton  and  Lisbon,  which 
should  be  the  line  then  existing  between  Apthorp  and  Gunthwaite 
run  north  58°  west.4  The  known  variation  of  the  magnetic 
needle  accounts  for  the  difference  in  the  first  line.  The  same 

1  Coleman  was  of  Newbury,  Mass.,  and  had  been  employed  by  Colonel  Little  to 
survey  much  of  his  land. 

*  1860.    The  present  (1903)  is  N.  49°  43'  W. 

a  I860. 

4  The  present  (1903)  course  is  N.  51°  53'  W. 


480  History  of  Littleton. 

variation  would  make  the  later  line  north  53|°  west.  The  reason 
of  this  discrepancy  arose  from  the  fact  that  those  who  settled  the 
line  between  the  towns  of  Littleton  and  Concord  (now  Lisbon) 
commenced  at  Lyman  Corner  and  ran  back  at  a  later  period, 
making  no  allowance  for  the  variation  of  the  magnetic  needle. 
The  consequence  was  that  they  brought  the  line  at  the  south- 
westerly corner  of  Littleton  about  forty  rods  into  Littleton,  which 
mistake  has  never  been  rectified.  The  proprietors  of  Littleton 
were  thus  deprived  of  about  one  hundred  and  thirty  acres  of 
land.  This  was  probably  done  by  the  ignorance  of  the  Selectmen 
of  the  two  towns,  and  the  neglect  of  the  proprietors  of  Littleton  to 
protect  their- interests.  The  southeasterly  line  of  Apthorp  was 
run  by  Coleman  in  his  survey  of  1769  from  its  northeasterly  corner 
south  56  °  west.  That  line  now  x  bears  south  58°  west,  showing 
the  same  westerly  variation  of  the  magnetic  needle. 

In  1780,  ten  or  eleven  years  after  Coleman  had  run  the  out- 
lines of  the  township  of  Apthorp,  a  surveyor  named  Ebenezer 
Willoughby  was  sent  by  the  proprietors  to  allot  the  central  por- 
tion of  the  town  into  tracts  of  four  hundred  acres  each  ;  one  ob- 
ject of  making  the  lots  of  that  size  was  the  fact  of  their  being 
six  specific  grants  of  that  amount.  He  commenced  at  the  lower 
corner  of  Lancaster  on  the  Connecticut  River  as  there  located, 
and  ran  a  straight  line  of  Colonel  Kurd's  tract,  which  was  the 
old  line  of  Lancaster,  and  found  the  distance  to  be  three  miles 
and  two  hundred  and  twenty  rods.  He  then  turned  and  ran  on 
that  line  to  its  intersection  with  the  southeasterly  line  of  Apthorp 
on  the  northeasterly  shore  of  Round  Fond.  He  here  turned  and 
set  his  compass  south  56°  west,  to  follo\v  Coleman's  line  towards 
Gunthwaite.  The  first  half-mile  was  on  the  pond,  and  when  he 
reached  the  southwesterly  shore  he  was  several  rods  to  the  right 
of  Coleman's  line,  and  continued  to  diverge  from  it  on  to  Apthorp, 
until  at  the  end  of  eighteen  hundred  rods  to  the  right  from  Cole- 
man's  line,  although  professing  to  run  the  same  points,  viz.  south 
56°  west.  This  line  is  now  (1860)  found  to  bear  south  01°  west, 
making  about  5°  variation.2  His  compass  might  not  have  been 
good,  or  the  magnetic  variation  might  have  been  greater  than 
now.  He  pushed  his  survey  of  forty-live  lots  of  four  hundred 
acres  each,  leaving  a  gore  between  his  line  and  Coleman's.  Four 
years  after  this  the  town  was  divided  into  Dalton  and  Littleton, 

1  I860.     Its  present  (1903)  course  would  be  S.  62=  15'  W. 

-  In  1'JOo  the  course  is  :  Dalton  Corner  to  Aminonoosuo  River,  S.G'i0  \V.  ;  Ain- 
monoosuc  River  to  Bethlehem  Road,  S.  04°  \V.  ;  Bethlehem  Road  to  Lisbon  Line, 
S.  01°  id'  \V. ;  average  course,  S.  Go0  55  \V. 


A    PLAN   OF    CONCORD    (LISBON)    WHICH    WILKINS    ASSERTS    IS 
A    COPY    OF    SNOW'S    ORIGINAL    PLAN 


Surveys.  481 

—  Dalton  taking  the  three  upper  ranges  of  this  allotment  with 
the  Hurd  tract,  being  one-third  of  it,  leaving  the  remaining  two- 
thirds  in  Littleton,  and  making  a  range  line  the  division  between 
the  two  towns.  Bethlehem  and  Whitefield  cornered  about  half  a 
mile  above  the  corner  of  Daiton  and  Littleton,  both  standing  on 
the  original  line  of  Apthorp.  In  about  ten  years  after  the  divis- 
ion it  became  incumbent  on  the  towns,  by  their  Selectmen,  to 
perambulate  and  remark  their  town  lines.  Dalton  and  White- 
field  began  at  the  northwest  corner  of  Dalton,  followed  the  line 
originally  made  by  Coleman  to  the  southwest  corner  of  White- 
field,  and  there  stopped.  This  they  repeated  many  times,  as  often 
as  the  law  required. 

Littleton  and  Bethlehem  began  on  Gunthwaite,  or  Concord 
(Lisbon)  line,  and  followed  in  the  reverse  course,  taking  the  line 
made  by  Willoughby  instead  of  that  run  by  Coleman,  followed  it 
up  to  the  corner  of  Dalton  and  Littleton  to  one  of  Willoughby's 
lot  corners,  being  as  far  as  the  latter  location  was  required,  until 
about  the  year  1828  it  was  discovered  that  Dalton  and  White- 
field  were  perambulating  one  line,  and  Bethlehem  and  Littleton 
another,  —  the  space  between  the  corner  of  Littleton  and  the 
northwest  corner  of  Bethlehem,  being  about  half  a  mile.  The 
line  between  Bethlehem  ,and  Dalton  had  never  been  perambu- 
lated. The  main  portions  of  botli  lines  lay  through  a  primitive 
forest.  The  mistake  has  been  clearly  demonstrated  by  which  it 
appears  that  Bethlehem  has  taken  from  Littleton  a  strip  thirty-four 
rods  wide  at  one  end  and  eighty  at  the  other,  amounting  to  eight 
or  nine  hundred  acres,  which,  with  what  Lisbon  holds,  makes  the 
area  of  Littleton  less  than  it  originally  was  by  about  one  thousand 
acres. 

Willoughby's  allotment  was  abandoned  in  Littleton.  The  allot- 
ments made  for  the  first  settlers  were  into  lots  of  one  hundred 
acres  each,  with  allowance  for  roads.  The  allowance  was  nomi- 
nally three  acres,  or  an  addition  of  three  rods  to  the  width  of  each 
lot  of  the  length  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  rods.  Robert  Charl- 
ton  was  the  first  surveyor,  and  allotted  the  west  and  north  parts 
of  the  town  bordering  on  the  Connecticut  River.  His  lots  were 
designated  by  number  only.  They  were  characterized  by  one 
feature,  —  large  measure;  he  was  a  very  liberal-minded  man,  and 
always  acted  on  the  principle  that  there  was  land  enough  for 
all.  He  was  an  expert  penman  and.  draughtsman,  but  was  not 
considered  a  finished  surveyor.  The  lots  above  the  junction 
of  the  village  and  river  roads  were  not  numbered,  but  pitchod 
irregularly  and  disconnected  by  metes  and  bounds.  The  great 

VOL.  II.— 31 


482  History  of  Littleton. 

bend  at  the  north  part  of  the  town  back  to  Snow's  head  line  was 
thus  allotted,  covering  an  area  of  about  twenty-five  hundred  acres. 
This  was  divided  into  lots  by  Robert  Charlton,  and  was  occupied 
by  early  settlers.  He  never  surveyed  much  beyond  the  limits  of 
the  town. 

The  east  and  west  parts  of  the  town  were  surveyed  into  one 
hundred  acre  lots  by  Nathaniel  Snow  about  1790.  He  made  the 
line  of  Dalton  his  base  (being  N.  26°  W.,  S.  26°  E.).  Charlton 
made  Lyman  line  the  base  of  his  allotments  in  the  west  part  of  the 
town,  namely,  N.  57°  W.,  S.  57°  E.  Mr.  Snow  was  accustomed  to 
survey  large  tracts.  His  custom  was  to  run  his  range  lines  and 
mark  the  corner  of  his  lots  at  the  distance  of  one  hundred  rods, 
and  not  marking  his  check  lines.  Of  course  no  chainmen  were 
able  to  measure  so  accurately  as  to  bring  the  corners  in  range 
when  the  check  lines  were  run.  Sometimes  he  would  omit  run- 
ning the  next  range  line  and  run  the  one  beyond,  marking  his 
c'orners  on  that,  thus  making  two  corners  at  one  end  of  his  lots, 
and  leaving  the  other  end  without  corners  or  range  lines.  This 
procedure  caused  great  confusion  when  the  lands  were  occupied. 
He  surveyed  the  lands  southeast  of  Littleton,  covering  an  area  of 
sixty  thousand  acres.  A  part  of  it  was  soon  incorporated  into 
the  town  of  Bethlehem.  The  land  was  sold  by  the  State  in  lots 
according  to  Snow's  survey,  represented  on  a  paper  plan.  The 
consequence  was  endless  confusion,  every  claimant  running  out 
his  lots  to  suit  himself ;  and  as  the  ownership  was  often  changed, 
a  lot  would  have  as  many  sets  of  corners  as  it  had  had  owners. 
Snow's  work  in  Littleton  was  only  partially  done  on  the  ground, 
but  fully  done  on  paper.  There  were  many  omissions  to  run  his 
lines  over  the  hills,  causing  irregularity  in  some  of  his  lines.  He 
was  a  man  of  easy  conscience.  His  original  survey  of  the  State 
land  was  deposited  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State,  as  ap- 
pears by  the  testimony  of  the  late  Stephen  P.  Webster.  It  was 
made  on  three  or  four  different  pieces  of  paper,  according  to  each 
sale,  of  which  there  were  four.  These  sales  were  made  in  the 
years  1737,  1792, 1794,  and  1790.  In  1799  a  part  of  the  land  was 
incorporated  into  the  town  of  Bethlehem,  a  plan  was  made  resem- 
bling the  original,  but  with  material  variations  as  to  the  number 
and  localities  of  lots.  This  was  certified  by  Nathaniel  Snow,  un- 
der oath,  to  be  a  correct  representation  of  his  original  survey 
according  to  his  best  recollection.  But  the  alterations  were  so 
palpable  that  no  surveyor  could  believe  that  it  was  not  a  deliber- 
ate misrepresentation.  A  few  copies  of  the  original  survey  were 
kept  in  the  hands  of  land  speculators,  and  the  spurious  plan  was 


cLe*6  fta^JU, 


/ 


Surveys.  483 

adopted  by  the  town  of  Bethlehem,  and  has  ever  since  been  al- 
lowed by  them.  The  original  surveys  have  been  sought  in  the 
office  of  the  Secretary  of  State,  but  are  not  to  be  found. 

The  committee  appointed  by  the  State  to  make  the  sale  were  : 
Edwards  Bucknam,  of  Lancaster,  Andrew  McMillen,  of  Con  way, 
and  John  McDuffie,  of  Rochester.  From  the  amount  and  manner 
of  their  sales,  and  their  neglect  to  render  their  account  to  the 
State,  they  were  called  the  "  Unaccountable  Committee."  They 
were  appointed  by  the  State  to  sell  land  enough  to  make  a  road 
from  Gunthwaite  to  the  notch  of  the  White  Mountains.  In  doing 
this  they  sold  a  portion  of  the  land  belonging  to  the  owners  of 
Littleton.  The  purchasers  never  attempted  to  enforce  their  title 
beyond  a  demand  and  threats. 

After  the  southerly  portion  of  the  town  became  populated,  the 
surveying  was  done,  so  far  as  running  out  lots  for  settlers  accord- 
ing to  Snow's  and  Charlton's  plans,  by  James  C.  Webster,  up  to 
the  year  1832,  when  he  left  town  and  his  place  was  taken  by  Philip 
C.  Wilkins,  who  was  an  industrious  and  experienced  surveyor. 
He  kept  a  record  of  all  the  surveys  he  made,  which  filled  several 
folio  volumes. 

No  man  is  liable  to  be  called  to  testify  before  a  court  oftener 
than  the  skilful  surveyor,  and  no  one  is  more  liable  to  popular 
prejudice  on  account  of  his  faithful  testimony  unless  it  is  the  skil- 
ful physician.  The  public  mind  is  often  unable  to  comprehend 
the  data  on  which  the  impartial  opinion  of  either  is  based  ;  and 
nothing  is  more  common  than  to  charge  the  surveyor  as  well  as 
the  physician  with  wilful  perjury  in  giving  his  opinions.  On  this 
account  some  excellent  surveyors  have  studiously  avoided  keep- 
ing records  to  prevent  their  being  called  to  testify  in  court. 

Dr.  Moore's  account  ends  with  the  last  stated  observation  writ- 
ten in  1863.  The  doctor  was  a  man  of  many  accomplishments, 
not  the  least  of  them  being  his  knowledge  of  mathematics  and 
surveying.  As  the  agent  of  the  heirs  of  Moses  Little,  who  was 
the  father  of  his  wife,  he  became  familiar  with  land  titles  and 
allotments  in  this  section  of  the  State,  and  was  probably  better 
qualified  to  discuss  the  topic  with  intelligence  than  any  other 
person  in  his  time. 

Since  the  death  of  Philip  C.  Wilkins,  in  1880,  Ray  T.  Gile  has 
been  the  principal  land  surveyor  for  this  and  neighboring  towns. 
He  was  graduated  from  the  Scientific  Department  of  Dartmouth 
College  in  1877,  and  from  the  Thayer  School  of  Architecture  and 
Civil  Engineering,  two  years  later.  A  thoroughly  trustworthy 
man,  he  has  a  large  clientele. 


484  History  of  Littleton. 

William  I.  Richardson,  a  Dartmouth  College  graduate  in  the 
class  of  1888,  is  a  civil  engineer  of  repute,  who  is  making  his  way 
to  the  front  as  a  safe  and  skilful  surveyor. 

At  one  time  James  J.  Barrett  did  a  considerable  business  as  a 
surveyor,  especially  in  the  laying  out  of  roads.  He  was  not  skil- 
ful, and  was  one  of  the  class,  referred  to  by  Dr.  Moore,  who  kept 
no  records.  He  never  assumed  to  be  other  than  what  he  was  in 
this  respect,  —  one  sufficiently  versed  in  the  art  to  run  courses  and 
do  plain  work. 


RAY   T.  GILE. 


Highways  and  Bridges.  485 


XL  VIII. 

HIGHWAYS   AND   BRIDGES. 

THE  early  settlers  of  the  town  experienced  many  difficulties, 
extending  through  a  long  series  of  years,  on  account  of  their 
inability  to  build  roads  and  bridges.  Their  trials  arising  from 
this  cause  have  to  some  extent  been  related  in  another  part  of  this 
narrative.1 

The  refusal  of  the  proprietors  and  inhabitants  to  build  roads 
caused  the  towns  north  of  Littleton  and  Dalton  to  petition  the 
Legislature  for  a  compulsory  act  to  insure  the  building  of  a  high- 
way through  these  towns  for  their  accommodation.  Petitions  for 
this  purpose  were  presented  at  more  than  one  session  of  the  Legis- 
lature. The  town  was  also  in  the  midst  of  the  controversy  in  re- 
gard to  "  back  taxes,"  and  one  of  its  answers  to  the  demand  of  the 
State  was  that  the  people  were  too  poor  to  pay,  and  that  the  pro- 
prietors had  failed  to  "  build  roads  and  mills,"  as  promised, 
and  the  settlers  should  be  empowered  by  special  act  to  levy 
a  tax  on  all  the  lands  in  the  town  for  the  payment  of  the  State  tax 
and  to  raise  money  for  building  roads.  This  proposition  was  op- 
posed by  the  proprietors,  and  their  influence  was  sufficient  to  post- 
pone the  day  of  reckoning  for  more  than  ten  years. 

It  was  under  these  circumstances  that  Capt.  Peleg  Williams 
was  appointed  agent  of  the  town  to  wait  upon  the  Legislature  and 
present  its  case  for  consideration.  On  the  IGth  of  June,  1788,  he 
submitted  to  that  body  this  petition  :  — 

To  the  Honble  Gen1  court  of  said  state  now  setting  — 

The  Petition  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Littleton  in  said  State  humbly 
sheweth,  that  3'our  Petitioners  for  eighteen  years  last  past,  have  laid 
under  man}-  and  grevious  difficulties  —  your  Petitioners  cannot  ascertain 
the  number  of  acres  of  Land  in  said  Littleton,  neither  can  we  find  out  the 
original  Proprietors  of  said  Town,  so  that  we  can  Tax  said  land  ex- 
cept we  have  a  special  act  of  this  Honble  court  for  that  purpose,  your 

1  Vol.  I.  chapters  covering  period  prior  to  1800. 


486  History  of  Littleton. 

Petitioners  woo'cl  further  Inform  3*0111*  honors  that  although  we  were 
promised  by  said  Proprietors  or  owners  of  land  (as  they  cal'd  them- 
selves) to  have  our  land  given  us  for  settlement  &  that  the  compliment 
of  setlers  according  to  charter  shoo'd  then  soon  be  in  Town,  that  the}' 
woo'd  make  good  roads  through  said  Town,  Build  Mills  &c.  —  all  of 
which  is  neglected  by  said  owners,  and  although  it  is  eighteen  3'ears 
since  said  Town  began  to  settle,  there  is  but  nine  families  in  it  at  this 
time  and  there  is  no  mills  in  said  Town,  nor  can  we  get  at  any  under 
fifteen  miles,  the  Public  road  that  runs  through  said  Town  is  eleven 
miles  in  length  and  almost  Impossible  to  pass  in  the  same,  which  road 
your  Petitioners  have  to  travel  to  get  to  mill,  to  market,  to  courts  and 
to  almost  even*  Kind  of  Business  —  so  that  your  Petitioners  have  got 
under  such  poor  and  difficult  circumstances  that  we  cannot  live  in  said 
Town  nor  move  out  of  the  same  except  3-our  honors  will  Interpose  in 
our  behalf. 

Therefore  your  Petitioners  most  humbly  pray  that  \our  honors  woo'd 
take  our  singular  Situation  under  your  wise  consideration,  and  grant  that 
a  special  act  of  this  court  be  made  that  said  Town  be  setled  according 
to  charter  in  3'ears  from  this  date  your  Petitioners  further  pra}'  3'our 
honors  that  a  special  act  of  this  Ilonblc  court  be  made  to  assess  and 
collect  the  taxes  now  due  or  that  ma}T  be  due  from  said  Town  —  we 
further  pray  your  honors  that  a  committee  be  appointed  b}-  this 
Honble  court  to  la}"  out  and  make  a  road  through  said  Town,  and  that 
the  cost  be  paid  by  the  landowners  thereof  and  on  their  neglecting  or 
refusing  to  pa}'  said  cost  of  laying  out  and  making  said  road  your 
Petitioners  most  humbly  pray  your  honors  to  give  order  that  so  much 
land  in  said  Town  be  sold  as  will  pay  the  cost  aforesaid  or  otherwise  as 
your  honours  shall  think  most  expedient  and  your  Petitioners  as  in 
dut}'  bound  will  ever  pray. 

PELKG  WILLIAMS 
In  behalf  of  said  Inhabitants. 

The  allegations  of  the  petitioners  indicate  that  the  real  parties  to 
the  long  controversy  were  the  inhabitants  and  the  proprietors. 

Action  on  the  petition  was  postponed  to  the  December  session, 
at  which  time  another  petition  was  presented  covering  substan- 
tially the  same  ground  but  with  this  additional  statement :  — 

"  All  or  most  all  of  said  town  is  owned  by  two1  gentlemen  one  of 
which  lives  in  Massachusetts  the  other  in  Vermont  and  we  know  not  who 
ware  the  original  Proprietors  of  said  town  or  how  much  Land  there  is 
in  the  Same  as  it  lias  been  granted  regranted  and  Divided  and  Sub- 
divided so  that  under  every  circumstances  if  your  Petitioners  Should 
be  Calld  on  by  }"our  honours  to  do  tliare  duty  as  other  Towns  it  will 
be  more  then  we  Can  possably  Do. 

1  Col.  Moses  Little,  of  Xewbury,  Mass.,  and  Gen.  Jacob  Bailey,  of  Xewbury,  Vt. 


Highways  and  Bridges.  487 

They  also  asked  that  they  be  authorized  to  levy  "  a  tax  of  two 
pence  on  Each  acre  of  Land  for  the  purpose  of  making  and  repair- 
ing a  road  through  the  same  and  that  a  Committee  be  apinted  by 
your  honours  to  Carry  the  same  into  effect." 

The  signers  were  Peleg  Williams,  Thomas  Miner,  Samuel 
Learned,  Benjamin  Nurs,  Nathan  Caswell,  Isaac  Miner,  Nathan 
Caswell,  Jr.,  Robert  Charlton. 

The  General  Court  passed  an  act  in  the  following  January 
authorizing  the  levying  u  of  a  tax  in  the  way  and  manor  as  taxes 
by  Law  are  collected  of  Non-resident  proprietors  in  other  towns  in 
this  state."  As  the  town  was  not  divided  into  proprietary  shares, 
but  held  in  one  body  by  Colonel  Little  and  his  associates,  it  was 
found  impracticable  for  the  town  to  avail  itself  of  the  law  passed 
for  its  relief,  and  through  Samuel  Young,1  ol  Concord  (Lisbon),  the 
General  Court  was  asked  for  the  passage  of  an  act  impowering  the 
Selectmen 

•'to  assess  and  cause  to  be  collected  all  public  taxes  due  from  said  town 
in  one  tax  bill  on  the  lands  therein  not  confining  them  to  any  particu- 
lar rights  but  to  sell  us  much  of  said  Lauds  in  one  body  as  will  pay 
said  tax  with  Incidental  charges,  ...  as  will  compeat  said  road 
through  said  Town." 

The  result  of  the  joint  efforts  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  town 
and  the  residents  of  the  Coos  country  was  the  passage  of  an  act 
creating  the  committee  of  which  Edwards  Bucknam,  William 
Cargill,  and  Peter  Carleton  were  members.  This  committee  did 
the  work  of  laying  a  road  from  Concord  (Lisbon)  line  through  this 
town  and  Dalton  to  the  line  of  Lancaster  in  the  summer  of  17U3.2 
This  road,  when  completed,  made  a  rough  but  passable  thorough- 
fare between  Haverhill  and  Lancaster.  This,  like  nearly  all 
highways  in  this  section,  was  made  to  be  travelled  on  horseback 
or  on  foot  and  by  ox-teams.  Fordable  streams  were  not  bridged, 
and  swamps  were  sometimes  corduroyed  ;  stumps  were  cut  close 
to  the  ground,  but  rocks  were  permissible  in  the  best  roads  of  that 
day. 

The  highway  following  the  river  from  Monroe  line  to  its  junction 
with  the  county  road  at  the  Wheeler  place  was  laid  by  the  Board 
of  Selectmen  in  November,  1793,  and  is  the  first  laid  in  the  town 
by  the  local  authorities.  At  the  line  of  what  is  now  Monroe  (then 

1  Then  representative  of  the  class. 

2  A  map  of  the  road  as  laid  is  preserve  1  in  the  office  of  the  .Secretary  of  State, 
and  a  copy  is  reproduced  in  this  work. 


488  History  of  Littleton. 

Lyman)  it  connected  with  the  river  road  through  that  town  and 
Bath  to  Haverhill,  where  the  prosperous  village  of  Woodsville 
now  is.  This  was  another  thoroughfare  from  the  Lower  to  the 
Upper  Coos. 

The  next  road  to  be  laid  was  that  which  debouched  from  the 
county  road  at  the  Flanders  place,  then  owned  by  Sylvester 
Savage,  crossed  the  meadow  diagonally  to  a  point  near  the  Am- 
monoosuc  River,  and  up  the  north  bank  of  that  river  to  Mann's 
Mills.  This  was  in  1798  and  1799.  It  was  more  than  two  miles 
in  length,  and  all  of  it  was  discontinued  before  1840,  and  that  part 
east  of  the  lower  village  bridge  was  abandoned  but  not  legally  dis- 
continued till  about  1885. 

In  1801  the  road  from  Rankin's  Mills  to  the  Foster  place  on 
Lyman  line  was  built  and  opened  a  thoroughfare  by  the  way  of 
Parker  Hill  to  Bath  and  Haverhill. 

The  most  important  thoroughfare  in  the  town  during  the  first 
half  of  the  eighteenth  century  was  that  known  as  the  Portland 
road.  It  passed  through  the  town  from  the  line  of  Lyman 
(Monroe)  to  Bethlehem.  Its  course  was  devious,  and  was  laid  out 
and  built  at  different  periods  between  1793  and  1807,  In  1801 
its  course  from  Rankin's  Mills  was  by  the  farms  of  the  Rev. 
David  Goodall  (home  place),  the  Madison  Sanborn  place ;  Mr. 
Goodall's  hill  farm  to  Jonas  Nurs's,  then  to  Jonathan  Parker's,  fol- 
lowing the  side  of  the  mountain,  and  up  the  river  to  Mann's  Mills, 
thence  to  Bethlehem  line  ;  thence  by  Bethlehem  Hill  through 
Bretton  Woods  to  the  Notch  of  the  White  Mountains. 

This  route  did  not  satisfy  the  public,  especially  that  portion 
residing  in  Vermont  traversing  it  annually  to  Portland.  Promi- 
nent men  of  some  of  these  towns  united  in  the  following  petition 
to  the  Selectmen  asking  a  change  :  — 

o  o 

To  the  Selectmen  of  Littleton  in  the  County  of  Graf  ton,  State  of  New 
Hampshire,  The  petition  of  the  inhabitants  of  Barnct,  Peacham 
and  Danville  in  the  State  of  Vermont  respectfully  sheweth  : 

That  it  being  of  the  most  consequence  for  the  benefit  of  society,  the 
promotion  of  agriculture  and  commerce  that  necessary  highways  be 
made  and  maintained  in  our  infant  country  and  it  is  the  opinion  of  the 
pnbliek  that  a  road  through  the  town  of  Littleton  aforesaid  of  the  follow- 
ing description  will  be  a  pnbliek  advantage  begining  at  or  near  the 
dwelling  house  of  Samuel  Fierce  in  Lyman  from  there  following  the 
most  practicable  course  to  Mann's  Mills  in  Littleton.  May  it  therefore 
please  the  Gentlemen,  Selectmen  of  Littleton  to  lay  out,  make  and  open 
a  road  to  or  highway  as  soon  and  as  near  the  above  mentioned  descrip- 


Highways  and  Bridges.  489 

tion  as  they  in  their  Wisdom  shall  think  best  and  your  petitioners  will 
ever  pray. 

BARNET  May  20^  1802. 

JAS  BUCHANAN  ALEXANDER  HARVEY 

DAVID  ELKINS  WALTER  BROCK 

ENOS  STEVENS  JOHN  WALLACE 

JOHN  GILCHRIST         ARCHIBALD  HARVEY 

JOHN  McKNAB  &c  &c 
(Records,  Vol  I.  pp.  82-83) 

The  only  result  of  this  appeal  of  non-residents  was  the  building 
in  1803  of  the  meadow  road  from  the  county  road  in  the  Jonathan 
Parker  pasture  to  the  village.  That  road  still  follows  the  same 
course,  except  that  the  west  end  was  discontinued  when  the 
county  road  was  changed  from  the  hill  to  its  present  course  on 
the  meadows.  This,  however,  was  an  improvement  both  in  re- 
spect to  distance  and  the  character  of  the  road-bed. 

The  volume  of  travel  on  this  thoroughfare  constantly  increased, 
and  appeals  for  change  and  improvement  were  as  constantly  made 
to  the  Selectmen  of  the  town.  But  they  fell  on  deaf  ears,  and  in 
1820  the  question  was  taken  to  the  court,  and  a  committee  con- 
sisting of  Abel  Merrill  of  Warren,  Benjamin  Baldwin  of  Bradford, 
Vt.,  and  Nathan  Pike  of  Waterford,  Vt.,  was  appointed  to  lay  a 
road  from  Connecticut  River  to  the  line  of  Lincoln  through  the 
towns  of  Littleton,  Bethlehem,  Concord  (Lisbon),  and  Franconia. 
The  petition  presented  to  the  court  upon  which  action  was  taken 
was  signed  by  residents  of  Franconia  and  that  part  of  Concord 
(Lisbon)  known  as  Sugar  Hill.  The  court  committee  began  its 
work  at  the  upper  bridge  on  Connecticut  River  in  the  centre  of 
the  road,  and  laid  a  highway  four  rods  wide.  From  the  foot  of  the 
hill  to  the  old  meeting-house  it  was  a  new  road  laid  through  the 
woods.  Just  as  the  old  road  turned  to  pass  through  the  brick- 
yard its  course  was  changed  again  to  a  new  route,  that  of  the 
present  highway  passing  the  Jackson  place  ;  from  there  it  followed 
the  old  road,  with  slight  deviations,  leading  through  the  village 
which  is  now  Main  Street  to  Franconia.  From  the  Bethlehem 
road  on  there  were  numerous  changes  from  the  then  existing  high- 
way, and  the  course  was  shortened  and  otherwise  improved. 

It  would  seem  that  the  question  of  land  damages  did  not  cause 
much  trouble.  The  expense  awarded  by  the  committee  for  dam- 
age caused  by  laying  more  than  five  miles  of  new  road  was  only 
$30.07.  Twenty  dollars  of  this  sum  was  awarded  Josiah  Little,  of 
Concord  (Lisbon),  and  ten  to  Jonas  Little,  Jr.,  who  kept  the 
tavern  at  the  point  where  the  new  road  turned  from  the  highway 


490  History  of  Littleton. 

following  up  the  course  of  the  Connecticut  River ;  Robert  Charl- 
ton,  Moses  Little,  John  Gile,  Levi  Burt  in  this  town,  and  Samuel 
Martin,  Noah  Burnham,  Daniel  Wilson,  and  the  "  New  Hampshire 
&  Franconia  Co."  one  cent  each. 

The  controversy  passed  through  all  the  phases  of  an  old-time 
"  road  fight."  The  towns  postponed  the  constructive  part  of  the 
enterprise  for  several  years,  and  it  was  not  until  1823  that  work 
on  the  section  in  this  town  was  begun.  That  part  lying  between 
the  old  meeting-house  and  the  first  bridge  on  Connecticut  River 
was  built  in  1824-1825.  It  was  divided  into  two  sections,  and 
John  Gile  had  the  contract  to  build  half,  beginning  at  the  meeting- 
house, and  Nathan  Pike,  of  Waterford,  Vt,  the  other  half.  In  the 
mean  time  a  warm  contest  was  waged  over  building  that  part 
around  Gile  Hill  which  had  been  laid  by  the  Selectmen,  and 
several  town  meetings  were  held  at  which  the  action  of  the  pre- 
ceding meeting  was  reversed,  but  in  June,  1826,  the  road  was  con- 
structed. This  road  from  the  foot  of  Gile  Hill  to  the  Buck  tavern 
passed  through  continuous  woods,  except  the  two-acre  lot  where 
stood  the  meeting-house,  and  much  of  it,  especially  that  part  on 
the  flat  below  the  Gile  tavern,  was  difficult  to  build  owing  to  the 
swampy  nature  of  the  land. 

Franconia,  too,  was  slow  to  take  action.  In  1886  Isaac  Smith, 
then  agent  of  the  Iron  Company,  promised  the  people  that  if  they 
would  elect  him  to  the  General  Court  he  would  procure  an  appro- 
priation from  the  State  to  aid  the  town  in  building  the  road 
through  the  Notch.  The  voters  accepted  his  proposition  and  sent 
him  as  their  Representative.  True  to  his  promise,  Representative 
Smith  secured  an  appropriation,  and  the  Governor  and  Council 
appointed  Putnam,  also  of  the  Iron  works,  agent  to  build  the 
road. 

The  agent  advertised  for  bids  in  the  Haverhill  paper,  and  by 
posting  notices  in  post-offices  and  taverns  in  his  own  and  ad- 
joining towns  asking  for  bids  for  constructing  mile  sections  of  the 
road.  John  Gile,  Nathaniel  Rix,  Jr.,  Jonathan  Rowell,  and  Isaac 
Abbott  formed  a  partnership,  and  their  bids  were  accepted  for 
building  three  miles,  and  that  of  Parker  and  Horace  Cushman  was 
accepted  for  the  mile  beginning  near  the  Profile  farm.  Rix  A: 
Co.  had  three  sections  beginning  near  the  Lafayette  House,  the 
present  site  of  the  Profile  House,  and  extending  through  the 
Notch.  The  company  had  camps  along  the  way  for  their  men, 
whom  they  paid  $12  a  month  and  board.  While  the  work  was  in 
progress  the  agent  offered  a  prize  of  £50  to  the  party  who  built 
the  mile  that  at  the  end  of  a  year  had  stood  the  best.  This  prize 


Highways  and  Bridges.  491 

was  awarded  the  Cushmans.  When  this  road  was  completed  to 
Lincoln  line,  the  agent  had  not  expended  the  appropriation,  but 
had  a  considerable  sum  left  which  was  used  in  repairing  the  road 
the  following  year. 

A  movement  was  inaugurated  in  1826,  largely  through  the  in- 
fluence of  Portland  merchants  who  had  become  aware  that  some 
of  their  former  trade  had  been  diverted  to  Dover  and  Portsmouth 
by  the  construction  of  the  Franconia  Notch  road,  to  shorten  the 
route  and  avoid  the  hills  of  the  road  through  Bethlehem.  Little 
was  accomplished  for  several  years.  In  1831  the  Legislature  of 
Maine  passed  an  act  appropriating  -13,000 

"for  the  purpose  of  repairing  and  improving  the  road  leading  from  this 
State,  through  the  Notch  of  the  White  Hills,  to  the  State  of  Vermont  ; 
Provided  that  the  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  New  Hampshire, 
shall  give  consent  thereto,  and  Provided  Also,  that  the  sum  of  $2,000 
be  raised  by  voluntary  subscription  for  the  same  purpose  by  the  in- 
habitants of  the  town  of  Portland  and  the  States  of  New  Hampshire 
and  Vermont." 

The  conditions  named  in  the  act  were  complied  with,  and  of  the 
sum  thus  raised  $200  was  paid  to  this  town  to  aid  the  construction 
of  the  road  up  the  valley  of  the  Ammonoosuc  to  Bethlehem  line 
near  Alderbrook.  The  road  through  Bethlehem  to  connect  with 
the  old  road  to  Carroll  was  built,  and  subsequently  that  from 
Wing  Road  to  connect  with  the  Whitelield  road  was  opened. 
Before  this  time  Littleton's  connection  with  the  Coos  town  was  by 
way  of  Bethlehem  street. 

This  link  completed  the  thoroughfares  through  Littleton.  Roads 
radiated  from  them  in  such  directions  as  the  public  interest  re- 
quired, but  this  network  of  highways,  known  in  former  days  as 
the  County  road,  the  Portland  road,  with  its  various  changes,  and 
the  Franconia  Notch  road,  have  been  the  only  ones  dignified  by 
the  name  of  thoroughfares,  and  their  building  or  alteration  the  only 
cause  of  public  strife  arising  in  this  town  on  account  of  this  class 
of  public  utilities. 

Highway  districts  were  erected  as  often  as  they  were  required, 
and  were  regarded  as  neighborhood  affairs.  The  office  of  sur- 
veyor seems  never  to  have  been  much  sought  except  in  recent 
years,  when  there  was  an  exception  to  this  rule  in  District  No.  10, 
which  extended  from  Bethlehem  line  to  the  Connecticut  River  in- 
cluding the  village  streets.  This  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  most 
desirable  positions  in  the  gift  of  the  town.  For  more  than  a 
century  the  highway  tax  was  paid  in  labor,  — tl  worked  out  "  was 


492  History  of  Littleton. 

the  term  by  which  it  was  designated,  — and  the  road  tax  was  usually 
subject  to  a  reduction  of  from  15  to  33J  per  cent  when  paid  in 
cash  to  the  laborer,  or  a  fixed  discount,  which  varied  in  different 
years,  .when  paid  to  the  surveyor.  Until  about  1870  the  money 
raised  for  highways  was  appropriated  in  a  fixed  sum.  Then  the 
percentage  method  was  adopted,  the  usual  rate  being  one  half  of 
one  per  cent  on  the  valuation.  This  gave  a  highway  fund  that  has 
shown  an  annual  increase.  Stated  in  round  numbers,  it  was  $6,000 
in  1880,  87,800  in  1890,  and  £8,500  in  1900.  Beside  the  general 
tax  large  sums  in  the  aggregate  have  been  added  by  the  Select- 
men from  the  fund  raised  for  "  town  charges,"  generally  the  pur- 
chase of  lumber  for  building  and  repairing  bridges  ;  the  cost  of 
much  of  the  stone  work  and  such  other  material  as  was  required 
and  paid  for  in  cash,  came  from  this  fund.  In  these  two. decades 
the  price  of  labor  was  fifteen  cents  an  hour  for  a  man  and  ten 
cents  for  a  yoke  of  oxen  and  a  corresponding  rate  for  a  horse  and 
cart. 

The  entire  system,  financially  and  practically,  was  vicious  to  an 
extreme.  The  cost  was  excessive,  and  it  seldom  or  never  resulted 
in  permanent  improvements.  On  the  first  of  June  in  each  year 
the  surveyor,  with  such  men  as  were  notified  to  appear  with  a  team, 
cart,  plough,  scraper,  bar,  pick,  shovel,  or  hoe,  was  at  work  plough- 
ing out  the  roadside  ditches  and  scraping  or  shovelling  the  alluvial 
deposit  of  the  year  to  the  centre  of  the  travelled  road.  It  sloped 
toward  the  ditch  on  either  side,  into  which  it  was  sure  to  be 
washed  again  by  the  summer  and  autumn  rains,  and  this  was 
annually  repeated  for  more  than  a  century.  During  this  time  the 
only  lasting  improvements  consisted  in  removing  the  stumps  and 
rocks  and  bridging  the  streams  and  sometimes  changing  the 
course  of  the  road.  This  was  paid  for  at  the  maximum  price, 
while  the  amount  of  labor  obtained  was  the  minimum.  l\e- 
peated  efforts  were  made  to  reform  the  system,  but  without  avail 
until  the  village  residents  appealed  to  the  Legislature  in  1891  and 
secured  the  passage  of  an  act  erecting  "  The  Village  Highway 
Precinct,"  which  emancipated  them  from  the  thraldom  of  paying 
their  highway  tax  in  "  labor,"  and  gave  them  an  opportunity  to 
inaugurate  a  system  of  permanent  improvements  which  have  since 
been  executed. 

The  first  sidewalk  was  built  in  the  village  in  1844,  of  stone 
drawn  mostly  from  the  Hinds  lot  or  Brackett  pasture  on  the  3It. 
Eustis  road.  This  stone  was  quarried  in  slabs,  some  of  them  five 
or  six  feet  in  length  and  three  or  four  feet  in  width.  They  were 
laid  on  the  south  side  of  Main  Street,  and  in  1845  extended  from 


Highways  and  Bridges.  493 

the  Cobleigh  tavern  to  Mill  Street  at  the  east  end  of  Tilton's  Block, 
which  was  then  occupied  by  the  small  shop  of  R.  H.  Curtis. 
Previous  to  the  building  of  this  sidewalk  there  was  a  bank  of 
earth  somewhat  above  the  level  of  the  road  and  separated  from  it 
by  the  open  gutter  which  served  as  a  pathway  for  pedestrians. 
About  the  time  of  the  close  of  the  war  between  the  States  a  plank 
walk  was  laid  on  the  north  side  of  the  street  from  Jackson  Street 
to  Woolson's  shop,  and  before  1870  the  stone  walk  on  the  south 
side  had  also  been  replaced  with  plank.  This  in  turn  gave  way 
to  a  brick  walk  which  was  laid  in  sections  in  the  years  extending 
from  1871  to  1884.  In  this  period,  too,  plank  sidewalks  were  built 
along  nearly  all  the  village  streets  and  extended  the  length  of 
Main  Street.  But  the  history  of  the  advance  of  street  improve- 
ments need  not  be  recounted  here,  as  it  is  told  in  the  concluding 
chapter  of  the  first  volume  of  this  work. 

In  importance  as  well  as  in  cost  the  highways  of  the  town  have 
been  second  only  to  our  public  schools,  and  the  long  indif- 
ference of  the  people  to  the  adoption  of  better  and  more  economi- 
cal methods  in  building,  repairing,  and  improving  them,  must  be 
regarded  as  one  of  the  inexplicable  incidents  of  town  government. 

An  account  has  been  previously  given  of  the  building  of  the 
early  bridges  crossing  the  Connecticut  and  Ammonoosuc  rivers. 
It  was  not  until  1810  that  a  substantial  bridge  crossed  the  river 
in  the  village.  A  freshet  in  the  spring  had  torn  the  bridge  from 
its  foundations,  and  Ephraim  Curtis,  David  Rankin,  and  Parley 
Robins  were  chosen  members  of  a  town  committee  to  ;'  examine 
the  timbers"  of  the  wrecked  bridge  and  report  their  value  to  the 
next  meeting.  The  bridge  was  rebuilt  in  the  summer,  and  with 
occasional  repairs  did  excellent  service  until  1826,  when  the  wild 
storm  that  swept  through  the  mountains,  destroying  the  Willey 
family  and  all  bridges  on  the  mountain  streams,  also  swept  this 
away.  It  was  a  trestle  bridge  and  was  replaced  by  another  of  the 
same  style.  Each  of  these  structures,  so  far  as  we  can  learn,  cost 
less  than  81,000.  For  the  purpose  of  building  that  of  1810  but 
8400  was  raised,  and  it  appears  that  less  than  8300  additional  was 
expended  in  its  erection.  Much  of  the  timber  used  in  the  construc- 
tion of  the  bridges  of  1810  and  1826  was  cut  on  the  banks  of  the 
river  near  by. 

The  high  water  in  the  spring  of  1837  tore  the  bridge  away,  leav- 
ing not  a  vestige  in  its  place  to  show  that  it  once  existed.  At  a 
special  town  meeting  it  was  decided  to  rebuild  a  structure  of 
similar  character,  and  John  Gile.  Josiah  Kilburn,  and  Isaac  Abbott 
were  made  Building  Committee.  The  new  bridge  \vas  in  use  before 


494  History  of  Littleton. 

the  close  of  the  summer,  and  the  report  of  the  committee  shows 
that  it  cost  $1,343.57.  The  bridge  had  a  short  life,  for  in  February, 
1839,  the  weight  of  a  passing  drove  of  cattle  broke  it  down,  and 
the  restoration  of  the  bridge  was  once  more  considered  in  town 
meeting. 

These  bridges  were  placed  much  nearer  the  water  than  were 
those  built  subsequently.  They  were  but  five  or  six  feet  above 
the  level  of  the  meadow  on  the  south  side,  and  the  hill  on  the 
road  at  the  north  end  had  an  elevation  above  the  floor  of  the 
bridge  that  was  nearly  twelve  feet  above  the  present  grade. 

The  town  voted  that  the  new  bridge  should  be  of  a  more  sub- 
stantial character  than  any  of  those  preceding  it.  Isaac  Abbott, 
Simon  B.  Johnson,  and  Stephen  C.  Gibb  were  appointed  a  com- 
mittee with  full  powers.  They  decided  upon  a  covered  bridge, 
and  the  15th  of  February  contracted  with  Elias  Nichols  to  build  a 
lattice  bridge  to  be  165  feet  in  length  and  20  feet  inside  width, 
to  be  completed  in  May  following.  The  town  was  to  build  the 
abutments  and  furnish  all  the  timber  and  other  material  except  the 
oak  pins  by  which  the  lattice  work  was  to  be  held  together,  which 
were  to  be  supplied  by  Mr.  Nichols.  For  his  part  of  the  construc- 
tion he  received  $725.  Its  entire  cost  was  not  far  from  $1,500. 

That  it  was  an  excellent  structure  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  it 
stood  for  a  generation.  The  only  serious  accident  in  that  long 
period  occurred  in  1849.  A  large  drove  of  cattle  being  driven  from 
Vermont  to  market  while  on  the  bridge  broke  into  a  run.  The 
flooring  gave  way,  and  some  of  them  were  injured  on  the  rocks  in 
the  bed  of  the  river.  This  was  soon  repaired,  and  at  the  same  time 
the  structure  was  strengthened  by  a  supporting  arch  on  each  side. 
Travel  on  the  bridge  was  increased  in  1853,  and  for  the  conven- 
ience of  the  public  a  sidewalk  was  built  on  its  westerly  side,  and 
in  1868,  when  the  bridge  was  practically  rebuilt,  a  sidewalk  was 
attached  to  the  other  side.  At  the  time  the  town  building  was 
constructed,  in  1894-1895,  the  scheme  of  improvements  contem- 
plated a  new  bridge  of  iron,  and  the  existing  one  was  condemned 
and  torn  down. 

The  erection  of  the  present  iron  bridge  required  many  changes. 
The  approaches  were  regraded  ;  on  the  south  side  bank,  walls 
were  constructed  on  each  side  of  the  road  and  the  grade  raised  to 
within  a  few  rods  of  the  railroad  crossing  ;  on  the  north  side 
extensive  and  substantial  granite  walls  were  built  on  the  road- 
side, and  changes  made  in  the  grade ;  that  near  Main  Street  was 
lowered,  while  that  at  the  bridge  end  was  raised  several  feet.  New 
abutments  were  built  of  an  enduring1  character,  and  many  minoi 


MAIN    STREET.  LOOKING   WEST,  BEFORE    1870. 


OLD    COVERED    BRIDGE. 


Highways  and  Bridges.  495 

improvements  made  at  this  time  that  were  not  strictly  required 
on  account  of  the  erection  of  the  bridge.  The  stone  work  was  by 
Smith  &  Getchcll,  of  Plymouth,  and  the  superstructure  by  the 
Schultz  Bridge  &  Iron  Co.,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.  The  cost  of  the  new 
structure,  as  shown  by  the  town  reports,  was  $16,652. 48.1 

In  1852  the  covered  bridge  at  Apthorp  was  built  in  contempla- 
tion of  opening  a  new  stage  route  to  Bethlehem,  but  it  was  not 
opened  until  many  years  after.  It  was  constructed  by  P.  H. 
Paddleford,  and  is  a  substantial  structure  still,  after  having  stood 
for  more  than  half  a  century  with  but  occasional  inexpensive 
repairs. 

The  bridge  crossing  the  river  at  the  lower  end  of  the  village 
was  built  by  the  town  in  1878,  in  partnership  with  Henry  L. 
Tilton,  who  contributed  $500  to  the  fund  for  the  project.  Its  cost 
was  about  $3,500.  The  location  was  both  inconvenient  and  ex- 
pensive, and  about  the  only  benefit  from  its  use  the  larger  public  has 
derived  was  on  the  two  or  three  occasions  when  the  old  bridge 
was  being  repaired  or  the  new  one  built. 

The  bridge  at  South  Littleton  was  constructed  by  the  Littleton 
Lumber  Company  in  1883,  which  was  at  that  time  operating  an 
extensive  plant  at  that  place.  The  town  contributed  81,000.  Since 
the  destruction  of  the  mill  by  fire  the  bridge  has  been  maintained, 
as  it  has  been  found  to  be  a  necessary  public  utility. 

1  Tliis  bridge  bears  a  tablet  with  this  inscription  :  — 

'•Rebuilt  in  1894  by  the  Selectmen  of  Littleton 

Henry  F.  Green, 

Frank  P.  Bond,        George  H.  Lewis. 

Designed  by  Edward  S.  Shaw,  Engineer, 

Schultz  Bridge  and  Iron  Co. 


496  History  of  Littleton. 


XLIX. 

CEMETERIES. 

r  I  MIE  first  death  in  Littleton  was  that  of  Charlotte,  daughter 
X  of  Nathan  and  Hannah  Bingham  Caswell,  which  occurred 
on  the  day  of  her  birth,  April  20,  1778.  The  infant  was  buried 
in  a  field  adjoining  the  log  cabin,  but  the  location  of  the  grave  is 
not  known.  The  first  adult  known  to  have  died  in  town  was  a 
man  who  was  stricken  with  illness  while  making  a  clearing  on 
Mann's  Hill,  probably  on  the  Q nimby  place.  He  was  unknown 
to  any  of  his  townsmen,  and  when  discovered  a  few  hours  before 
his  death  was  too  weak  to  give  his  name.  His  remains  were 
brought  from  the  hill  and  interred  in  ground  now  traversed  by 
Pleasant  Street  near  its  junction  with  Main.  Another  unknown 
grave  was  made  near  where  Meadow  Street  debouches  from  Main 
Street.  These  deaths  occurred  before  any  burial  ground  had  been 
provided  by  the  people,  —  that  is,  before  1790,  —  and  were  solemn 
reminders  that  provision  for  such  inevitable  events  should  no 
longer  be  deferred. 

At  the  annual  town  meeting  in  March,  1790,  it  was  "  voted  that 
the  Selectmen  agree  upon  suitable  places  for  Burial  Yards."  In 
compliance  with  these  instructions  lots  were  selected  and  donated 
by  their  several  owners,  and  burial  grounds  established  at  each  of 
the  principal  settlements  in  the  town.  That  at  Rankin's  Mills 
was  given  by  the  proprietors  of  the  township,  that  at  North  Little- 
ton by  Moses  Dow,  of  Haverhill,  and  the  one  on  the  "  Ammonoostic 
Meadows  "  by  Ephraim  Bayley.  These  lots  were  in  an  exceed- 
ingly rough  condition,  encumbered  with  pine  stumps,  and  that  at 
the  north  end  was  also  very  rocky.  In  1794,  at  a  town  meeting 
held  on  the  8th  of  December,  it  was  "  voted  to  alter  the  Bury  ing- 
Yard,  or  have  a  new  one,"  and  at  the  same  meeting  it  was  decided 
that  it  should  be  located  "  on  the  east  side  of  the  road  adjoining 
Gen.  Dow's  land  on  Mr.  John  Wheelers  land."  The  bu rial- 
place  thus  located  was  that  at  North  Littleton  now,  by  a  change 
in  the  road,  on  the  west  side  of  the  thoroughfare.  No  further 


Cemeteries.  497 

action  was  taken  by  the  town  in  regard  to  its  cemeteries  for 
twenty-one  years.  They  remained  unkept  and  unfenced  until 
1816.  In  March,  1815,  the  town  at  its  annual  meeting  "  voted 
that  the  Selectmen  have  leave  to  take  conveyances  to  the  Town 
of  all  the  Burying  Yards  in  town  and  Build  and  Keep  in  repair 
fences  round  the  same  and  refund  the  money  paid  out  by  the  In- 
habitants for  making  a  fence  round  the  Burying  Yard  on  the 
Ammonoosuc  Meadows  last  fall."  It  is  presumed  that  the 
Selectmen  followed  instructions  in  so  far  as  to  procure  deeds  of 
the  lots,  but  no  fences  were  built  until  the  following  year,  when 
the  town  at  its  March  meeting  raised  $75  to  pay  for  the  work, 
which  was  soon  after  executed. 

What  is  now  known  as  the  Clark  Cemetery  on  Mann's  Hill  was 
established  by  the  town  in  March,  1816,  when  it  was  "  voted  that 
the  Town  accept  a  plot  of  ground  for  interment,  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  William  Burkleys  when  furnished  by  the  neighborhood 
free  of  expense  to  the  town."  Other  neighborhood  burial  grounds 
are  those  known  as  the  Wilkins  Cemetery,  also  on  Mann's  Hill ;  the 
Albee,  at  the  west  end  of  the  town  ;  the  Hildreth  and  the  Farr,  on 
Farr  Hill.  The  last  two  named  being  family  grounds,  it  does  not 
appear  that  the  town  has  had  jurisdiction  over  them.  Glenwood 
Cemetery  was  founded  as  the  White  Mountain  Cemetery  in  1850. 
It  is  a  private  corporation.  The  Roman  Catholic  Church  has  its 
cemetery  on  the  road  leading  from  Apthorp  to  Bethlehem.  It  was 
established  in  1888,  through  the  instrumentality  of  the  Rev.  Father 
Hurley,  then  the  clergyman  in  charge  of  this  parish. 

Neither  legend  nor  record  tells  whose  remains  were  the  first  to 
be  interred  in  either  of  the  grounds  set  apart  by  the  town  in  1790 
for  the  burial  of  its  dead.  They  slumber  in  peace  in  unknown 
graves  covered  by  the  gathered  dust  of  more  than  a  century.  The 
tirst  monument  erected  in  town  stands  at  the  head  of  the  grave  of 
Soule  Cushman,in  the  "  burial  yard"  near  Rankin's  Mills.  Time 
has  effaced  some  of  the  ancient  inscription,  which  once  read : 

"  In  Memory  of 
Mr.  Soule  Cushman, 
died  Xov.  15,  1795, 
JE.  40." 

and  beneath  is  this  version  of  an  epitaph  that  has  many  forms :  - 

"  Afflictions  sore  long  time  I  bore, 

Physicians  were  in  vain, 
Till  Christ  was  pleased, 

To  give  me  ease, 
And  free  me  from  all  pain." 
VOL  ii. —  32 


498  History  of  Littleton. 

Soulc  Cushman  was  an  uncle  of  the  late  Parker  Gush  man.  He 
was  of  the  fifth  generation  from  Robert  Cushrnan,  the  Pilgrim, 
who  came  to  Plymouth  in  the  "Fortune  "  in  November,  1621. 

In  the  northwest  corner  of  the  grounds  is  now  a  granite  head- 
stone, placed  there  by  direction  of  a  great-grandson  of  those  whose 
names  it  is  designed  to  commemorate.  It  bears  this  simple  legend, 
"  James  and  Margaret  Rankin."  To  those  familiar  with  the 
rugged  character  of  these  Scotch  Presbyterians  the  stone  will  be 
regarded  as  a  peculiarly  fitting  memorial. 

Not  far  away  are  the  graves  of  the  Rev.  David  Goodall  and 
Elizabeth  his  wife,  marked  by  plain  but  substantial  marble  slabs. 
Carved  on  that  of  the  old  "  priest "  is  a  text  from  which  he  once 
preached  a  funeral  sermon,  and  which  now  truthfully  proclaims 
his  own  best  loved  and  longest  remembered  characteristics  :  — 


He  hath  dispensed,  he  hath  given  to  the  poor  ; 
Ills  home  shall  be  exalted  -with  honor." 


Ill  death,  as  in  life,  the  first  minister  and  the  first  doctor  of 
the  town  are  near  neighbors.  'T  is  but  a  step  from  the  grave  we 
have  just  mentioned  to  that  where  rest  the  mortal  remains  of  Dr. 
Calvin  Ainsworth.  The  headstone  bears  no  epitaph. 

The  mortuary  inscriptions  on  the  monuments  in  our  graveyards 
are  not  original  productions,  most  of  them  having  served  a  similar 
purpose  in  many  burial-places.  Some  are  admonitions  from  the 
tomb,  like  this  engraved  on  the  stone  that  sentinels  the  resting  place 
of  Lieut.  Richard  Peabody,  the  minute  man  of  the  Revolution  :  - 

"  My  loving  friends  as  you  pass  by, 
As  you  are  now  so  once  was  J, 
As  I  am  now  so  you  must  be, 
Prepare  for  death  and  follow  me." 

Another  is  a  shout  of  joyous  triumph,  which  the  widow  of 
Deacon  Thomas  Briggs  caused  to  be  engraved  on  his  headstone : 

"  The  gospel  was  his  joy  and  song, 

E'ne  to  his  latest  breath ; 
The  trust  he  had  proclaimed  so  long 

Was  his  support  in  death. 
Xow  he  resides  where  Jesus  is, 

Above  this  dusky  sphere; 
His  soul  was  ripened  for  that  bliss, 

While  yet  he  sojourned  here." 


Cemeteries.  499 

This  widow,  who  outlived  five  of  her  six  children,  bore  her 
afflictions  with  Christian  fortitude,  and  this  lengthy  epitaph  is 
written  on  her  gravestone  :  — 

"  Give  glory  to  Jesus  our  head, 
With  all  that  encompas  his  throne, 
A  widow,  a  widow  indeed, 
A  mother  iu  Israel  is  gone. 
The  winter  of  trouble  is  past, 
The  storms  of  affliction  are  ore, 
Her  struggle  is  ended  at  last 
And  sorrow,  and  death  are  no  more. 
The  soul  has  oretaken  her  mate 
And  caught  him  again  in  the  sky, 
Advanced  to  her  holy  estate 
And  pleasures  that  never  shall  die." 

The  grave  of  Zuriel  Albee  is  designated  by  a  stone  slab  bearing 
this  version  of  what  is  a  common  epitaph  :  — 

"  My  mortal  body  from  the  grave 
Friends  nor  physicians  could  not  save 
Nor  can  the  grave  confine  me  here 
When  Christ  shall  call  me  to  appear." 

The  same  verse  is  carved  upon  the  stone  in  memory  of  Priscilla, 
wife  of  David  Richardson,  an  adjoining  grave. 

On  the  tombstone  of  Ezekiel  Kellogg,  of  old-time  militia  fame, 
who  departed  this  life  in  1839  at  the  ripe  age  of  eighty-six,  is  this 
command :  — 

"  Depart  my  friends,  dry  up  your  tears, 
1  shall  arise  when  Christ  appears." 

From  the  slab  at  the  grave  of  Anna,  wife  of  Jonathan  Bowman, 
is  copied,  as  there  engraved,  this  epitaph :  — 

"  Death  cease  me  and  holds  me  fast 
And  you  must  soon  the  tyrant  feel 
Tho  now  as  lothe  yet  you  must  yield 
The  arrow  goes  where  they  are  sent 
And  soon  the  stubborn  will  relent 
Then  O  dear  reader  now  prepare 
To  welcome  deaths  grim  messenger 
That  when  he  strikes  the  fatal  blow 
Your  hope  you  may  not  then  let  go." 

Her  son  David,  when  a  young  man  of  twenty,  died  fifteen  years 
before  she  was  called  to  her  reward,  and  this  double  quatrain  is 
graven  on  his  tombstone  :  — 


500  History  of  Littleton. 

"  In  bloom  of  youth  behold  I  die, 
Dear  friends  prepare,  death  may  be  nigh, 
This  grave's  my  house,  here  I  must  rest, 
Till  Christ  shall  call  me  from  the  dust. 
The  stroke  of  death  hath  laid  my  head, 
Down  in  the  dark  and  silent  bed, 
The  trumpet  shall  sound,  I  hope  to  rise 
And  meet  my  Savior  in  the  skies." 

On  many  of  the  stones  in  this  graveyard  are  engraved  brief  and 
appropriate  texts  from  the  Bible.  We  transcribe  but  one,  that 
which  is  given  beneath  the  name  of  Robert  Charleton,  "  A  native 
of  England/'  who  died  in  1833,  aged  ninety  years:  — 

"  With  long  life  will  I  satisfy  him  and  show  him  my  salvation." 

In  these  grounds  repose  the  remains  of  Solomon  Whiting,  born 
in  1751,  died  in  1836,  and  those  of  his  son  Solomon,  born  in  1792, 
died  in  1886,  their  lives  covering  a  period  of  one  hundred  and 
thirty-five  years  from  the  birth  of  the  elder  to  the  death  of  the 
son,  their  united  years  being  one  hundred  and  seventy-nine.  Near 
them  sleeps  Robert  C.  Whiting,  a  son  of  Solomon,  Jr.,  who  met 
his  death  suddenly  in  March,  1874,  by  falling  upon  the  log-carriage 
in  his  sawmill  and  being  decapitated  by  the  circular  saw.  In  Sep- 
tember following  his  only  son,  an  infant,  passed  away,  and  the  aged 
grandparents  in  their  bereavement  inscribed  upon  the  headstone 
of  the  last  of  their  race  bearing  their  name  this  pathetic  lament :  - 

"  Little  Robert  gone  too." 

Solomon  Whiting,  Jr.,  married  Maria,  daughter  of  Robert 
Charleton,  the  pioneer.  She  died  in  188*2,  aged  eighty-eight  years, 
being  at  that  time  the  oldest  native  resident  of  the  town. 

Within  this  narrow  enclosure  repose  the  mortal  remains  of 
three  hundred  and  twelve  persons  whose  graves  are  marked  by 
memorial  stones.  Of  these  the  number  who  attained  a  great  age 
is  remarkable.  Nine  had  passed  their  ninetieth  year,  —  one,  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Markley,  being  nearly  one  hundred  and  two  years  of  age  at 
the  time  of  her  death,  —  and  ten  others  were  more  than  eighty-five. 
The  first  list  contains  the  names  of  Simeon  Eastman,  ninety  years 
of  age  ;  Robert  Charleton,  ninety  ;  Elizabeth  Goodall,  ninety-three  ; 
Solomon  Whiting  and  Ezra  Foster,  each  ninety-four ;  Laban  Tift 
and  Russell  Steere,  each  ninety-six,  and  Sarah  Williams,  ninety- 
nine.  In  the  other  are  found  those  of  Joseph  Tolman,  Michael 
Shute,  Jacob  Markley,  Solomon  Whiting,  Sr.,  Simeon  Dodge,  Timo- 
thy B.  Ilurd,  Carter  N.  Huntoon,  Maria  Charleton,  Daniel  Carter, 


Cemeteries.  501 

Sylvia  (Tift)  Stevens,  and  Ezekiel  Kellogg.  These  people,  with 
one  exception,  passed  their  lives  in  the  same  neighborhood  within 
a  radius  of  less  than  two  miles.  There  must  have  been  something 
in  their  mode  of  living  or  their  occupations  which  gave  them  a 
multiplicity  of  days  ;  or  perhaps  it  was  the  strong  and  health- 
giving  breeze  that  constantly  swept  their  little  valley,  lying  almost 
midway  between  the  Green  and  White  Mountains,  that  brought 
to  them  the  elixir  which  prolongs  life  beyond  the  threescore  years 
and  ten  allotted  to  man. 

In  the  graveyard  at  Norfih  Littleton,  as  in  the  others  established 
in  1792,  the  name  of  the  person  who  first  received  burial  within 
its  limits  is  unknown.  There  are  several  ancient  mounds  or  de- 
pressions which  mark  the  ground  where  slumbers  the  dust  of  some 
man  or  woman  long  since  forgotten.  In  one  of  these  neglected 
spots  reposes  all  that  is  mortal  of  one  among  those  for  whom  the 
first  sod  in  this  abode  of  the  dead  was  turned.  The  earliest 
known  grave  is  that  of  Enoch,  son  of  Ebenezer  Filigree,  who 
departed  this  life  in  1796. 

Near  this  grave  lie  the  remains  of  Ebenezer  Pingrce,  Esq.,  and 
hard  by  are  those  of  James  Williams,  Esq.  These  men  were 
friends  from  youth,  born  in  neighboring  towns  (Methuen  and 
Andover,  Mass.).  They  married  sisters  by  the  name  of  Merrill, 
and  brought  their  brides  into  the  wilderness  at  the  north  part  of 
the  town,  and  they  are  numbered  among  our  pioneers.  They 
were  men  of  note  in  their  day  and  generation,  and  served  their 
town  in  many  positions  of  honor  and  trust.  The  first  was  a 
justice  of  the  peace,  and  in  this  capacity  acted  as  magistrate  for 
his  townsmen ;  the  other  having  a  tendency  for  military  rather 
than  civil  affairs,  though  honored  in  both,  became  the  commander 
of  a  company  and  major  of  his  regiment. 

Though  thus  closely  related,  their  children  pursued  their  journeys 
through  the  world  by  widely  diverging  paths.  The  descendants 
of  Esquire  Pingree  were  dowered  witli  intellectual  tendencies, 
aspirations  in  which  the  ideal  dominated  the  practical,  and  physi- 
cal constitutions  so  frail  that  nearly  all  fell  victims  to  consumption 
before  they  had  lived  out  their  allotted  years.  The  children  of  the 
major  were  not  burdened  with  ideas  in  regard  to  ethical  questions, 
were  intensely  practical,  and  had  frames  that  withstood  the  strain 
through  man}-  years  of  strenuous  devotion  to  money-getting.  But 
time  eventually  brought  the  cousins  to  the  same  temple,  where 
they  laid  aside  their  broken  hopes  and  sorrows  or  their  treasure 
and  greed  to  enter  into  their  eternal  reward.  Which  brought  to 
the  judgment-seat  the  richest  fruitage  from  this  troublous  world  '.' 


502  History  of  Littleton. 

Within  the  same  enclosure  rests  what  is  mortal  of  Henry  Bemis 
and  Capt.  Naboth  Lewis,  soldiers  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution, 
and  Joseph  W.  Morse,  who  were  among  the  pioneers  of  Littleton. 
Near  them  is  a  stone  bearing  the  name  of  Ira  Caswell,  a  grandson 
of  the  doughty  captain.  Here  too  lie  the  remains  of  "  Hon. 
Nath.  Rix,  Jr.,"  and  those  of  his  father. 

The  graves  in  this  ancient  burial-place  number  little  more  than 
a  hundred,  and  here  too  are  found  several  who  reached  a  great 
age  ;  Parker  Cushman,  who  was  born  before  the  Revolution,  en- 
gaged in  a  foray  into  Canada  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  much  to  his 
regret,  for  his  political  opinions  were  strong,  lost,  through  the  fell 
stroke  of  death,  the  opportunity  to  cast  his  vote  a  second  time  for 
General  Grant  for  President,  and  at  the  same  time  round  a 
century  of  existence.  He  died  June  4,  1872.  Had  he  lived  until 
December  31  of  that  year,  he  would  have  been  one  hundred  years 
of  age.  William  Fisk  was  ninety-four,  and  Amos  Wallace  ninety- 
one,  when  they  had  numbered  the  years  of  their  mortal  pilgrimage. 

The  people  at  the  north  end,  if  we  are  to  judge  from  these 
records,  were  not  much  given  to  manifesting  their  grief  through 
the  medium  of  the  epitaph.  They  have,  however,  in  a  few  instances 
indulged  in  this  practice,  and  in  most  cases  in  the  conventional 
form.  That  on  the  gravestone  of  Major  Williams  is  the  verse 
beginning,  "  My  living  friends  as  you  pass  by,"  and  that  of  his 
consort,  who  passed  on  two  years  before  him,  though  different,  is 
like  unto  it  in  respect  to  familiarity.  Its  first  line  is,"  Death  is  a 
debt  to  nature  due." 

When  Rylan  E.  Fisk  departed  this  life,  1892,  his  widow  re- 
corded her  sorrow  in  lines  that  may  be  both  original  and  modern, 
certainly  they  contain  but  little  of  the  ancient  phraseology.  They 
run  thus :  — 

"  He  has  gone  from  his  dear  ones,  Lis  child,  his  wife, 
Whom  he  willingly  toiled  for  and  loved  as  his  life. 
Oh  God  !  how  mysterious  and  how  strange  are  thy  ways, 
To  take  from  us  this  loved  oue  in  the  best  of  his  days." 

None  of  the  epitaphs  graven  on  stones  in  this  burial-place  are 
from  Holy  Writ,  and  but  one  refers  to  the  Bible.  On  Hint 
erected  to  the  memory  of  Mary  Elizabeth,  wife  of  John  A.  Eaton, 
who  passed  away  at  the  early  age  of  twenty  years,  is  carved  a 
Bible  with  this  verse  :  — 

"  The  mines  of  earth  no  treasure  give, 

That  could  this  volume  buy  : 
In  teaching  me  the  \vay  to  live. 
It  taiiLiht  me  how  to  die." 


Cemeteries.  503 

On  the  road  leading  from  North  Littleton  to  the  village  is  a 
small  burial-place  known  as  the  Wheeler  graveyard,  taking  its 
name  from  the  neighborhood  in  which  it  is  located.  In  it  are  the 
remains  of  several  generations  of  the  Wheelers,  from  Silas  the 
pioneer  of  1796  to  his  descendants  of  the  fourth  generation. 
The  pioneer  died  in  18*23,  in  the  seventy-ninth  year  of  his  age. 
The  remains  of  his  wife,  Sally,  repose  in  an  adjoining  grave.  But 
two  bearing  the  name  of  Wheeler  now  reside  in  the  neighbor- 
hood where  a  generation  ago  hundreds  of  fruitful  acres  near  "  the 
parting  of  the  roads  at  the  Wheeler  place"  were  tilled  by  this 
family.  The  elders  passed  on  to  their  reward ;  their  children 
sought  other  fields  ;  the  lands  were  neglected  and  fell  into  decay, 
—  for  land,  like  the  human  body,  must  be  fed  in  order  to  live,  — 
and  strangers  came  and  possessed  them. 

Beside  the  Wheelers  and  their  descendants  of  another  name 
through  the  female  line,  very  few  people  have  found  their  final 
earthly  resting  place  in  this  narrow  field.  Here  are  gathered 
some  of  the  children  of  Amos  Town,  who  lengthened  the  family 
name  by  adding  the  final  u  e,"  and  the  remains  of  Samuel  Taylor 
Morse  and  his  wife,  who  also  represent  in  their  lineage  the  pioneer 
families  of  Bemis  and  Miner,  as  well  as  that  of  the  one  whose 
name  they  bore. 

A  ramble  through  these  grounds  will  disclose  nothing  in  the 
way  of  epitaphs  either  quaint  or  otherwise  peculiar.  They  are  as 
a  rule  taken  from  the  Scriptures,  and  inculcate  the  sound  theo- 
logical doctrines  of  the -early  settlers  of  the  town. 

For  three-fourths  of  a  century  the  people  in  the  Ammonoosuc 
valley  section  of  the  town  buried  their  dead  in  the  graveyard  on 
the  meadows,  two  miles  distant  from  the  village.  The  grounds 
were  selected  at  a  time  when  there  was  not  a  break  in  the  wilder- 
ness at  the  Ammonoosuc  Falls,  now  the  centre  of  population 
and  business  activity,  and  probably  on  account  of  the  friability  of 
the  soil  which  rendered  it  particularly  adapted  for  the  purpose  for 
which  it  was  to  be  used.  Here  are  buried  many  families  who 
once  played  an  important  part  in  the  affairs  of  the  town.  The 
names  of  Gile,  Brackett,  Robins,  Allen,  Hoskin,  Fairbank,  Xurs, 
Fitzgerald,  Sargent,  Parker,  Curtis,  and  Thompson  are  found 
chiselled  on  its  headstones. 

In  these  narrow  beds  lie  near  each  other  the  ashes  of  the  first 
regular  supply  and  the  first  settled  minister  of  the  Congregational 
Church  of  the  town.  The  grave  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hardy  is  marked 
by  a  small  stone  of  slate,  on  which  may  still  be  traced,  after  eighty- 
five  years  of  exposure  and  neglect,  this  legend :  - 


504  History  of  Littleton. 

"  In  Memory  of 

Mr.  Nath'l  Hardy,  A.B. 

(a  candidate  for  the  gospel  ministry,) 

Who  died  at  Littleton 

13,  Oct.  181 9  in  the 

43  year  of  his 

Age." 

At  the  head  of  the  other  grave  stands  a  large  marble  stone 
where  one  may  read  this  inscription  :  — 

"  Rev.  Drury  Fairbank, 

Died 
Jan.  11,  1853, 

IE.  80. 

Servant  of  God,  well  done, 
Rest  from  thy  loved  employ; 
The  battle  fought,  the  victory  won, 
Enter  the  Masters  joy." 

A  little  to  the  left  of  the  minister's  resting-  place  arc  those  of 
his  wives.  Over  the  first  is  a  stone  bearing  these  lines,  evidently 
prepared  by  her  husband  :  — 

"  Beneath 

this  monument 

rest  the  remains  of 

Mrs.  Lucretia 

consort  of  the  Rev.  Drury 

Fairbank  who  died  at 

Plymouth  January  29, 

1817,  aged  41  years. 
"NY ho  can  find  a  virtuous  woman?  for  her  price  is  far  above  rubies." 

On  the  stone  at  the  head  of  the  third  grave  may  be  road  the 
simple  inscription  :  — 

"  Sarah 

AYife  of 

Rev.  Drury  Fairbauk, 

Died 

May  21,  1856 
JE.  GO." 

These  ministers  of  the  gospel  have  as  neighbors  Deacons  Gideon 
Griggs  and  Noah  Farr. 

'T  is  but  a  step  from  these  mounds  to  that  of  one  beneath  which 
sleeps  the  dust  of  Samuel  Clay,  who  was  buried  herein  May,  1840. 
He  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution,  as  the  story  on  the  stone  of 
slate  proclaims  in  a  line  that  fast-gathering  lichen  will  scon  render 
illegible. 

Hard  by  are  the  graves  of  a  long  line  of  those  who  bore  the 


Cemeteries.  505 

name  of  Robins,  nineteen  in  all,  the  representatives  of  four  gener- 
ations who  were  of  Littleton.  "With  the  exception  of  those  on  the 
headstones  of  the  founder  of  the  family  in  this  town  and  his  wife, 
the  inscriptions  are  of  a  simple  character,  giving  in  brief  form 
the  name,  date  of  death,  and  age.  Douglass  Robins  died  in  1822, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-five.  His  tombstone  bids  the  reader  "  de- 
part," "  dry  up  his  tears,"  and  adds  the  assurance  that  he  "  shall 
lie  here  till  Christ  appears."  The  epitaph  of  his  wife  Keziah, 
which  is  engraved  "  Kasia,"  is  the  familiar  stanza :  — 

"  Hail,  traveller,  as  you  pass  by 
And  view  this  mouldering  clod 
Prepare  yourself  for  that  great  day 
When  you  must  meet  your  God." 

On  the  stone  at  the  head  of  the  grave  of  Ebenezer  W.  Morse,  a 
soldier  of  the  Revolution,  is  an  old-time  epigraph  which  has 
appeared  in  many  forms  ;  this  version  reads :  — 

"  Friends  nor  physician  could  not  save 
My  mortal  body  from  the  grave, 
Nor  can  the  grave  confine  it  here, 
When  Christ  shall  call  it  to  appear." 

On  the  gravestone  of  Maj.  Ephraim  Curtis  is  a  paraphrase  of 
the  line  from  Pope  ;  the  truth  of  its  application  to  the  old  merchant 
is  affirmed  by  all  who  knew  him  :  - 

"  An  honest  man,  the  noblest  work  of  God." 

On  that  which  marks  the  grave  of  his  relative,  the  widow  of 
Dr.  Joseph  Roby,  is  recorded  this  tribute  to  her  virtues  :  — 

"  Uniting  an  amiable  disposition  with  a  sound  understanding  she  was  con- 
stant, cheerful  and  judicious  in  the  discharge  of  her  domestic  and  social  duties, 
and  her  life  was  a  practical  display  of  pure  religion." 

Resting  on  four  substantial  granite  pillars  is  a  marble  slab  of 
ample  dimensions  which  attracts  attention  for  this  reason,  as  well 
as  for  the  fact  that  it  is  the  only  horizontal  memorial  in  the 
grounds.  It  bears  this  simple  legend  :  — 

i(  Truman  Stevens 
Sept.  :{,  ISOo 
Jan.  2,  1S85. 


Melvina  A.  Carleton 

his  wife 
Oct.  25,  1807, 
Mav  15,  1S87." 


506  History  of  Littleton. 

The  memorial  is  in  harmony  with  the  character  of  those  it  is 
designed  to  commemorate  ;  void  of  ornament,  it  has  the  beauty  of 
simplicity,  truth,  and  strength. 

The  remains  of  many  persons  originally  buried  here  have  been 
removed  to  Glenwood  Cemetery  that  they  might  rest  with  those 
of  their  kith  and  kin.  For  this  reason  the  casual  visitor  is  apt  to 
be  surprised  by  the  absence  of  many  names  they  would  naturally 
expect  to  find  here.  Another  cause  of  surprise  is  the  presence  of 
the  remains  of  so  few  who  reached  a  great  age. 

Mary,  widow  of  Nehemiah  Hoskins,  and  ancestress  of  the  numer- 
ous persons  of  that  name  in  this  section  of  the  State,  was  the 
oldest ;  she  died  at  the  age  of  ninety-three.  Her  home  had  been 
with  her  son  Elkanah,  a  soldier  of  the  French  and  Indian  War,  a 
sergeant  in  the  Revolution,  and  captain  of  a  company  of  the  fol- 
lowers of  Shays  in  his  Rebellion.  His  widow  lived  to  be  eighty- 
six,  having  survived  her  husband  twenty-eight  years.  Their  son 
Salmon  was  ninety  at  the  time  of  his  death,  his  wife,  eighty-four, 
having  departed  this  life  four  years  before  her  husband.  Mary 
Thompson,  wife  of  Deacon  Asa  Lewis,  was  eighty-nine ;  Thomas 
Fuller,  eighty -seven  ;  and  Abijah  Allen,  the  first  of  three  genera- 
tions of  the  same  full  name  who  have  owned  the  Allen  farm  on 
Mann's  Hill,  was  eighty-eight ;  Anna  Webster  Stevens,  ninety- 
three  ;  and  Stephen  Savage,  eighty-eight.  Not  a  long  list,  but  it 
will  suffice  when  we  consider  that  not  all  the  graves  in  this  burial- 
ground  are  marked  by  memorial  stones,  and  the  names  of  many 
aged  persons  are  included  in  this  class. 

This  ancient  burial-place  has  been  neglected  for  more  than  a 
generation,  and  though  the  remains  of  many  of  its  former  occu- 
pants no  longer  repose  here,  there  is  little  ground  in  this  city  of 
the  dead  that  does  not  shelter  "  Some  heart  once  pregnant  with 
celestial  fire,"  and  the  number  of  unmarked  graves  must  equal 
those  over  which  surviving  friends  have  raised  monuments  in  the 
vain  hope  of  perpetuating  to  succeeding  generations  the  names  of 
those  who  have  gone  before.  Many  of  these  tokens  of  affection 
lie  scattered  and  broken  upon  the  ground  ;  others,  though  in  place, 
are  crumbling  in  decay,  and  over  all  the  blueberry,  juneberry, 
spurge,  and  cinnamon  rose  are  weaving  a  fabric  of  wild  beauty 
which  makes  it  almost  impossible  to  move  from  one  part  of  the 
grounds  to  another  to  visit  these  silent  abodes  of  the  dead. 

The  residents  of  the  village  had  long  felt,  and  to  some  extent 
discussed,  the  necessity  of  having  a  cemetery  near  this  centre  of 
activity.  The  women  connected  with  the  "  Female  Sewing  So- 
ciety"  of  the  Congregational  Church  were  the  first  to  make  an 


Cemeteries.  507 

organized  movement  to  secure  such  accommodations,  and  through 
their  agency  the  lot  of  land  which  constitutes  the  nucleus  of 
Glenwood  Cemetery  was  purchased  of  Timothy  Gile  in  1853. 
This  land  was  rough  with  a  young  growth  of  timber  such  as 
usually  springs  up  where  the  primeval  forest  has  been  cut  for 
some  years.  The  decaying  trunks  of  pine  and  hemlock  and  boul- 
ders of  various  size  covered  the  ground,  and  the  level  field  ex- 
tending from  the  foot  of  the  bluff  near  Main  Street  to  the  Meadow 
road  was  a  tamarack  swamp  covered  with  a  heavy  growth  of  that 
wood,  within  whose  dense  and  tangled  thickets  the  village  urchins 
cut  their  long  and  straight  but  heavy  fishing  poles. 

Unkept  and  unimproved  as  the  grounds  of  the  new  cemetery  were, 
they  received  their  consecration  in  November,  1853,  when  the  re- 
mains of  Clara  Labaree,  daughter  of  Charles  W.  and  Lucretia  Batch- 
elder  Brackett,  a  young  child,  whose  earthly  journey  had  continued 
but  two  years  and  one  day,  was  laid  in  the  Brackett  lot  on  the 
brow  of  the  bluff  overlooking  the  winding  valley  of  the  Ammonoo- 
suc  and  the  snow-capped  summits  of  the  distant  mountains. 

It  was  two  years  before  the  women  of  the  Sewing  Society  per- 
fected their  organization  and  adopted  articles  of  association.1 

The  original  members  of  the  association2  were  thirty-nine  in 

1  These  articles  were  as  follows  : 

1.  The  undersigned  hereby  associate  themselves  together  under  the  provisions 
and  by  the  means  provided  by  the  152nd  Chapter  of  the  compiled  statutes,  for  the 
purpose  of  acquiring,  possessing,  improving,  and  holding  in  some  convenient  place 
in  Littleton,  suitable  grounds  and  other  conveniences  for  the  burial  of  the  dead. 

2.  Any  member  of  the  present  female  sewing  society  who  has  paid  an  initiation 
fee,  may  become  a  member,  by  signing  the  articles  of  association  ;  any  other  person 
may  become  a  member  by  signing  the  articles  of  association  and  paying  25  cents 
annually. 

?>.  Money  may  from  time  to  time  be  raised  in  aid  of  the  purposes  of  the  associa- 
tion, by  vote  of  two-thirds  of  the  members  present,  at  any  regular  meeting,  but  in 
case  of  raising  money,  a  proposition  to  that  effect  shall  be  submitted  at  the  next 
meeting  immediately  prior  to  the  one  at  which  the  vote  is  taken. 

4.  The  first  meeting  of  this  association  shall  be  held  at  the  house  of  E.  Irvin  Car- 
penter, on  Wednesday,  the  fifth  day  of  December  and  called  by  three  of  those  who 
may  sign  the  articles  causing  public  notice  to  be  given  at  two  public  meetings  pre- 
vious to  the  day  of  the  first  meeting. 

5.  The  first  meeting  shall  be  holden  and  organized  by  appointing  a  presiding  offi- 
cer and  clerk. 

2  The  following  is  the  membership  of  the  association: 

Lorana  Brackett,  Harriet  Carpenter,  Sarah  M.  Eastman,  C.  Adelia  Brackett, 
Lavinia  II.  Eastman,  Sarah  Eastman,  Almira  E. 'Clark,  Adaline  S.  Kilburn,  Caroline 
A.  Weeks,  Louise  C.  Balch,  Susan  F.  Eastman,  Grace  Campbell,  Lucretia  L.  Batch- 
elder,  Laura  ( >.  Tilton,  Hannah  I).  Merrill,  Sarah  O.  Savage,  Elizabeth  Merrill. 
Sarah  E.  Remington,  Julia  R.  Brackett,  Ann  M.  Rounsevel,  Lucretia  Brackett, 
Lovisa  Bowman,  C.  L.  Kilburn,  E.  B.  Dow,  S.  J.  Rounsevel,  M.  A.  Iladley,  L.  II. 
Eastman.  M.  A.  Bailey,  Laura  W.  Hale,  Elizabeth  Clough,  Naomi  Sanborn.  Harriet 
S.  Green.  Mrs.  Lois  Hosmer,  Mrs.  Sarah  J.  Shaw,  Miss  Mary  Cleveland,  Ruth 
Foster,  Mrs.  II.  Thayer,  Mrs.  Josiah  Kilburn,  and  Mrs.  S.  Wetherell. 


508  History  of  Littleton. 

number.  They  conducted  its  affairs  unaided  and  with  eminent 
success  until  1870,  when  William  J.  Bellows,  Josiah  Kilburn, 
Cyrus  Eastman,  C.  TV.  Rand,  and  M.  L.  Goold  were  called  to 
their  assistance  in  important  matters  relating  to  acquiring  land 
for  an  extension  of  the  grounds.  These  were  the  first,  and  for 
years,  the  only  ones  connected  with  the  association. 

According  to  notice,  the  members  of  the  association  met  on 
December  5,  1855,  at  the  bouse  of  the  Rev.  E.  Irvin  Carpenter, 
and  organized.  Mrs.  Lorana  Brackett  presided,  and  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Carpenter  acted  as  clerk. 

An  adjourned  meeting  was  held  January  10,1856,  when  a  code 
of  by-laws  was  adopted,  the  burial-place  being  named  White 
Mountain  Cemetery.  The  first  permanent  officers  were  Mrs. 
Harriet  S.  Carpenter,  president ;  Mrs.  L.  L.  Batchelder,  clerk ; 
Mrs.  Almira  E.  Clark,  treasurer ;  Mrs.  Lorana  Brackett,  Mrs. 
Susan  F.  Eastman,  Sarah  Eastman,  trustees.  There  is  no  record 
of  any  further  important  action  until  May  5,  1870,  when  nego- 
tiations were  opened  with  Jedediah  Farmer  for  the  purchase  of  a 
piece  of  land  adjoining  the  southwest  side  of  the  cemetery,  which 
indicates  that  the  original  tract  had  become  insufficient  to  meet 
the  demand  for  lots.  Josiah  Kilburn  and  Cyrus  Eastman  con- 
ducted the  negotiations  and  made  the  purchase.  About  the  same 
time  the  association  appropriated  i200  to  grade  and  improve  the 
grounds.  In  1872  a  hearse  was  bought  for  the  accommodation  of 
those  owning  lots  in  the  cemetery,  which  was  maintained  until 
June  20,  1894,  when  it  was  sold  to  Wells  <fc  Binghain,  under- 
takers. July  14,  1877,  the  name  of  the  cemetery  was  changed 
to  Glcnwood,  and  about  that  time  a  receiving  tomb  was  built.  In 
1884  it  became  apparent  that  a  farther  addition  to  the  grounds 
was  necessary,  and  an  attempt  was  made  to  purchase  a  large 
tract,  much  of  which  is  now  comprised  in  the  Town  and  Driving 
Parks  ;  but  terms  could  not  be  made  that  were  satisfactory  to  both 
parties.  Various  efforts  were  made  to  obtain  additional  land,  but 
nothing  was  effected  until  June  10,  181>2,  when  a  proposition, 
made  by  the  Littleton  Driving  Park  Association,  was  accepted, 
which  provided  that  the  remainder  of  the  plateau  west  of  the 
cemetery,  and  known  as  Glenwood  Annex,  be  transferred  to  the 
Glenwood  corporation  upon  condition  that  they  take  down  the  fence 
between  the  two  associations  and  give  the  lot-owners  in  the  annex 
all  the  rights,  benefits,  and  privileges  that  are  now  had  by  the  lot- 
owners  in  Glenwood,  they  to  pay  the  officers  of  the  Driving  Park 
Association  50  per  cent  of  the  gross  receipts  from  the  sale  of  the 
lots  laid  upon  the  plan  made  by  Ray  T.  Gile,  which  are  cut  by 


Cemeteries.  509 

the  fence,  and  75  per  cent  of  the  avails  of  all  other  land  as  fast 
as  sold,  and  no  lot  to  be  sold  for  less  than  the  price  marked 
upon  the  plan,  the  association  to  use  their  best  efforts  to  make 
speedy  sales. 

In  September,  1894,  the  corporation  laid  a  water-pipe  into  the 
grounds  and  put  in  a  fountain.  Lovell  Taylor,  John  W.  English, 
and  Charles  Lovejoy  have  been  the  sextons  during  most  of  the 
time  since  the  organization  of  the  association,  and  it  is  owing 
largely  to  their  efficient  labor  that  the  rough  and  unsightly  piece 
of  land  has  been  made  into  the  beautiful  cemetery  where  lie  our 
dead. 

Nothing  in  the  way  of  improvements  on  the  land  purchased  of 
the  town  which  lies  between  the  northwesterly  bound  of  the 
original  cemetery  and  its  first  two  extensions  and  the  Waterford 
road  was  accomplished  until  1903,  when  the  work  was  placed  in 
charge  of  Daniel  C.  Remich,  who  expended  all  the  funds  available 
for  that  object  in  grading  and  rendering  ready  for  use  a  number 
of  lots  next  adjoining  the  old  grounds,  in  building  bank-walls, 
offsets,  setting  out  trees  in  the  grounds  annexed  by  purchase 
from  the  town,  and  changing  the  course  of  the  Farr  Brook  from 
its  winding  way  through  the  cemetery,  to  one  of  angles  fixed  by 
rough  stone  walls,  which  destroy  all  the  beauty  which  the  brook 
once  lent  to  the  scene.  These  extensive  improvements  are  still 
unfinished,  and  the  women  who  so  long  controlled  this  benefi- 
cent enterprise  have  given  its  management  over  to  men,  no  longer 
feeling  able  to  cope  successfully  with  the  many  difficulties  which 
the  conduct  of  the  business  of  the  association  entails. 

In  Glenwood  rest  the  remains  of  many  of  the  town's  historic 
personages.  Among  them  is  Dr.  Burns,  who  came  here  in  180(3 
and  became  the  first  village  physician,  and  saw  the  "  settlement 
at  the  falls  of  the  Ammonoosuc "  grow  from  a  hamlet  of  less 
than  a  half-dozen  dwellings  and  a  store,  to  become  the  largest 
and  most  thriving  village  in  all  the  north  country.  Here  too 
sleeps  his  last  sleep  one  who  was  his  pupil,  professional  associate, 
and  life-long  friend,  Dr.  Adams  Moore ;  near  him  rest  two 
daughters  of  Moses  Little,  who  were  his  consorts,  and  the  monu- 
ment bears  the  name  of  another  of  the  Moore  family  whose  in- 
scription reads : 

"  William  Adams 

Killed  at  the  Battle 

of  Fredericksburg 
Deo.  18,  1802 

JE.  20  yrs.  8  mos. 
Capt.  in  5»>Regt.  X.  II.  Vols." 


510  [History  of  Littleton. 

His  mortal  remains  do  not  rest  here.  His  dust  mingles  with 
that  of  many  comrades  in  a  trench  fronting  "  the  stone  wall "  in 
the  outskirts  of  the  Virginia  city. 

Near  the  entrance  to  the  cemetery  on  the  right  of  the  roadway 
stands  the  monument  erected  to  the  memory  of  Evarts  W.  Farr. 
It  bears  the  following  inscription  :  — 

"  In  Memory  of 

Major  Evarts  W.  Farr, 

Born  Oct.  10,  1840. 

Died  Nov.  30,  1880. 

"  Captain  of  Co.  G  2?.  Regt  X.  H,  V.  Lost  his  right  arm  at  the  battle  of 
Willianisburgh,  Va.  Was  promoted  Major  of  the  llth  Regt.  N.  H.  V.  Served 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  Was  elected  a  Representative  to  the  46  Congress 
and  elected  to  the  47.  He  fought  the  battles  of  his  country  and  aided  the 
councils  of  the  Nation. 

"  To  live  in  hearts  we  love  is  not  to  die." 

Iii  this  cemetery  lies  all  that  was  mortal  of  a  large  number  of 
those  who  enlisted  in  the  war  for  the  Union  from  this  town,  as 
well  as  many  others  who  became  citizens  of  Littleton  after  the 
close  of  that  war  and  died  here. 

In  a  lot  adjoining  that  where  lie  the  remains  of  Major  Farr  are 
those  of  his  personal  friend  but  stern  political  foe,  John  G.  Sinclair. 
In  these  grounds  are  buried  William  Brackett,  Simeon  13.  Johnson, 
Otis  Batchelder,  Deacon  Merrill,  Harry  and  George  A.  Bingham, 
John  Farr,  and  many  others  who  helped  build  the  town  and  whose 
names  and  fame  still  survive  the  fast  vanishing  perspective  of 
time. 

There  is  little  mortuary  poetry  engraved  on  the  memorial 
stones.  The  few  epitaphs  are  mostly  brief  lines  from  the  Bible, 
and  there  are  few,  or  none,  of  the  doleful,  admonitory  character 
so  common  in  the  older  graveyards. 

Here  are  recorded  the  names  of  many  persons  whose  days  far 
exceeded  the  limit  of  threescore  and  ten  years.  Among  the 
familiar  names  of  those  who  were  more  than  fourscore  when 
they  entered  into  rest  are  found  those  of  Josiah  Kilburn,  Amos 
Town  and  his  wife  Betsey,  Jonathan  Eastman,  Solomon  Goodall, 
and  his  wife,  who  was  eighty-six  ;  Solomon  Fitch,  eighty-seven,  his 
wife  was  eighty-three;  Edmund  Carleton,  T.  A.  Edson,  Elanson 
Noble,  Jonathan  Eastman  and  his  wife  Caroline,  Dr.  Burns, 
Mrs.  Burns,  Samuel  Goodwin,  Nathan  Applebee,  Thomas  White, 
William  Jackson,  and  Hannah  Aldrich  were  ninety  ;  Hannah  I). 
Merrill  and  Joel  Bronson  were  each  ninety-one  ;  Amos  Hubbard, 


Cemeteries.  511 

ninety-two  ;  Asa  Weller,  ninety-four  ;  Capt.  John  Pierce,  ninety- 
six,  and  the  record  says  that  Honora  Harrington  was  ninety-seven 
at  the  time  of  her  death. 

The  northeast  corner  is  set  apart  for  the  burial  of  persons 
without  family  or  strangers  in  the  town,  and  in  this  part  lie  the 
remains  of  Sergeants  William  Seeley  and  William  Stevens,  who 
belonged  to  the  signal  corps  of  the  United  States  Army,  and  were 
at  the  time  of  their  death  stationed  on  Mount  Washington.  The 
former  met  his  death  in  an  attempt  to  descend  the  mountain 
railroad. 

The  Roman  Catholic  Cemetery  is  located  in  Bethlehem  on  the 
road  leading  from  Apthorp  to  that  town,  and  is  about  two  miles 
distant  from  the  town  building.  The  land  for  this  cemetery  was 
purchased  by  the  Rev.  Father  Hurley  in  1888,  and  was  consecrated 
by  Bishop  Bradley,  July  20, 1889.  Several  interments  were  made 
here  before  that  time,  but  the  first  marked  by  a  tombstone  is  that 
of  John  McLaughlin,  who  departed  this  life  July  1,  1889. 

The  situation  of  the  grounds  is  elevated  above  the  road  and 
commands  a  fine  view  of  the  valley.  In  marked  contrast  to  the 
gravestones  in  other  cemeteries  of  the  town,  these  are  seldom 
marked  by  an  epitaph,  and,  with  rare  exceptions,  such  as  there  are 
bear  the  simple  legend  "  May  her  soul  rest  in  peace." 


512  History  of  Littleton. 


L. 

THE   FIRE   DEPARTMENT. 

THE  fire  department  took  organic  form  in  1829,  when  Isaac 
Abbott,  Truman  Stevens,  George  Little,  Adams  Moore,  and 
Guy  Ely  were  chosen  fire  wards.  These  officers  were  residents 
of  the  village,  when  fires  had  not  been  frequent.  As  a  matter  of 
fact,  in  the  hundred  years  embraced  in  the  nineteenth  century, 
but  one  building  on  the  south  side  of  what  is  now  known  as 
Main  Street,  the  first  Hazeltine  shop,  was  destroyed  by  fire.  On 
the  north  side  of  that  street  the  residence  of  John  Farr,  on  the 
site  of  the  brick  house  now  owned  by  Cyrus  Young,  the  Palmer 
house  at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Pleasant  Streets,  and  a  vacant 
store  at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Maple  Streets  were  destroyed, 
and  the  stone  blacksmith's  shop  was  seriously  damaged  by  fire, 
as  was  the  Union  House  on  the  south  side  of  Main  Street.  The 
absence  of  serious  loss  from  this  cause  only  led  the  people  to 
regard  such  a  catastrophe  as  deferred,  and  they  took  measures  to 
render  it  as  light  as  possible  when  the  visitation  came.  The  or- 
ganization of  1829  was  maintained  uninterruptedly  until  1851.  In 
1851  and  1852  no  fire  wards  were  appointed  by  the  town,  and,  ex- 
cepting 1853,  no  organization  was  maintained  until  1873,  since 
which  time  a  more  or  less  effective  force  has  been  in  existence 
for  the  prevention  of  loss  by  fire. 

The  town  purchased  a  lire-engine  as  early  as  1832  or  1833.  It 
was  a  hand,  or  crank  machine  such  as  was  in  common  use  at  the 
time,  and  though  not  very  effective,  judged  by  those  now  in  use,  it 
was  an  improvement  on  those  of  a  still  earlier  period.  A  fire  com- 
pany was  not  organized  at  that  time.  On  the  14th  of  April,  1834, 
the  fire  wards  called  upon  those  interested  in  the  formation  of  a 
company  to  meet  at  the  store  of  W.  &  A.  Brackett.  Guy  Ely  was 
chairman,  and  Aaron  Brackett  secretary  of  the  meeting.  The 
following  persons  were  then  enrolled  as  members  of  the  company: 
John  Merrill,  Elijah  S.  Woolson,  Francis  Hodgman,  Samuel  A. 
Edson,  Nat.  Allen,  Thomas  Sawyer,  William  C.  Brackett,  Elijah 


The  Fire  Department.  513 

Fitch,  Joseph  Roby,  Charles  W.  Roby,  Roswell  H.  Curtis,  Charles 
B.  Allen,  George  B.  Redington,  Moses  W.  Burnham,  Prescott 
White,  Calvin  Ainsworth,  Jr.,  William  Hibbard,  and  George  W. 
Ely.  It  seems  that  authority  was  at  the  time  vested  in  the 
Selectmen  to  appoint  a  limited  number  of  persons  to  membership 
iii  the  company,  and  the  board  named  Luther  T.  Dow,  Peter  Fitz- 
Gerald,  Austin  Taylor,  and  Freeman  Bailey  as  firemen,  and  the 
company  membership  thus  completed  proceeded  to  perfect  its 
organization  by  electing  John  Merrill,  foreman,  and  George  B. 
Redington,  clerk.  Francis  Hodgman,  Prescott  White,  and  Elijah 
S.  Woolson  were  a  committee  to  draft  a  constitution  and  by-laws 
for  the  company. 

In  June,  1834,  an  act  of  incorporation  was  procured  from  the 
Legislature,  which  was  accepted  by  the  company  at  a  meeting  held 
on  Saturday,  August  2,  of  that  year.  The  same  meeting  adopted 
a  constitution  and  by-laws  reported  by  the  committee.  The  pre- 
amble would  indicate  that  the  company  was  created  primarily  as  a 
charitable  institution  and  the  constitution  and  by-laws  following  it 
support  this  assumption.  The  preamble  is  given  in  full,  as  it  offers 
a  wide  contrast,  in  more  than  one  respect,  to  modern  methods  at- 
tending the  formation  of  fire  companies. 

ult  is  the  duty  of  mankind  in  their  various  relations  to  each  other  to 
endeavor  to  promote  their  general  welfare  by  every  means  in  their 
power  which  will  tend  to  relieve  their  wants  or  administer  comfort  in 
their  distress ;  in  all  situations  of  danger  to  extend  a  helping  hand  and 
never  to  turn  a  deaf  ear  to  the  tale  of  affliction  ;  but  to  feel  a  sense  of 
the  high  obligations  devolving  on  them  in  the  cause  of  humanity.  With 
these  considerations  in  view  we  are  formed  into  a  company  for  the  ex- 
press purpose  of  assisting  our  fellow-citizens  in  case  of  fire  In"  endeavor- 
ing to  use  our  best  exertions  in  extinguishing  the  same,  hoping  that 
within  the  precincts  of  our  little  band  there  never  may  he  found  one 
who,  forgetting  the  duties  allotted  to  him  by  his  Creator,  will  not 
full}1  co-operate  with  us  in  the  undertaking  we  thus  voluntarily  set 
out  upon  ;  and  whose  heart  is  so  callous  to  the  nne  feelings  of  his 
brethren  as  to  withhold  from  them  that  assistance  which  it  is  his 
duty  to  bestow." 

"  Aware  that  in  all  well  regulated  companies  for  charity,  or  otherwise, 
there  may  be  found  those  who  possess  but  too  little  philanthropy  and 
who  should  be  subject  to  some  law,  we  have  adopted  the  following  con- 
stitution and  to  it  we  have  affixed  such  penalties  as  we  think  ma}'  tend 
to  preserve  unity  and  harmony  of  feeling  among  us.  Let  all  endeavor 
to  conduct  themselves  in  accordance  with  the  letter  and  spirit  of  the 
following  articles  of  agreement,  so  essential  to  the  welfare  of  an  associa- 
tion like  ours." 

VOL.  ii.  —  33 


514  History  of  Littleton. 

The  constitution  prescribes  the  usual  rules  relating  to  such  or- 
ganizations. The  officers  were  to  be  a  foreman,  assistant  foreman, 
clerk,  and  treasurer.  The  company  was  to  be  self-supporting,  its 
funds  being  derived  from  a  membership  fee  of  one  dollar  and  fines 
imposed  upon  members  absent  at  a  first  and  second  roll  call  at 
stated  meetings  and  at  fires.  These  fines  were  fixed  at  twelve  and 
one-half  cents  at  roll  calls,  and  fifty  cents  for  absence  on  an  occa- 
sion of  fire  ;  assessments  were  authorized  for  the  purpose  of  procur- 
ing such  material  as  was  necessary  for  the  use  of  the  engine ;  a 
member  leaving  the  engine  when  the  company  was  assembled  was 
subject  to  a  fine  of  twenty-five  cents.  The  records  show  that  this 
system  of  raising  funds  was  successful,  as  many  members  were 
absent  at  the  first  roll  call,  and  the  fines  were  usually  paid  to  the 
proper  officer. 

The  first  officers  of  the  company  were :  John  Merrill,  foreman  ; 
Prescott  White,  assistant  foreman;  George  B.  Redington,  clerk, 
and  Elijah  S.  Woolson,  treasurer. 

This  company  continued  in  a  well-ordered  existence  for  about 
fifteen  years.  Its  records  were  complete,  and  contain  many  items 
to  indicate  that  it  lived  up  to  the  purpose  announced  in  the  pre- 
amble of  its  constitution.  Funds  were  often  appropriated  for 
charitable  purposes,  usually  for  the  relief  of  widows  or  orphans. 
The  largest  sum  thus  given  at  one  time  was  five  dollars,  and  the 
usual  sum  was  three  dollars. 

About  the  time  the  company  received  its  charter,  it  built  an 
engine  house  on  the  meeting-house  lot  close  to  the  line  of  the  brick 
house  owned  by  William  Ilibbard,  where  it  stood  many  years,  and 
was  torn  down  at  a  time  when  extensive  improvements  were  in 
progress  on  the  meeting-house  in  the  seventies. 

In  1838  or  the  following  year  three  reservoirs  were  constructed 
on  the  north  side  of  Main  Street ;  one  was  at  the  foot  of  Meeting- 
House  Hill,  one  nearly  opposite  Thayer's  Hotel,  and  the  other  in  the 
street  near  Kilburn's  Block.  These  were  about  twelve  feet  square 
and  six  feet  in  depth,  and  were  covered  with  plank.  Their  main 
water  supply  was  received  from  springs  in  the  hill  above  the 
street,  or  its  natural  drainage,  though  that  at  the  foot  of  Fleeting- 
House  Hill  was  also  fed  by  the  swamp  at  the  foot  of  what  is 
now  Maple  Street.  These  reservoirs  were  kept  in  fair  repair  for 
about  thirty  years,  after  which  they  were  neglected  and  left  to 
slow  decay. 

The  membership  of  the  old  company  was  composed  of  business 
men,  many  of  whom  have  borne  an  important  part  in  the  history 
of  the  town.  In  the  pages  of  its  records  are  found  the  names  of 


The  Fire  Department.  515 

Guy  and  George  W.  Ely,  George  B.  and  Henry  C.  Redington, 
Curtis  C.  and  Isaac  W.  Bowman,  Aaron  and  YYTilliam  C.  Brackett, 
Joseph  and  Charles  W.  Roby,  George  and  Albert  Little,  John 
Merrill,  Francis  Hodgman,  Calvin  Ainsworth,  Jr.,  Otis  Batchelder, 
Samuel  A.  Edson,  E.  S.  Woolson,  M.  L.  Goold,  John  Farr,  Joseph 
L.  Gibb,  Isaac  Abbott,  Frederick  Hazeltine,  Elijah  Fitch,  Hamilton 
M.  Bailey,  Franklin  J.  Eastman,  Philip  H.  Paddleford,  Isaac  B. 
Smith,  Ellery  I).  Dunn,  John  W.  Balch,  Franklin  Tilton,  N.  C. 
Farr,  Fry  W.  Gile,  and  many  others  who  have  been  factors  in 
town  affairs. 

Of  the  men  who  were  active  in  the  organization  of  the  company, 
John  Merrill,  Francis  Hodgman,  and  George  B.  Redington  alone 
continued  with  it  until  it  was  disbanded.  The  only  survivor  of 
the  many  whose  names  appear  on  the  rolls  of  the  company  is 
Isaac  W.  Bowman. 

The  closing  records  of  this  company  cannot  be  found,  and  it  is 
not  known  when  it  disbanded,  but  it  was  probably  in  1849.  For 
two  or  three  years  the  town  was  without  a  fire  company  or  any 
other  adequate  means  of  fire  protection. 

In  1853  the  sum  of  S300  was  appropriated  for  protection  against 
fire.  A  part  of  this  was  used  by  the  lire  wards  in  the  purchase  of 
a  Hunnewell  fire-engine,  which  was  a  more  powerful  machine  than 
the  old  one  that  had  been  in  use  for  a  long  time.  This  was  oper- 
ated by  hand  brakes  or  sweeps.  A  company  made  up  of  the 
young  men  of  the  village  was  organized,  and  held  regular  meetings 
and  drills  for  little  more  than  a  year.  An  ineffective  organization 
was  kept  up  for  two  years,  when  it  fell  to  pieces  through  loss  of 
general  interest,  and  removal  from  town  of  a  few  of  the  most 
active  members. 

When  it  was  apparent  that  this  company  would  not  be  re-estab- 
lished, one  was  formed  of  young  men  between  the  ages  of  seventeen 
and  twenty-one.  Francis  Smith  was  its  foreman,  and  James  R. 
Jackson,  clerk.  This  company  was  uniformed  with  red  shirts,  white 
trousers,  and  tarpaulin  hats.  During  the  first  summer  it  was  out 
for  practice  each  alternate  Saturday  evening.  It  went  out  of 
business  before  the  close  of  1856.  This  was  the  last  effort  made 
to  secure  protection  against  loss  by  fire  through  the  instrumentality 
of  fire-engines  under  the  control  of  a  fire  company,  in  the  end 
both  engines  were  sold  to  be  used  for  the  purpose  for  which  they 
had  been  built. 

During  the  time  these  last  named  organizations  were  continued 
the  town  made  several  small  appropriations  to  be  expended  in 
guarding  against  damage  by  fire.  Two  old  reservoirs  were  repaired 


516  History  of  Littleton. 

and  in  season  of  drought  water  was  drawn  from  the  river  to  keep 
them  filled.  A  similar  cistern  was  built  at  the  Scythe  Factory 
Village,  and  pipe  laid  from  springs  to  supply  it  with  water,  and 
other  precautions  taken,  but  no  considerable  sum  was  expended  in 
this  cause. 

Soon  after  the  close  of  the  war  the  Littleton  Woollen  Company 
for  its  own  protection  placed  a  force  pump  in  its  factory,  and 
subsequently  entered  into  a  contract  with  the  fire  precinct  for  its 
use  by  the  precinct.  Another  pump  was  placed  in  the  Kilburn 
Foundry,  a  third  in  the  Grist  Mill,  and  a  contract  for  their  use 
made  by  the  district.  A  sufficient  quantity  of  hose  was  purchased 
to  protect  the  buildings  between  Main  Street  and  the  river  by 
means  of  this  system.  It  was  not  however  an  effective  method 
and  was  abandoned  as  soon  as  promise  of  a  better  was  presented. 

The  Apthorp  Reservoir  Company  was  chartered  and  organized 
in  1878.  The  men  who  established  the  company  were  citizens  of 
the  town.  Doubtless  the  hope  that  such  a  company  might  prove 
a  remunerative  financial  investment  had  its  influence  in  promoting 
the  formation,  but  the  utterly  inadequate  means  at  hand  to  protect 
the  property  in  the  village  from  a  disastrous  conflagration  and  to 
furnish  a  supply  of  water  for  domestic  uses  were  more  potential 
factors  in  its  consummation.  This  corporation  gave  the  fire 
precinct  the  benefit  of  a  system  of  hydrants  to  which  water  was 
supplied  from  a  reservoir  situated  on  Pine  Hill,  having  an  eleva- 
tion of  two  hundred  feet  above  Main  Street  and  a  capacity  of  five 
hundred  thousand  gallons.  The  water  supply  was  at  times  in- 
sufficient to  meet  the  requirements  guaranteed  by  the  contract 
between  the  company  and  the  precinct,  and  for  this  reason  the 
directors  of  the  water  company  sold  the  property  to  a  brokerage 
firm  in  New  York  which  had  also  acquired  the  title  to  the  electric 
light  company,  and  the  corporations  -were  consolidated  under  the 
name  of  the  Littleton  Water  and  Electric  Light  Company.1  This 
company  purchased  the  Gate  saw-mill  property  at  Apthorp,  and 
there  built  a  pumping  station  to  reinforce  the  supply  at  the  Pine 
Hill  reservoir,  and  the  district  then,  for  the  first  time,  had  an  abun- 
dant water  supply  for  fire  purposes. 

In  the  meantime  the  fire  precinct,  created  by  virtue  of  an  act  of 
the  Legislature  in  1872,  was  organized  in  February,  1873.2  and  its 
bounds  have  since  been  enlarged  from  time  to  time  by  addition  of 
village  territory.  Without  attempting  to  accurately  define  the 

1  Acts  passed  June  session,  1883,  June  session,  1887,  and  January  session,  1901, 
cover  the  legislation  concerning  this  company. 
-  Town  Records,  vol.  viii.  p.  583. 


The  Fire  Department.  517 

boundary  lines  of  the  district,  it  is  sufficient  to  state  that  prior  to 
1885  it  extended  from  the  old  school-house  lot  in  District  Xo.  8, 
on  Union  Street,  then  occupied  by  Charles  C.  Smith,  on  the  east, 
to  the  junction  of  Main  and  Meadow  Streets  on  the  west,  and  from 
the  southerly  side  of  High  Street  to  the  river  on  the  south.  In  1885 
the  hounds  were  so  far  extended  as  to  reach  the  Baptist  Church, 
taking  in  the  Bowman  meadow  norih  of  the  railroad,  and  the 
west  end  wos  extended  to  the  easterly  line  of  Dr.  Tuttle's  home 
place.  Again  in  May,  1887,  an  addition  was  made;  the  westerly 
boundary  was  fixed  at  Auburn  Street,  the  northerly  line  of  this 
addition  running  through  the  lands  of  Dr.  Tuttle  and  Eli  D. 
Sawyer,  down  Auburn  to  the  cemetery,  thence  from  Main  Street 
to  Meadow  Street,  crossing  the  river  and  following  its  southern 
bank  to  the  Curtis  Brook  and  up  that  stream  to  the  Mount  Eustis 
road,  including  within  its  bound  all  the  territory  on  the  south  side 
extending  from  the  above  line  to  Willow  Street  and  the  river. 
Another  change  was  effected  in  1892,  when  the  south  side  boundary 
was  moved  to  the  junction  of  the  Bethlehem  road  with  Cottage 
Street,  the  easterly  line  was  fixed  at  the  point  where  Palmer  Brook 
crosses  Union  Street,  and  its  northern  boundary  extended  to  Ira 
Parker's  greenhouse  lot  at  one  point  and  the  Wallace  place  on 
Pleasant  Street  at  another. 

An  act  of  the  Legislature  approved  February  28, 1893,  authorized 
the  union  of  the  fire  district  and  highway  precinct,  and  their  con- 
solidation was  effected  on  the  twenty-seventh  day  of  March  in  that 
year.  By  this  union  the  fire  department  passed  to  the  jurisdiction 
of  the  Littleton  village  district,  whose  executive  board  was  styled 
the  District  Commission.  The  board  of  fire  wards  then  passed 
from  existence. 

When  the  force-pump  system  for  extinguishing  fires  was  in- 
augurated, the  fire  wards  organized  a  hose  company,  consisting  of 
ei.iiht  or  ten  members,  over  which  they  assumed  immediate  control. 
It  was  not  until  1874  that  the  department  was  effectively  equipped 
with  hose,  an  appropriation  of  82,500  having  been  voted  for  that 
purpose  by  the  district.  A  hook  and  ladder  company  was  also 
organized  at  this  time,  and  well  equipped  for  its  duties.  From 
1874  to  1890  inclusive,  the  sum  of  s!7,000  was  raised  for  the 
maintenance  of  the  department. 

The  hose  and  hook  and  ladder  companies  when  first  organized 
were  officered  or  directed  by  the  fire  wards,  and  had  no  rules  of 
their  own  making.  They  were  to  some  extent  rivals,  and  the 
harmony  of  the  department  was  disturbed  in  consequence.  For 
some  years  the  members  were  volunteers  and  served  without  pay. 


518  History  of  Littleton. 

The  first  record  of  a  payment  for  services  is  found  in  the  treas- 
urer's report  of  1884,  when  it  appears  the  company  received 
the  sum  of  $62.25  on  account  of  salaries,  and  $6  for  two  fire 
alarms. 

For  some  time  the  hose  was  stored  at  the  mills,  ready  for  im- 
mediate connection  with  the  pumps.  In  1883  Henry  L.  Tilton 
fitted  up  a  hose  house  on  Mill  Street  in  rear  of  his  block  which 
was  used  by  the  fire  company  a  number  of  years.  The  location 
was  not  the  best ;  there  was  a  sharp  rise  in  the  hill  leading  to  Main 
Street  which  delayed  the  company  at  the  start  when  summoned 
by  an  alarm.  For  this  reason  principally,  the  company  removed 
to  the  granite  house,  where  rooms  for  its  use  were  rented.  Here 
it  remained  until  June  29,  1895,  when  it  removed  to  its  present 
quarters  in  the  town  building. 

The  fire  wards  in  1884  consolidated  the  Hose  and  Hook  and 
Ladder  companies,  and  the  company  then  consisted  of  the  following 
members,  who  were  appointed  by  the  fire  wards  on  the  twelfth  day 
of  May  :  Elliott  F.  Sawyer,  Frank  P.  Burleigh,  Lorenzo  I.  Brown, 
Bernice  Pennock,  Elbridge  Greenleaf,  Fred  W.  Berry,  Warren 
Burt,  Orrin  C.  North cy,  Elmer  Goodwin,  Horace  F.  Richardson, 
and  Frank  0.  Simonds.  The  company  organized  by  the  election 
of  Elliott  F.  Sawyer,  foreman,  and  Frank  P.  Burleigh,  clerk  and 
treasurer.  Lorenzo  I.  Brown  was  appointed  janitor.  In  1889 
Elbridge  E.  Young  was  chosen  foreman  (the  title  has  been  since 
changed  to  chief  engineer),  and  has  held  the  position  to  the 
present  time.  Samuel  W.  Hodgman,  Albert  E.  Strain,  Hugh  D. 
Wilkins,  J.  W.  Yeaton  have  served  as  assistant  firemen,  and 
Hugh  D.  Wilkins  has  been  clerk  and  treasurer  since  1898.  The 
company  now  has  twenty-two  members. 

The  water  supply  is  ample  for  all  purposes.  There  arc  seventy 
hydrants  conveniently  located,  so  that  all  parts  of  the  district  may 
be  reached  by  hose.  In  1891  Benjamin  H.  Corning,  Otis  G.  Hale, 
and  John  A.  Fogg  were  made  a  committee  to  procure  an  electric 
fire-alarm  system.  After  mature  deliberation  the  Stevens  system 
was  selected  and  duly  installed,  at  an  expense  of  Si, 000.  Strikers 
were  located  in  the  towers  of  the  Congregational  and  Methodist 
Episcopal  churches  ;  six  fire-alarm  boxes  were  located  at  con- 
venient points  for  the  accommodation  of  the  district,  and  the 
number  has  since  been  increased  to  fourteen:  four  and  a  half 
miles  of  wire  have  been  strung  to  connect  the  alarm  boxes  with 
the  strikers,  the  residences  of  the  chief  engineer  and  the  fire- 
men ;  extension  ladders  have  been  purchased,  and  the  most  recent 
acquisition  to  the  department  is  a  one-horse  chemical  fire-engine. 


The  Fire  Department.  519 

The  water  supply  comes  from  the  heights  of  Mount  Garfield 
(the  Haystack),  ten  miles  distant,  and  the  distributing  reservoir 
is  located  more  than  two  hundred  feet  above  the  level  of  Main 
Street. 

The  citizens  of  the  district  have  made  every  effort  to  improve 
this  department  until  it  is  rendered  as  nearly  perfect  as  time,  care, 
and  money  can  make  it.  A.S  a  result,  property  has  a  protection 
from  the  devastations  of  fire  which  meets  every  just  and  reason- 
able expectation,  and  the  insurance  rates  are  as  low  as  any  written 
by  the  insurance  companies. 


520  History  of  Littleton. 


LI. 


SOLDIERS   OF   THE   REVOLUTION   AND   THE 
WAR   OF    1812. 

ENVIRONMENT  made  soldiers  of  the  men  who  were  residents 
of  the  territory  now  constituting  Littleton  during  the  War  of 
the  Revolution.  Their  lot  was  cast  in  a  region  remote  from  the 
old  settlements,  and  on  one  of  the  trails  travelled  by  the  hostile 
Indians  of  Canada.  The  constant  danger  to  which  they  were 
subjected  compelled  them  to  be  vigilant  and  ready  at  any  moment 
to  assemble  for  the  common  defence. 

It  was  under  these  conditions  that  the  Caswells  and  Hopkinsons 
became  soldiers.  The  record  indicates  that  they  were  in  the 
service  many  times,  but  for  brief  periods,  from  1775  to  1782.  As 
a  matter  of  fact,  however,  their  service  may  be  regarded  as 
having  been  continuous  during  the  war.  They  were  not  always 
enrolled  or  under  pay,  but  whether  at  home,  on  the  march,  or  in 
the  log  palisades,  then  called  forts,  they  were  guarding  the 
frontier  and  warding  off  a  stealthy  and  cruel  foe. 

Great  difficulty  has  attended  the  search  for  a  complete  record  ot 
the  services  of  these  patriots,  which  has  been  successful  in  but  few 
instances.  Much  confusion  has  arisen  from  the  fact  that  there 
are  many  persons  of  the  same  name  on  the  records  whose  place 
of  residence  is  omitted. 

The  following  names  are  arranged  in  alphabetical  order. 

Ephraim  Bailey,  son  of  General  Jacob,  was  a  soldier  in  the  War 
of  the  Revolution,  holding  a  commission  in  Col.  Seth  Warner's 
regiment.  He  took  part  in  the  engagements  at  Bennington  and 
Saratoga. 

Henry  Bemis  (Bemies  in  the  Massachusetts  records)  was  of 
Packcrsficld,  now  Nelson.  When  the  news  of  the  Lexington  alarm 
reached  that  place,  he  started  at  once  to  join  the  force  gathering 
for  the  defence  of  that  colony,  lie  enlisted  April  21,  1775.  in 
Capt.  Jeremiah  Stiles'  company,  of  Col.  John  Stark's  regiment, 
lie  was  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  II ill,  and  was  one  of  the  last  men 
to  leave  the  rail  fence.  Bv  command  of  General  AVashington, 


Soldiers  of  the  Revolution  and  the   War  of  1812.         521 

there  being  twelve  companies  in  Stark's  regiment,  and  com- 
missions for  officers  in  but  ten,  Stiles'  company  was  transferred  to 
the  Massachusetts  regiment,  commanded  by  Col.  Paul  Dudley 
Sargent,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  year.  He  was  paid  off 
at  Watertown.  In  June,  1776,  he  again  enlisted  under  Captain 
Parker  in  Colonel  Wyman's  New  Hampshire  regiment,  serving- 
five  months  at  Ticonderoga,  when  he  returned  to  Packersfield. 
In  July,  1778,  he  volunteered  for  three  months  with  Captain 
Lewis,  in  Colonel  Hale's  regiment,  which  joined  the  expedition 
under  General  Sullivan  to  Rhode  Island.  He  came  to  Littleton  in 
1787,  and  settled  on  the  farm  still  known  as  the  Bemis  place. 
His  dust  rests  in  the  graveyard  at  North  Littleton.1 

Nathan  Caswell  was  a  private  in  Capt.  Samuel  Young's  com- 
pany, Bedel's  regiment,  from  February  26, 1776,  and  is  said  to  have 
served  with  the  northern  army  in  Canada.  He  was  also  a  member 
of  Capt.  Jeremiah  Eames'  compan}7  of  rangers  from  July  13  to 
October  13,  1776.  He  was  again  a  member  of  the  same  company 
until  April  13,  1777.  For  eleven  months  and  twenty-two  days, 
from  April  9,  1778,  he  was  a  member  of  Capt.  Luther  Richard- 
son's company  of  Bedel's  regiment.  July  10, 1779,  he  was  elected 
captain  of  a  company  of  rangers  stationed  at  Stratford.  His 
remains  rest  in  a  burial  ground  at  Compton,  P.  Q.,  Canada. 

Nathan  Caswell,  Jr.,  was  a  private  in  Sergt.  James  Blake's 
party  organized  for  the  defence  of  the  frontier  at  the  Upper  Cohos. 
This  was  a  scout  of  twelve  men  that  served  from  April  13  to 
November  30,  1782.  He  had  previously  accompanied  his  father 
on  his  expeditions  to  the  Cohos  country,  and  did  a  soldier's  duty, 
though  not  of  an  enlistable  age.  He  is  buried  at  Melbourne,  P.  Q., 
Canada. 

Osias  Caswell  was  a  private  in  Capt.  Luther  Richardson's  com- 
pany of  Bedel's  regiment,  serving  nine  months  and  twenty-two 
days  from  June  8, 1778.  He  lived  for  many  years  in  Brompton  or 
Melbourne,  adjoining  townships  in  Province  of  Quebec,  Canada  ;  but 
the  last  few  years  of  his  life  were  passed  at  Lyndon,  Vt.,  where 
his  remains  are  interred. 

Samuel  Clay  was  long  a  resident  of  Littleton.  He  served  as  a 
private  in  Capt.  Ezekiel  Worthen's  company  of  Col.  Stephen  Pea- 
body's  regiment,  raised  in  New  Hampshire  for  continental  service 
in  Rhode  Island,  from  April  20,  1778,  to  January  4,  1770.  Pie 
was  also  a  recruit  in  a  New  Hampshire  regiment  of  the  continen- 

1  It  is  stated  in  the  genealogy  that  Henry  Bemis  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of 
Lexington.  This  is  evidently  an  error,  as  no  mention  is  made  of  such  an  incident  in 
the  affidavits  filed  in  the  pension  department  at  Washington. 


f,22  History  of  Littleton. 

tal  line  from  July  1  to  December  16,  1780.  His  remains  are 
buried  in  the  Meadows  graveyard. 

Henrv  Crooks  served  in  a  Massachusetts  regiment,  and  his  name 
appears  in  Vol.  IV.  of  the  Revolutionary  Rolls  of  that  State,  p.  143, 
as  a  member  of  (/apt.  Amos  Perry's  company,  Colonel  Harris' 
regiment,  in  1778.  In  his  old  age  he  went  to  Canada  to  live  with 
a  son,  and  is  buried  at  Coaticook,  P.  Q. 

•Jonathan  Eastman  was  a  private  in  Capt.  Joseph  Ilutchins' 
company  in  continental  service  against  Burgoyne.  From  Decem- 
ber If).  1777,  to  March,  1778,  he  was  a  private  in  Capt.  Samuel 
Young's  company.  '  He  is  also  credited  with  a  previous  service  of 
two  months  and  one  day  in  Capt.  Thomas  Simpson's  company 
of  rangers.  He  is  buried  in  the  Rankin  graveyard  at  West 
Littleton. 

Obediah  Eastman  was  also  a  member  of  the  company  commanded 
by  Captain  Ilutchins  in  the  Burgoync  campaign,  from  August  18 
to  September  10,  1777,  as  well  as  that  of  Captain  Young  of  Bedel's 
regiment  from  December  If),  1777,  to  February  28,  1778,  in  the 
expedition  to  Canada.  He  resided  at  Bath  during  the  Revolution- 
ary period,  but  lived  in  this  town  for  some  years  and  died  here. 
1 1  is  remains  rest  in  the  Xorth  Littleton  graveyard. 

E/ra  Foster,  then  of  Tewksbury,  Mass.,  first  enlisted  in 
Capt.  Samuel  Fay's  company,  in  the  Massachusetts  regiment  com- 
manded by  Lieutenant-Colonel  West,  September  12, 1781,  and  was 
discharged  December  1 , 1781.  lie  again  enlisted  May  lit),  1782,  for 
three  years,  and  was  discharged  January  1.  178-].  He  lived  near 
Lyman  line  and  is  buried  in  the  Rankin  graveyard. 

David  Goodall,  while  pursuing  his  college  course,  enlisted  in 
Captain  Curtis'  Independent  company  of  Hanover,  and  served  in  the 
expedition  against  St.  Johns,  Montreal,  and  Quebec,  under  General 
Montgomery  in  177.").  He  afterward  served  at  different  times 
until  the  close  of  the  war  as  a  bearer  of  despatches.  He  lived  on 
the  farm  now  owned  by  Frank  C.  Albee,  and  the  house  IK;  built  is 
still  standing.  He  is  buried  in  the  graveyard  near  his  former 
residence. 

.Joseph  Hatch,  the  first  of  the  name  in  this  town,  was  a  Revo- 
lutionary soldier.  He  enlisted  first  in  Captain  Eddv's  companv, 
('"'-  Gamaliel  Bradford's  regiment,  a  Massachusetts  corps,  in 
erved  three  years.  1777,  1778,  and  1771':  next  in 
coln's  company  of  the  same  regiment,  in  which  he 
h  17*1*  and  ]i;ir)  ,,f  17si.  Near  the  close  of  17 Si. 
in  ('apt.  Xelndon  King's  eompanv,.  Lieut. -Col. 
regiment,  from  which  he  was  discharged  in  1782. 


Soldiers  of  the  Revolution  and  the    War  of  1812.         523 

H'e  seems  to  have  been  venturesome  and  inclined  to  disobey  the 
rules  of  discipline,  and  was  twice  court-martialled  :  first,  for  steal- 
ing a  pig,  and  again  for  stealing  cider,  both  offences  being  com- 
mitted on  marauding  expeditions  in  which  some  of  his  comrades 
participated.  For  the  first  offence  he  was  sentenced  to  receive 
one  hundred  lashes  and  fifty  for  the  second.  He  lived  for  thirty 
years  at  the  west  part  of  the  town  near  the  Rankin  Mills,  but  in 
his  old  age  returned  to  Thornton  to  live  with  his  son,  Ansel, 
and  is  there  buried. 

Jonathan  Hopkinson,  Sr.,  and  his  four  sons,  Jonathan,  Jr.,  John, 
Caleb,  and  David,  served  in  Capt.  Luther  Richardson's  company, 
Bedel's  regiment,  from  April  7, 1778,  to  April,  1779,  arid  as  scouts 
at  other  periods  both  before  and  after  this  time.  Their  residence 
was  at  North  Littleton  until  the  close  of  the  war,  when  they  went 
to  the  Upper  Cob's.  In  1786  the  two  Jonathans  and  John  were 
living  in  Lancaster.  It  is  not  known,  but  it  is  probable,  that  the 
elder  died  and  was  buried  there.  The  later  life  of  the  other  two 
is  not  known.  David  was  long  a  prominent  citizen  of  Guildhall, 
Vt.,  and  his  remains  rest  in  the  lower  cemetery  in  that  town. 
Caleb  moved  to  Coaticook,  Canada,  in  1786,  and  is  buried  in 
that  town. 

Elkanah  Hoskins  was  a  soldier  in  the  French  and  Indian  War, 
and  later  in  the  Revolution.  He  was  also  prominently  connected 
with  Shays'  Rebellion,  and  came  to  Littleton  about  the  time  of 
the  lailure  of  that  enterprise  in  1796.  His  Revolutionary  record 
is  as  follows.  He  was  a  member  of  Captain  Grossman's  company, 
Colonel  Leonard's  regiment,  Massachusetts  service,  which  marched 
from  Taunton,  Mass.,  to  Roxbury,  at  the  time  of  the  Lexington 
alarm,  April  19,  1775,  in  which  command  he  held  the  rank  of 
sergeant.  This  service  covered  twelve  days.  He  enlisted  June 
20,  1775,  in  Captain  King's  company,  Colonel  Brewer's  regiment, 
in  which  command  he  also  held  the  rank  of  sergeant.  He  was  a 
member  of  this  company  as  late  as  November  6  ;  it  is  not  known 
when  he  was  discharged  from  this  service,  but  his  name  appeared 
with  the  rank  of  sergeant  on  the  muster  and  pay  roll  of  Capt. 
Edward  Blake's  company,  Col.  George  Williams'  regiment,  for 
service  on  the  occasion  of  the  Rhode  Island  alarm,  enlisting 
December  8,  1776,  and  was  discharged  January  2,  1777.  lie  also 
appears  among  those  who  were  with  General  Spencer  on  an  alarm 
in  October.  1777.  His  home  was  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Noah 
Farr,  and  his  ashes  are  buried  in  the  Meadows  Cemetery. 

Caleb  Huiitoon  was  the  son  of  Nathaniel  Huntoon,  a  captain  in 
the  French  and  Indian  War,  and  in  the  Revolution  also.  The  son 


521  History  of  Littleton. 

enlisted  in  May,  1775,  in  Capt.  Philip  Tilton's  company,  Poor's 
regiment,  in  which  he  served  from  May  25  to  August  1,  177->, 
and  participated  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  He  afterwards 
became  a  sergeant  in  Capt.  Abel  Walker's  company,  Col.  David 
Ilobart's  regiment.  Stark 's  brigade,  and  was  at  the  battle  of  Bcn- 
nington,  having  enlisted  July  21,  and  served  until  September  20, 
1777.  He  settled  in  Littleton  after  the  war,  and  is  probably 
buried  in  the  West  Littleton  Cemetery. 

Samuel  Hudson  lived  on  the  farm  on  the  Connecticut  River  still 
known  by  his  name  ;  it  was  once  the  property  of  Captain  Caswell, 
having  been  deeded  to  him  by  Colonel  Little  for  his  son  Apthorp, 
the  first  child  born  in  town.  Mr.  Hudson  enlisted  for  one  year's 
service,  .July  20,  1771',  from  Walpole,  in  Captain  Ellis'  company, 
of  Colonel  Seamund's  regiment,  and  served  the  full  time.  His 
remains  are  buried  in  the  Rankin  graveyard. 

E/.ckiel  Kellogg  was  of  Salem  in  this  State,  but  served  in  Massa- 
chusetts in  the  War  of  the  Revolution.  His  first  enlistment  was 
in  Capt.  Samuel  Taylor's  company.  Col.  Nicholas  Dyke's  regi- 
ment, in  1770,  where  his  service  covered  twenty-four  days.  In 
1777  he  was  enlisted  for  brief  terms  ;  it  was  a  year  of  alarms,  and 
he  enlisted  in  four  different  regiments  and  six  separate  companies 
during  this  year.  They  were  the  companies  of  Captain  Coodale, 
of  Colonel  Wells'  regiment,  Captain  Fitch,  of  Colonel  Ashley's 
regiment.  Captain  Goodrich's  company  and  that  of  Captain  Ingalls 
in  the  same  regiment,  Captain  Spoors'  company,  Colonel  Symonds' 
regiment,  and  the  company  of  Captain  Noble,  of  Colonel  Brown's 
regiment  ;  some  if  not  all  of  these  regiments  were  of  Berkshire 
County,  and  were  called  into  active  service  at  the  time  Burgoync 
was  marching  to  his  doom  at  Saratoga.  Captain  Kellogir  was 
subsequently  commander  of  one  of  the  companies  of  militia  in 
this  town  connected  with  the  Thirty-Second  Regiment.  He 
resided  at  the  west  end,  and  was  buried  in  the  burial-place  at 
Rankin's  Mill. 

\\adleiirh  Leavitt,  who  a  hundred  years  ago  was  an  influential 
citi/.en  ol  the  town,  residing  on  the  Connecticut  River  below  the 
bridge,  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution  from  Northfield.  He 
enl'Med  April  17.  17S1.  as  a  private  under  Captain  Whipple, 
111  ;|  company  ot  a  Massachusetts  regiment  commanded  bv  Colonels 
Rn'us  Putnam  and  Yose.  successively,  and  served  until  Mav  21. 
1  '  x;>'  :  he  made  apj.Iica.tion  for  a  pension  August  14.  1  So2,  stating 
therein  his  a-v  to  be  sixty-seven  years,  and  his  residence  Mel- 
bourne. Lower  Canada.  The  pension  was  granted.  From  this 
record  it  appeal's  that  he  was  born  in  17»i5,  and  at  the  time  of 


Soldiers  of  the  Revolution  and  the   War  of  1812.         525 

enlistment  was  but  sixteen  years  of  age.  He  came  to  this  town 
before  1792,  and  resided  here  until  1809,  when  he  followed  the 
Caswells  and  one  of  the  sons  of  Elder  Rankin  to  Canada.  While 
living  here  he  held  several  public  positions,  among  them  collector 
of  school  tax,  committee  to  repair  school-house,  and  Selectman. 

Three  men  bearing  the  surname  of  Lewis  were  Revolutionary 
soldiers  ;  they  were  Asa,  Jonas,  and  Naboth.  We  have  met  the 
first  of  these  more  than  ouce  in  these  pages.  He  was  of  Francis- 
town,  and  served  in  Colonel  Nicholl's  regiment.  He  did  not  become 
a  citizen  of  Littleton  until  sixteen  years  after  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  lived  in  the  "  old  Bowman  house,"  which  he  built.  His  ashes 
repose  in  the  cemetery  on  the  Meadows. 

Naboth  Lewis  came  to  this  town  from  Connecticut,  and  bought 
the  Samuel  Learned  farm,  long  subsequently  owned  by  James 
W.  Merrill.  He  served  in  regiments  raised  in  his  native  State, 
first  in  1776,  in  Captain  Hart's  company,  of  Col.  Erastus  Walcott's 
regiment,  and  secondly  in  Captain  Stanley's  company,  of  Col. 
Fisher  Gray's  regiment,  raised  in  June,  1776.  His  time  expired 
on  Christmas  day  of  that  year,  and  on  the  same  day  he  re-enlisted 
under  Capt.  Benjamin  Tallmadge,  in  Col.  Elisha  Sheldon's  regi- 
ment of  light  dragoons,  and  was  discharged  in  June,  1783,  with 
the  rank  of  corporal.  He  received  a  sword  wound.  Corporal 
Lewis  was  a  noted  teacher  at  Middletown,  Conn.,  after  the  war, 
and  had  among  his  pupils  Eleanor  Savage,  afterward  wife  of  Peter 
Bonney,  her  brother  Sylvester  Savage,  and  Phebe  Roberts,  whom 
he  married  in  1786.  He  was  buried  at  North  Littleton. 

Jonas  Lewis  became  acquainted  with  Col.  Moses  Little  while 
both  were  in  the  service  of  their  country  in  the  Revolutionary 
War,  and  were  from  that  time  more  or  less  intimately  associated 
in  business.  When  the  war  began  he  was  living  at  Ncedhain, 
Mass.,  and  enlisted  in  Captain  Kilton's  company,  Col.  John  Patter- 
son's regiment,  1775,  again  the  same  year  in  Captain  Bachellor's 
company,  Colonel  Bridge's  regiment,  and  in  Lieutenant  Richard- 
son's company,  regiment  not  named.  At  the  time  of  this  last 
enlistment  he  was  of  Royalston,  Mass.  Each  of  the  foregoing 
enlistments  was  for  three  months.  In  1778  he  again  entered  the 
service  for  three  years,  in  Captain  Battle's  company,  Col.  William 
Mclntosh's  regiment.  Soon  after  the  close  of  the  war  he  came  to 
tin's  town,  and  as  miller  was  in  charge  of  the  Rankin  grist-mill 
for  some  years.  He  is  buried  in  the  graveyard  at  that  place. 

Thomas  Miner,  the  pioneer,  was  at  Haverhill  during  most  of  the 
period  covered  by  the  war.  His  journal  states  that  he  was  a 
scout  with  Ezekiel  Wheeler  in  July  and  August,  1776,  by  direc- 


History  of  Littleton. 

tion  of  Col.  John  II i ml,  the  Orafton  County  member  of  the  Coun- 
cil and  Committee  of  Safety  ;  his  name  also  appears  on  the  roll 
of  Capt.  .losiah  Russell's  company  of  rangers  in  1770,  from 
October  1  L\  one  month  and  twenty  days.  This  company  served  in 
the  regiments  of  Colonels  Chase  and  Morey.  Thomas  Miner  is 
named  as  a  sergeant  in  one  of  these  rolls.  In  his  old  age  he 
made  his  home  with  his  son  William  at  Lyman,  where  he  died 
and  was  buried  in  1<S10. 

Isaac  Miner,  son  of  Thomas,  was  living  in  Ilopkinton,  R.  I.,  in 
1770,  and  between  October  of  that  year  and  May,  1777,  he  served 
six  tours  of  from  one  to  two  months  each  for  himself,  or  as  substi- 
tute for  others,  under  Captain  Wells,  whose  company  was  attached 
to  Colonel  Maxim's  Rhode  Island  regiment  acting  as  coast  guard 
at  Point  Judith.  After  his  discharge  in  1777  he  rejoined  his 
parents  at  llaverhill.  lie  lived  in  this  town  more  than  forty 
years.  He  was  buried  at  Whitefield. 

Obediah  .Morse  had  a  long  service  covering  many  enlistments  in 
the  war.  lie  was  born  in  Methuen,  and  was  a  resident  of  that 
town  at  the  time  of  the  Lexington  alarm,  to  which  he  responded 
and  served  four  and  one-half  days  in  Capt.  James  Mallone's  com- 
pany, lie  soon  enlisted  in  Capt.  Seth  Ballard's  company,  Col. 
John  Smith's  regiment,  and  a  little  later  served  in  Capt.  Ezra 
Ikidlam's  company,  Col.  L.  Baldwin's  regiment,  in  1775  and  1770. 
lie  served  afterwards  in  different  companies  as  follows:  In  Capt. 
Aaron  Guild's  company,  Col.  Lem.  Robinson's  regiment,  in  1770, 
and  under  the  same  captain  in  Col.  Josiah  Whitney's  regiment  in 
the  same  year  :  in  Capt.  Sam  Johnson's  company,  Colonel  John- 
son's regiment,  in  1777,  and  in  17SO  in  Capt.  .Nathan  Thayer's 
company,  Col.  Kbenezer  Thayer's  regiment;  from  1781  to  11M 
in  Capt.  John  Lincoln's  company,  Col.  Joseph  Webb's  regiment  ; 
and  in  the  latter  year  in  Captain  Knapp's  company,  Colonel 
Tyler's  regiment,  thus  showing  a  continuous  service  during  the 
seven  years  of  the  war.  After  coming  to  ^'ew  Hampshire  he 
resided  in  llaverhill,  Lyman,  where  most  of  his  children  were  born, 
and  for  a  time  in  Lisbon.  He  came  to  Littleton  about  1&40,  and 
from  that  time  lived  with  his  children  who  were  residents  here. 
He  died  August  11,  1  boU,  and  is  buried  beside  his  wife  in  the 
Meadows  burial-ground.1 

Kbenezer   I'ingree,  the   pioneer   magistrate  of   the   north  part  of 


Soldiers  of  the  Revolution  and  the   War  of  1812.         527 

the  town,  was  of  Methuen,  Mass.,  at  the  time  of  the  beginning  of 
the  war,  but  at  one  time  before  its  close  was  living  at  Charlestown, 
or  No.  4.  He  first  enlisted  in  the  company  commanded  by  Capt. 
John  Davis,  February  14,  1775,  and  as  appears  on  the  Revolutionary 
War  rolls  in  archives  of  Massachusetts,  served  eight  months ;  the 
entries  are  in  Vols.  XII.  p.  39;  LVI.  p.  5,  and  LV11.  File  1.  This 
company  was  in  the  regiment  of  Col.  James  Fry.  He  was  at  Lexing- 
ton and  Bunker  Hill,  and  was  frequently  enrolled  for  service  at 
other  times  during  the  war,  but  no  detailed  account  of  such  service 
can  be  found.  He  is  buried  in  the  graveyard  at  North  Littleton. 

There  is  no  doubt  of  the  fact  that  Jonathan  Parker  was  a  soldier 
in  the  war.  He  died  in  1802,  and  left  little  traditional  information 
concerning  his  services  beyond  the  general  statement  that  he  was 
a  minute-man  in  the  Revolution.  He  is  believed  to  be  identical 
with  Jonathan  Parker  whose  name  appears  in  the  Massachu- 
setts rolls  first  as  of  Ipswich  and  then  of  Newton,  but  who  in  four 
after  enlistments  gave  no  place  of  residence.  This  record  is  : 
(1)  Joshua  Parker's  company,  Col.  William  Prescott's  regiment, 
1775  ;  (2)  Capt.  Zaccheus  Wright's  company,  Colonel  Brooks'  regi- 
ment, 1776  ;  (8)  Capt.  Joseph  Fuller's  company,  Colonel  Thatcher's 
regiment,  1778  ;  (4)  Capt.  John  Walton's  company  (no  regiment 
named),  1778  ;  (5)  Continental  Army,  1780 ;  (6)  Capt.  Ames 
Foster's  company,  Col.  Cyprian  Howe's  regiment,  1788.  Mr. 
Parker  lived  on  the  Meadows,  and  is  buried  in  graveyard  there. 

In  the  burial-place  at  the  Rankin  Mill  rest  the  ashes  of  Lieut. 
Richard  Peabody,  who  was  born  in  Woodstock,  Conn.  He  was  an 
ensign  in  Capt.  Nathaniel  Morey's  company,  and  served  in  the 
Lexington  Alarm,  1775.  He  was  also  ensign  in  Capt.  Stephen 
Lyon's  company,  (the  5th)  6th  Battalion,  Wadsworth's  brigade, 
1776.  This  battalion  was  raised  to  reinforce  Washington  in  New 
York,  was  stationed  at  Flatbush  Pass,  L.  1.,  August  26,  was  en- 
gaged in  the  battle  of  the  following  day,  and  narrowly  escaped  cap- 
ture ;  engaged  at  White  Plains,  October  28 ;  was  in  New  Jersey 
at  the  time  of  the  battle  of  Trenton ;  his  time  expired  December 
25,  1776.  Lieutenant  Peabody  resided  in  Lyman  after  the  war. 

Nathaniel  Rix,  Sr.,  was  a  private  in  Capt.  Joseph  Hutching' 
company  from  August  18  to  Sept,  10,  1777  ;  sergeant  in  Capt. 
Samuel  Young's  company,  Colonel  Bedel's  regiment,  from  Decem- 
ber 15,  1777,  to  March,  1778;  and  drummer  in  Capt,  Luther 
Richardson's  company,  Colonel  Bedel's  regiment,  eleven  months, 
twenty-live  days,  from  April  6,  1778.  The  last  years  of  his  life 
were  passed  in  this  town.  His  remains  are  in  the  graveyard  at 
North  Littleton. 


528  Hist  or  n  of  Lit  tic ton. 

Lieut.  Daniel  Rowell  was  in  the  service  early  in  1775  as  a  pri- 
vate in  Capt.  Samuel  Hayes'  company,  Colonel  Wingate's  regiment. 
He  was  also  in  Colonel  Frye's  regiment  at  Bunker  Hill,  partici- 
pated in  the  battle  of  Saratoga,  and  rose  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant. 
His  farther  service  cannot  be  stated  in  detail.  He  is  buried  in  the 
Meadows  Cemetery. 

Stephen  Savage  was  of  Connecticut,  and  served  in  the  organ- 
i/ations  from  that  State  in  the  war.  His  first  enlistment  was  in 
Colonel  Belden's  regiment  stationed  at  Peekskill,  N.  Y.,  from 
April  12  to  May  li>,1777.  September  5, 1777,  he  enlisted  for  the  war 
in  Captain  Wilcox's  company,  Baldwin's  regiment,  as  an  artificer. 
The  artificers  in  Baldwin's  regiment  were  a  battalion  drawn  from 
the  ranks  of  the  several  companies,  and  were  skilled  men  who 
followed  with  the  baggage  train.  This  regiment  was  at  German- 
town,  Monmouth,  and  other  fields  in  the  Jerseys.  He  lived  on 
the  Meadows,  and  is  buried  in  its  cemetery. 

Silas  Symonds,  who  lived  on  the  Adams  place  on  the  Connecticut 
River,  served  three  years  in  the  war  and  was  credited  to  Swanzey. 

John  Wallace,  the  ancestor  of  the  family  of  that  name,  prom- 
inent not  only  in  this  town  but  also  in  Bethlehem,  Dalton,  and 
Franconia,  was  of  Colerain,  Mass.  He  enlisted  September  22, 
1777,  in  Capt.  Hugh  McClallen's  company,  Col.  David  Wells1  regi- 
ment ;  the  descriptive  list  states  his  "  age  as  41  years  ;  stature  5  ft, 
(i  in.,  hair  gray;  term  of  enlistment  (J  mos."  He  also  appears  on 
the  muster  and  pay  rolls  of  Capt.  Joshua  Woodbridge's  company, 
Col.  Nathan  Tyler's  regiment,  and  served  in  the  Rhode  Island 
campaign.1  He  participated  in  Shays'  Rebellion.  He  lived  at 
North  Littleton,  but  died  and  is  buried  in  Franconia. 

Lieut.  Peleg  Williams  was  lieutenant  in  Capt.  Jason  Wait's  com- 
pany, Colonel  Cilley's  or  Scainmcl's  New  Hampshire  regiment  of 
Continental  line.  His  commission  bears  date  November  S,  1776. 
He  was  (quartermaster  in  the  Bennington  campaign,  and  partici- 
pated in  the  battle  of  Bemis  Heights,  and  was  wounded  in  the 
shoulder.  He  resigned  May  10,  1778.  He  came  to  this  town  in 
ITsl,  died  at  Salem,  March  20,  1<S21,  while  journeying  to  Provi- 
dence to  draw  his  pension,  lie  was  buried  in  the  cemetery  at 
Salem. 

Among  the  residents  of  the  town  Samuel  Douglass,  Archippus 
Wheelock,  Michael  Fit /gerald,  and  James  Williams,  tradition 
alfirms,  were  soldiers  in  the  war,  and  in  each  instance  the  suppo- 
sition is  probably  correct.  It  has  been  impossible  to  identify 

Soc   K.-vol.  Rolls  of   Mass.,  vol.  xxi.   p.  :;.">;   vol.   xxiii.  p.   I'j4  ;  vol.   xxiv.  p.   141, 
an<!  vol.  xlii.  n.  l'J7. 


Soldiers  of  the  Revolution  and  the   War  of  1812.          529 

these  men  with  the  record  of  soldiers  bearing  the  name  farther 
than  that  the  Massachusetts  rolls  have  many  of  the  name  of  James 
Williams,  and  one  of  them  is  undoubtedly  that  of  our  townsman. 
Archippus  Wheelock  -also  appears  there  on  a  receipt  for  a 
bounty.  The  Michael  Fitzgerald  on  those  rolls  is  identical  with 
the  Michael  of  Littleton.  That  record  is  that  he  served  in  the 
regiment  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Brooks,  successively  in 
the  companies  of  Captains  Allen,  Gleason,  and  Maynard.  He 
moved  to  Maine,  where  he  died  in  the  thirties.  Samuel  Doug- 
lass, of  Townsend,  Mass.,  in  1775  commanded  a  company  in  Col. 
James  Prescott's  regiment,  and  he  is  supposed  to  be  the  same 
person  who  lived  on  the  Meadows.  Our  Capt.  Samuel  Douglass 
was  a  captain  of  a  company  in  the  war,  according  to  the  state- 
ments of  old  residents  who  knew  him,  but  had  no  recorded  evi- 
dence to  support  their  statements. 

Such  too  is  the  only  authority  for  the  belief  that  Pcnuel 
Leavens  was  in  the  Revolutionary  service.  He  stated,  and  all  who 
knew  him  believed,  that  such  was  the  fact. 

The  list  of  soldiers  in  the  War  of  1812-1815  who  weue  at  the 
time  or  afterwards  residents  of  Littleton  is  not  complete  either  in 
numbers  or  in  respect  to  the  service  rendered.  Such  as  it  is, 
it  is  given  here.  Ezra  Abbott,  Stillman  Batchelder,  William 
Copp,  James  Dow,  Jonathan  Dyke,  William  Fisk,  Ezra  Foster, 
Obed  S.  Hatch,  James  Lewis,  Solomon  Lewis,  Charles  Lougee, 
John  W.  Milieu,  Obediah  Morse,  Ebenezer  Webster  Morse,  Oliver 
Nurse,  Ezra  Parker,  Stephen  Peck,  and  Joseph  Shute. 

Stillman  Batchelder  resided  at  the  time  in  Bethlehem,  and  his 
service  was  rendered  in  the  New  Hampshire  detached  militia  in 
guarding  the  northern  frontier. 

James  Dow  enlisted  in  the  Twenty -Fifth  United  States  Infantry 
April  12,  1814,  participated  in  the  battles  of  Chippewa,  Bridge- 
water,  and  Fort  Erie ;  in  the  last-named  engagement  he  was 
wounded,  and  discharged  for  disability,  March  24,  1815. 

We  have  no  particulars  as  to  the  service  of  Jonathan  Dyke. 
He  was  in  the  service,  however,  for  more  than  a  year. 

William  Fisk  enlisted  in  the  Twenty-Fifth  United  States  In- 
fantry, and  served  the  full  term  of  his  enlistment.  lie  lived  to 
the  great  age  of  a  hundred  years. 

Ezra  Foster,  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution,  was  also  in  the  service  in 
the  War  of  1812-1815. 

Obed  S.  Hatch  was  a  resident  of  Littleton  at  the  time  of 
his  enlistment  in  Crawford's  regiment,  Sixth  United  States 
Infantry. 

VOL.  ii.  —  34 


530  History  of  Littleton. 

James  Lewis,  son  of  Jonas,  enlisted  in  this  \var  and  served  for 
t  \vo  years. 

Solomon  Lewis,  a  brother  of  James,  enlisted  and  served  for  the 
same  length  of  time. 

Charles  Lougee,  then  of  Sanbornton,  served  one  term  of  three 
years  as  a  member  of  Capt.  Ware  Dearborn's  company,  Colonel 
Sise's  regiment. 

Obediah  Morse,  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution,  also  enlisted  in  the 
War  of  1Sli>. 

Joseph  Shut*1  was  an  enlisted  man  in  this  war  in  Capt.  Ware 
Dearborn's  company,  but  for  how  long  a  time  we  have  not  been 
able  to  ascertain. 

William  ( 'opp.  John  W.  Milieu,  Oliver  Nurse,  and  Stephen  Peek 
served  in  ('apt.  John  Bassett,  Jr.'s,  company  of  Colonel  Sise's 
regiment. 

In  what  service  Webster  Morse  and  Ezra  Parker  were  enlisted 
we  do  not  know.  The  fact,  however,  that  they  were  'enrolled  is 
well  authenticated. 

No  resident  of  Littleton  enlisted  for  service  in  the  war  with 
Mi'.xii-o.  John  Ramsdell,  Cliiy  Carleton.  and  perhaps  others,  who 
subsequently  lived  here,  were  enlisted  men  in  that  war. 


The  Militia  in  Northern  New  Hampshire. ,  531 


LIL 

THE   MILITIA  IN   NORTHERN  NEW  HAMPSHIRE.1 

By  ALBERT  STILLMAN  BATCHELLOR. 

A  T  the  close  of  the  French  and  Indian  War  the  military  sys- 
-^~~^  tern  of  the  province  of  New  Hampshire  was  in  a  state  of 
marked  efficiency.  It  was  definitely  established  by  law.  The 
several  organizations  were  well  equipped  and  well  officered. 
Nearly  all  of  them  were  numerically  strong,  and  geographically 
distributed  with  judicious  reference  to  considerations  of  organiza- 
tion, instruction,  and  mobilization.  The  personnel  *f  the  militia 
of  that  day  had  the  benefit  of  a  traditional  spirit,  which  was 
developed,  stimulated,  and  intensified  by  the  dangers  attendant 
upon  actual  frontier  service  through  generation  after  generation, 
for  a  period  of  more  than  a  hundred  years.  The  hereditary  apti- 
tude of  the  people  in  military  enterprise  had  been  well  proven  by 
the  requirements  of  many  arduous  campaigns  in  the  long  war 
which  was  terminated  by  the  peace  of  1760,  and  by  which  all  the 
French  possessions  to  the  northward  were  acquired.  Immediately 
after  this  event  an  overflowing  population,  seeking  new  fields  for 
settlement,  poured  into  the  unoccupied  lands  in  the  northern  and 
western  parts  of  the  province,  and  over  the  Connecticut  River  upon 
the  New  Hampshire  grants. 

By  an  act  of  the  Assembly  five  counties  were  erected  in  1771, 
but  Grafton  and  Cheshire  were  not  organized  till  177o.2  Contem- 
poraneously with  the  establishment  of  a  county  administration  of 
civil  affairs,  it  seems  that  the  militia  system  was  extended  over 
the  same  territory.3  Two  additional  province  regiments  were  ac- 
cordingly created,  with  headquarters  for  the  first  at  Plymouth 
and  for  the  second  at  Haverhill.  The  field  officers  of  the  Second 
Grafton  Regiment  were  Hon.  John  Hurd,  of  Haverhill,  Colonel ; 

1  The  reader  is  referred  to  the  address  of  Mr.  Batcliellor,  published  in  volume  ii. 
of  the  Proceedings  of  the  New  Hampshire  Society  of  the  Sons  of  the  American 
Revolution  for  an  account  of  the  ranger  service  and  other  active  military  operations 
in  the  northern  valley  of  the  Connecticut  River  in  the  period  of  the  Revolution. 

-  "  History  of  Administration  of  the  Law  in  Grafton  County,"  Child's  Gnz.,  p.  32. 

3  Mills  and  Hicks'  British  and  Am.  Reg.,  1774. 


5-'32  History  of  Littleton. 

Asa  Porter.  Esq.,  of  Ilaverhill,  Lieutenant-Colonel;  and  William 
Simpson,  Fsq.,  of  Ori'ord,  Major.  For  the  first  regiment  Hon. 
John  Fenton  was  Colonel,  David  Ilobart  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and 
Jonathan  M.  Sewall  Major.  Colonel  llurd,  then  holding  the 
offices  of  chief  justice  of  the  court  of  common  pleas,  receiver  of 
quitrents,  county  treasurer,  and  register  of  deeds,  was  the  most 
prominent  citizen  of  the  Coos  country.1  At  this  time  regiments 
for  military  purposes  were  territorial  designations.  Fenton's  regi- 
ment embraced  approximately  that  part  of  the  county  which  is 
now  known  as  the  eastern  judicial  district,  and  was  numbered 
eleven;  and  Ilurd's  occupied  the  remainder.  Ilurd's  regiment 
at  this  time  was  numbered  twelve,  and  was  so  designated  on  the 
ollicial  records  afterwards,  while  it  was  under  the  command  of 
Morey  and  Johnston.2 

In  1774  another  regiment  was  constituted  of  the  towns  of 
Hanover,  Lebanon,  Lyme,  Orford,  Cornish,  and  Plainfield,  with 
Samuel  Gilbert,  of  Lyme,  as  Colonel.3  Probably  Lyme  was  not 
retained  in  this  regiment,  as  at  later  dates  it  appears  as  a  town  in 
Morey's  regiment.4  Colonel  Gilbert  having  died,  Lieut.-Col.  Jon- 
athan Chase  was  made  Colonel  by  act  of  the  Assembly  August  80, 
1776V  The  north  regiment  is  sometimes  mentioned  by  Colonel 
Potter  as  the  Sixteenth,  but  this  is  not  in  accord  with  the  refer- 
ences to  the  regiment  made  in  the  acts  and  votes  in  the  Assembly 
and  Council  in  the  war  period  and  down  to  the  last  of  the  year 
1784.'j 

There  is  evidence  that  a  company  was  organized  in  the  Coos 
country  before  the  county  of  Grafton  was  created  or  a  regiment 
established,  and  that  the  settlers  thus  became  an  organic  part  of 
the  province  militia  as  early  as  1708.' 

With  the  development  of  the  revolutionary  movement  the 
status  and  disposition  of  the  militia  became  an  important  con- 
sideration. The  royal  governor,  in  the  disposal  of  the  civic  offices 
of  the  county,  may  not  have  entertained  the  idea  of  placing  the 
'•Ulcers  of  the  two  regiments  under  a  sense  of  obligation  to  him- 

1  Biography,  by  William  F.  \Vhitcber,  Proceedings  Grafton  and  Coos  Counties  Bar 
Association,  Isss.  vol.  i.  p.  4(!7  ;  Proceedings  X.  H.  Society  of  Colonial  Wars,  1902. 

-   Province  and  State  Papers,  vol.  viii.  pp.  bol,  (J72  ;   State  Papers,  vol.  xv.  p.(j21. 

•'•  Cba»e's  Hanover,  p    o27. 

;   State  Papers,  vol.  xiv.  p.  550. 

•"'   ("base's  Hanover,  p.  'i'J'.t. 

'  Council  Kecords,  MSS.  VII.  112;  House  .Journal,  MSS.  XI.  351,  XII.  41!); 
Province  and  State  Paper-,  vol.  viii.  pp.  SJ  1,  972  ;  Potter's  Mil.  Hist.  N.  II.,  2  Adj.- 
(ieif-.  lleport,  IN;'),  p.  '2*  1  ;  State  Papers,  vol.  xiv.  p.  558. 

7  Letter,  (iov.  John  Wentworth  to  Timothy  Bedel,  August  5,  17u\S,  manuscript 
among  the  Bedel  Papers,  in  custody  of  the  New  Hampshire  Historical  Society. 


The  Militia  in  Northern  New  Hampshire.   ,  533 

self  as  representative  of  the  crown,  but  it  happened  that  no  one 
was  commissioned  as  a  field  officer  who  did  not  hold  one  or  more 
civil  offices  of  honor  and  emolument  for  the  county.  Besides  the 
bestowal  of  the  five  important  positions  to  which  Colonel  Kurd 
had  been  assigned,  the  governor  made  Colonel  Fenton  judge  of 
probate  and  clerk  of  courts,  Major  Sewall  register  of  probate, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Porter  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hobart  judges 
of  the  court  of  common  pleas,  and  Major  Simpson  sheriff.  When, 
however,  the  governor  was  compelled  to  abandon  the  province  in 
1775,  Colonel  Fenton,  alone  of  all  those  recipients  of  executive 
favor,  cast  his  fortunes  with  his  chief  and  attempted  to  depart 
with  him.1  He  was,  however,  intercepted  by  the  State  author- 
ities and  detained  for  a  considerable  period  as  a  State  prisoner. 
Colonel  Porter  was  of  the  same  mind,  but  more  politic  as  to 
taking  a  stand  openly  against  the  revolt  of  the  province.  Major 
Simpson  and  Major  Sewall  took  a  conservative  course  and  were 
non-committal.  Colonel  Hurd  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hobart 
espoused  the  cause  of  independence  promptly,  openly,  and  effect- 
ively. Hobart  was  eventually  made  Colonel  of  Fenton's  regiment, 
and  Hurd  became  Councillor  and  member  of  the  Revolutionary 
Committee  of  Safety  for  Grafton  County. 

The  imperative  necessity  of  a  reorganization  of  the  militia  was 
manifest  as  soon  as  all  reasonable  hope  of  obtaining  a  redress  of 
grievances  without  a  final  appeal  to  the  arbitrament  of  war  had 
vanished.  Among  the  field  officers,  all  having  been  appointed  by 
the  royal  governor,  a  certain  element,  as  might  have  been  ex- 
pected, remained  in  sympathy  with  the  mother  country,  lukewarm 
in  the  cause  of  independence,  or  in  doubt  as  to  the  expediency  of 
the  movement.  The  last  recorded  session  of  the  old  Assembly  is 
on  July  18,  the  governor  having  retired  to  the  fort  July  11.  The 
Fourth  Provincial  (Revolutionary)  Congress  had,  after  the  final 
dissolution  of  the  last  (royal)  province  Assembly,  an  open  field  as 
the  only  representative  body  exercising  legislative  powers  in  the 
province.  Colonel  Hurd  was  a  member  in  attendance  in  the  July 
session.  This  body,  by  vote  on  the  24th  of  August,  177*),  the 
very  day  on  which  Governor  Wentworth  sailed  for  Boston  on  the 
"•  Scarborough,"  reorganized  the  regiments  with  strict  reference 
to  the  exigency  by  which  the  Commonwealth  was  confronted. 
Timothy  Bedel  and  Israel  Morey,  as  well  as  Colonel  Hurd,  were 
influential  Grafton  County  members  of  this  congress.  Morey 
was  of  Orford,  and  was  made  Colonel  of  llnrd's  regiment,  with 

1  Biography,  liy  diaries  R.  Corning,  Proceedings  Grafton  and  Co.",s  Bar  Associ- 
ation, vol.  i.  p.  151  ;  Proceedings  N.  II.  Society  of  Colonial  \Vurs,  l',»Ul. 


."i.'U  ,  History  of  Littleton. 

Charles  Johnston,  of  Ifaverhill,  as  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Jonathan 
Chil'l.  of  Lyme,  as  First  Major,  and  Jonathan  Hale,  of  Haverhill,  as 
Second  Major.1  Colonel  Morey  was  an  energetic  officer  and  a  con- 
spicuous cili/.en  during  the  entire  war  period.  Besides  the  organ- 
i/aiion  and  command  of  his  regiment,  constant  attention  to  the 
defence  of  the  frontier  which  it  occupied,  and  compliance  with 
calls  upon  his  territory  for  oft-repeated  levies  of  men  and  ma- 
terial for  operations  abroad,  he  acted  as  one  of  the  chief  execu- 
tives of  the  commissary  department  in  tin;  Connecticut  A'alley. 
The  records  are  fragmentary  and  incomplete,  but  the  following 
abstract  will  indicate  something  of  the  importance  of  this  regi- 
ment  in  contributions  for  various  lines  of  service  in  the  course  of 
t  he  long  conflict :  — 

In  177(>  the  Assembly  voted  to  raise  2,000  men  for  "the  ser- 
vice," of  which  the  Sixteenth  (Twelfth)  Regiment,  Col.  Israel 
Morey,  of  Orford,  was  to  furnish  forty-three.2 

Men  raised  to  fill  up  the  three  continental  regiments,  March, 
1777  (total  2.0»>:J). 

Col.  Israel  Morey's  regiment,  forty-three/5 

Apportionment  of  men  to  be  raised  for  service  in  Rhode  Island, 
1770  (total  280). 

Colonel  Morey's  regiment,  six.4 

June  Iti.  178",  the  Legislature  passed  an  act  ordering  (>00  men 
to  be  raised  to  recruit  the  three  regiments  in  the  continental 
army  from  this  State;  of  these 

Colonel  Morey's  regiment,  sixteen.5 

In  the  hitter  part  of  June,  17<SO.  the  Legislature  voted  to  raise 
'•'b>  men  tor  a  term  of  three  months,  to  reinforce  the  army  at 
West  Point  :  of  these 

Colonel  Morey's  regiment,  two  officers,  twentv-six  privates.'1 

•lime  '1-1.  17*o.  the  House  of  Representatives  voted  to  raise  120 
""•ii  t<>  be  sent  to  the  "  western  frontiers  of  this  State  ''  to  rein- 
loree  Major  Benjamin  Whitcomb.  These  men  were  to  serve  six 
in1  nit  lis  :  of  these 

<  'olonel  Muiw's  regiment,  live." 


The  Militia  in  Northern  New  Hampshire.  535 

six  companies  from  the  northern  part  of  New  Hampshire  to  Newbtiry, 
Vt.,  the  place  designated  for  their  rendezvous,  and  on  his  arrival  was 
appointed  aid  to  Major-General  Bayley,  which  office  he  sustained  until 
the  close  of  the  war."  l 

April  5,  1781,  the  Honso  of  Representatives  voted  to  raise  two 
companies,  to  consist  of  sixty-five  men  each,  to  rendezvous  at 
Haverhill  by  the  1st  of  June,  and  to  be  under  the  command  of 
Lieut.-Col.  Charles  Johnston.  It  was  subsequently  voted  not  to 
send  them  so  early  ;  but  on  the  30th  of  June  a  vote  passed  requir- 
ing them  to  be  raised  and  forwarded  immediately.  The  men 
were  to  be  raised  from  the  militia  regiments  commanded  by 
Colonels  Ellis  of  Keene,  Chase  of  Cornish,  Morey  of  Orford, 
Webster  of  Plymouth,  and  "the  regiment  of  the  late  Colonel 
Bellows  "  of  Walpolc,  and  were  to  serve  six  months.2 

From  the  Vermont  records  it  appears  that,  in  a  call  for  1,500 
men  for  the  defence  of  the  northern  frontier  against  the  common 
enemy  in  1781,  310  men  were  apportioned  to  the  regiments  on 
the  east  side  of  the  river,  two  officers  and  forty-three  non-com- 
missioned officers  and  privates  being  required  from  Morcy's 
regiment.3 

Other  calls  of  a  like  character,  of  which  no  record  has 
been  preserved,  would  undoubtedly  enlarge  the  account  to  the 
credit  of  Morcy's  regiment  as  an  important  factor  in  the  great 
struggle.4 

The  local  military  government  of  the  towns  in  the  lower  part  of 
Morey's  regiment  all  through  the  war  period,  which  was  also  the 
period  of  their  disaffection  against  the  Exeter  government,  was 
very  largely  managed  through  the  instrumentality  of  delegate  con- 
ventions from  the  towns  on  both  sides  of  the  river.  The  details 
of  the  proceedings  of  these  assemblies  must  be  sought  in  the  State 
Papers  and  historical  collections  of  New  Hampshire  and  Vermont. 

The  supreme  effort  on  the  part  of  Xew  Hampshire  in  behalf  of 
the  cause  of  independence  was  made  in  1777.  Morcy's  regiment, 
on  account  of  its  location,  was  naturally  subject  to  urgent  calls 
for  the  reinforcement  of  the  army  by  which  General  Burgoyne's 
forces  were  invested.  David  Hobart,  of  Plymouth,  Colonel  of  the 
Eleventh  Regiment  of  militia,  commanded  one  of  the  provisional 
regiments  of  Stark's  brigade  at  Uennington.  His  record  in  that 
battle  was  highly  commended  by  General  Stark.  His  fume  in 

1  Coll.  X.  II.  Hist.  Soc.,  vol.  iii.  p.  245. 

-   State  Papers,  vol.  xvi.  p.  '24'.'. 

:;   Records  of  Governor  and  Council  of  Yt.,  vol.  ii.  p.  ^7. 

4  See  also  State  Papers,  vol.  viii.  /»/.•>•.<;//«. 


")OG  History  of  Littleton. 

hit  CM-  vcars,  however,  was  obscured  by  the  fact  that  Stark's  de- 
spatches made  the  name  appear  to  be  "  Ilubbard."  Belknap,  Bar- 
stow,  and  other  historians  have  followed  the  error.  Whiton  does 
not  mention  Ilobart  by  either  name.  He  died,  soon  after  the  war, 
in  llaverhill,  Mass.,  to  which  place  he  had  removed.1 

The  roll  of  the  men  of  Stark's  brigade,  compiled  by  Col.  George 
0.  Gilmore,  ISIH,  in  which  the  residence  of  each  individual  is 
given  by  towns,  credits  Morey's  regiment  with  a  contribution  of 
fifty  men.  Nearly  or  quite  all  of  this  contingent  served  in  the 
regiment  commanded  by  Colonel  Ilobart.  Davenport  Phelps,  of 
Lyme,  was  Quartermaster  on  the  regimental  staff.  Charles  John- 
ston, of  llaverhill,  was  Hobarfs  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  John- 
ston's dramatic  valor  is  still  a  conspicuous  feature  of  the  story  of 
the  battle.- 

Colonel  I  Turd  writes  from  llaverhill,  under  date  of  September 
•  )'>.  1777,  to  the  Committee  of  Safety  as  follows  :  — 

'•  I  congratulate  with  you  on  the  success  of  our  army  to  the  North- 
ward tfc  the  glorious  prospect  there  now  appears  of  destroying  the 
whole  Force  of  our  Knemys  both  North  &  South,  &  compleuting  the 
business  of  this  campaign  ;  it'  the  people  do  but  continue  their  spirit  & 
exertions.  'Tis  rather  unluekey  tho'  that  General  Stark's  l>rigade  is 
so  soon  broke  up.  w'':i  has  struck  a  panic  into  the  Enemy  they  will  never 
recover  :  —  more  of  our  men  this  way  however  are  turning  out  at  the 
earnest  request  of  General  IJayley  from  Castleton,  &  by  orders  of  Col" 
Morey.  who  I  hear  was  going  off  himself.  I  am  extremely  cha^riu'd  that 
my  infirm  Limbs  will  not  permit  me  to  share  the  Toils  &  dangers  of  the 
til-Id  with  my  countrymen.  I  have  spared  two  of  my  family  &  sent  them 
oil  with  horses  and  provisions  for  near  a  month;  —  one  of  them,  mvson 
.I.aeoli.  tho'  hardly  of  age  snllicient,  but  a  well  grown  lad  of  good  heart 
A:  disposition,  to  supply  his  father's  place.''' 

No  account  is  here  taken  of  the  so-called  Ticonderoga  alarms  in 
the  early  part  of  1777,  to  which  due  response  was  undoubtedly 
made  by  the  men  of  Morey's  regiment  for  the  brief  terms  which 
characteri/ed  those  somewhat  desultory  movements. 

Gen.  Jacob  Ilayley  forwarded  the  following  letter  to  Colonel 
MM  ivy.  dated  September  i!i'.  1777  :  — 

Success   attend    us  ;is  vet,  in  part  we  have  cut   of  their  Com- 
munication  —  \ve  have  taken  Tie,  side  except  the  old  foil  hope  soon  to 


The  Militia  in  Northern  New  Hampshire.  537 

have  all  Lake  George —  Taken  about  500  Prisoners  we  want  help  much 
our  Divition  is  only  1500  men  General  Lincoln's  gone  to  Join  General 
Gates  you  and  all  the  melitia  Eastward  must  turn  out  with  Horses  and 
one  months  Provitions  which  will  I  hope  put  an  end  to  the  dispute  this 
way.  Genrl  Arnold  fought  a  battle  two  da\*  ago  on  the  Left  of  Genrl 
Gates  great  numbers  fell  on  both  sides  he  took  250  Prisoners  and  three 
field  peaces  and  the  field  —  Pray  turn  out  — 

Writing  from  Cornish,  October  1,  1777,  Colonel  Morcy  makes 
the  following  report  to  Gen.  Jonathan  Chase :  — 

"  SIR  —  This  is  to  inform  you  that  I  have  collected  what  men  I  could 
out  of  my  Regiment  (in  so  short  a  time)  I  marched  them  as  far  as  this 
place  hoping  to  find  3-011  at  home  —  but  as  you  was  gone  forward  &  as 
I  have  rec'1  new  orders  from  the  Court  of  this  state  thro'  the  Hands  of 
Brigadeer  Gen1  Whipple  to  exert  myself  to  the  utmost  &  send  all  the 
Militia  that  can  possibly  turn  out,  I  concluded  to  turn  back  &  raise 
another  Company  &  send  forward  as  soon  as  possible  —  Cap'  Chandler 
commands  the  men  which  I  have  sent  forward  —  I  have  directed  him 
to  put  himself  under  your  Command  —  my  Adjutant  Simeon  Goodwin 
is  gone  forward  &  will  serve  if  needed  &  he  is  a  Man  that  may  be  re- 
lied on  for  his  punctuality  &  fidelity  —  Gen1  Bay  ley  will  show  you 
what  further  I  have  wrote  respecting  the  men  and  soforth — I  send 
my  son  Israel  with  the  Men  he  is  to  wait  on  Cap1  II  ay  ward  when  he 
comes  — 

By  reference  to  the  rolls  in  State  Papers,  Vol.  XV.  pp.  379, 
383,  385,  we  are  able  to  identify  the  volunteers  from  Morey's 
regiment  to  whom  the  Colonel  refers. 

The  officers  of  Morey's  regiment  with  this  battalion  at  the  out- 
set were  Major  Jonathan  Child,  of  Lyme  ;  Adjutant  Simeon  Good- 
win, of  llaverhill  ;  Chaplain  Obcdiah  Noble,  formerly  of  Orange  ; 
Capt.  Jonathan  Chandler,  of  Picrmont;  Lieut.  Jonathan  Derby,  of 
Orford  ;  Ensign  James  English,  of  Lyme;  Capt.  Joshua  If  ay  ward 
(or  Howard),  of  llaverhill ;  and  Lieut.  Thomas  Hibbard,of  Ifavcr- 
hill.  Major  Child  and  Surgeon  Frederick  Obrey  appear  to  have 
served  in  General  Lincoln's  command.2 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Webster  of  Ilobart's  Plymouth  regiment 
accompanied  this  contingent  with  a  company  of  twenty-four  offi- 
cers and  men  from  that  regiment  under  ('apt.  John  Willoughby.8 

There  were  thirty  men  in  Captain  Chandler's  company,  and 
thirty-six  in  that  of  Captain  Howard,  besides  the  three  officers  of 
the  field  and  staff.  The  detachment  served  under  Colonel  Chase. 

1   State  Papers,  vol.  xvii.  p.  1  ;•)(!.  -  State  Tapers,  vol.  xv.  p.  3GG. 

;i  State  Papers,  vol.  xv.  p.  oSl. 


5:">8  History  of  Littleton. 

The  rolls  of  Chase's  men  give  the  number  in  this  particular  ser- 
vice as  14±  Chandler's  contingent  and  Willoughby's  company 
irave  Colonel  Chase  a  regiment  of  2->5  men. 

The  following  certificate  of  service  relative  to  the  regiment  is 
preserved  : '  — 

II.  (.1  SAHATOCA,  Ocf  18th  1777. 

These  may  Certify  that  Col"  Chase  with  a  Regiment  of  Volunteers 
have  faithfully  serv'd  until  this  date  in  the  Northern  Army,  and  arc 
now  Discharged  with  Honor. 

By  order  of  General  Gates, 

JACOB  BAY  LEY  J>ri<f  <!<'»'. 

Another  company  of  thirty-eight  officers  and  men  were  engaged 
in  this  campaign  under  Capt.  Joseph  Hutchins,  of  Haverhill.  Gen- 
eral Hay  ley  certifies  that  they  were  in  his  brigade.  Capt.  John 
Sloan's  company,  raised  in  Lyme,  Orford,  Piermonf ,  and  the  vicin- 
city  in  Coos,  twenty-seven  officers  and  men,  were  also  in  the  same 
service.2 

The  roll  of  officers  for  Ilutchins's  company  is  given  in  Potter's 
Military  History,  Part  If.  p.  o8<).  The  officers  named  by  Colonel 
Potter  are:  Joseph  Hutchins,  Captain:  Timothy  Bedel,  First 
Lieutenant  ;  .Joseph  Howe,  Second  Lieutenant  :  E/.ekicl  Ladd, 
Ensign. 

The  period  of  service  was  from  August  18  to  October  ~>.  This 
roll  should  be  read  in  connection  with  that  of  the  rank  and  file 
printed  in  Slate  Papers,  Vol.  XV.  p.  '279. 

It  makes  the  full  number  of  the  company  08,  and  bv  that  much 
increases  the  aggregate  of  men  furnished  from  Morey's  regiment 
for  the  Saratoga  campaign. 

In  .Iuly.17T7.it  appears  by  the  record  that  ~>0  men  were  re- 
cruited from  this  regiment  for  the  continental  regiments,  and  the 
names,  residences,  and  regiment  to  which  each  man  was  assigned 
are  Driven  in  detail." 

Tbese  enlistments  were  in  ample  time  for  the  Saratoga  cam- 
paign, in  which  all  the  New  Hampshire  continental  regiments 
whieh  an;  referred  fo  participated.  The  total  strength  of  Morey's 
iviri nicnt  beiii'_r  :>I7.  as  alrendv  oHiciallv  slated,  it  is  now  shown 
by  aetuul  reference  fo  the  rolls  and  names  of  the  men  that  nearly 
two-thirds  ol  the  regiment  (i!;!4)  volunteered  for  the  Benninu'ton 
and  >aratoga  campaigns,  and  that  was  equivalent  to  two-thirds  of 


The  Militia  in  Northern  Neiv  Hampshire.  539 

the  entire  body  of  men  of  military  age  within  the  territorial  limits 
of  the  regiment. 

In  a  letter  addressed  to  Lieut-Col.  David  Webster,  reproduced 
in  Hon.  Alfred  Russell's  biography  of  that  officer  in  the  "  Granite 
Monthly,"  Vol.  XXX.  p.  93,  General  Bayley  formally  thanks 
Colonel  Webster  for  the  services  of  himself  and  his  regiment:  — 

HEAIXil'ARTERS,  SARATOGA, 

Oct.  Ib,  1777. 

These  may  certify  that  Col.  Webster,  with  a  regiment  of  N.  H.  Vol- 
unteers, have  faithfully  served  in  the  Northern  Arm}'  until  this  date, 
and  are  discharged  with  honor. 

By  Gen.  Gate's  order, 

JACOB  BAYLEY,  Briy.   Gen' I. 

The  letter  does  not  specify  the  regiment  to  which  reference  is 
made,  whether  to  the  regiment  with  which  Colonel  Webster  served 
or  a  regiment  which  he  commanded.  It  could  not  have  been  the 
Eleventh,  or  Plymouth  regiment  of  militia,  for  the  same  reason 
that  two  companies  volunteering  out  of  Morey's  regiment  were  not 
Morey's  regiment,  and  142  volunteers  from  Chase's  were  not 
Chase's  regiment. 

Colonel  Bedel's  first  regiment,  1775,  serving  in  Canada,  and  the 
second,  177G,  also  operating  in  the  same  region,  both  contained 
companies  raised  within  the  area  of  Morey's  regiment.  Bedel's 
third,  1777,  and  his  fourth,  1778,  also  contained  large  enlistments 
from  Morey's  militia,  although  Bedel's  later  regiments,  with  the 
exception  of  the  contingent  of  100  men  under  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Whcelock  called  to  Albany,  X.  Y.,  in  1778,  were  not  actually  en- 
gaged in  field  service  outside  of  New  Hampshire  or  Vermont. 
Add  to  this  exhibit  the  recruitments  from  the  northern  militia  for 
many  companies  of  rangers,  of  which  the  official  rolls  afford  evi- 
dence, and  it  may  fairly  be  assumed  that  the  number  of  *men 
in  active  service  assignable  to  Morey's  regiment  very  largely  ex- 
ceeds the  numerical  strength  of  the  regiment,  notwithstanding 
the  somewhat  paradoxical  nature  of  the  claim. 

The  militia  was  governed  by  the  existing  province  laws,  modi- 
fied in  some  particulars  by  occasional  legislation,  until  September, 
177*),  when  a  new  system  was  established  by  act  of  the  two  houses 
of  the  Assembly.  This  law  created  two  classes  in  the  militia,  the 
training  baud  and  the  alarm  list.  All  the  able-bodied  males  in 
the  State,  with  customary  exemptions,  between  sixteen  and  fifty 
years  of  age,  were  included  in  the  train  baud,  and  an  alarm  list  in 
which  the  liability  to  militarv  duty  in  emergencies  was  extended 


540  History  of  Littleton. 

to  sixtv-ilvc  years.1  The  companies,  including  those  upon  the 
alarm  list,  a  field  officer  presiding,  were  to  choose  a  captain,  two 
lieutenants,  and  an  ensign  to  each.  The  non-commissioned  offi- 
cers were  chosen  by  the  companies. 

Each  officer  and  private  soldier  was  "  to  equip  himself  and  be 
constantly  provided  with  a  good  firearm,  good  ramrod,  a  worm, 
priming  wire  and  brush,  and  a  bayonet  fitted  to  his  gun,  a  scab- 
bard and  belt  therefor,  and  a  cutting  sword  or  a  tomahawk  or 
hatchet,  a  pouch  containing  a  cartridge-box  that  will  hold  fifteen 
rounds  of  cartridges  at  least,  a  hundred  buckshot  a  jackknife 
and  tow  for  wadding,  six  flints,  one  pound  of  powder,  forty  leaden 
balls  fitted  to  his  gun,  a  knapsack  and  blanket,  a  canteen  or 
wooden  bottle  sufficient  to  hold  one  quart."  Each  town  was  to 
provide  and  deposit  in  some  safe  place,  for  use  in  case  of  an  alarm, 
a  specified  number  of  spades,  axes,  and  picks,  and  to  provide  arms 
and  equipments  for  those  unable  to  provide  for  themselves;  and 
parents,  masters,  and  guardians  were  to  provide  for  those  under 
their  care.  Each  company  was  to  muster  eight  times  a  year,  in- 
cluding the  regimental  musters.2 

The  law  imposed  very  serious  burdens  upon  the  people,  not  only 
in  personal  services,  but  in  the  expense  of  equipment.  A  census 
taken  in  the  fall  of  177.">3  indicates  approximately  the  amount  of 
arms  and  military  supplies  in  the  hands  of  the  people.  The 
table  on  page  541  is  an  abstract  of  their  returns,  limited  to  the 
towns  in  Morey's  regiment. 

In  a  short  time  after  Colonel  Morev  assumed  command  of  the 
••North  Regiment"'  it,  furni.-died  a  large  contingent  of  men  and 
military  equipment  for  Bedel's  regiment  of  rangers,  which  was 
ordered  to  Canada  earlv  in  the  winter  of  177-">-177(>  to  reinforce 
Montgomery's  army.  In  the  absence  of  Colonel  Bedel  and  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Wait  a  part  of  this  ranger  regiment  was  surren- 
dered  at  a  fort;  called  '"Cedars,"'  under  circumstances  most 
discreditable  to  Major  But  terfield,  who  was  in  command.4  This 
necessarily  resulted  in  a  serious  loss  of  equipment  which  had  been 
drawn  from  the  western  New  Hampshire  militia  contributing  the 
men  and  material  for  Bedel's  regiment.  The  burden  of  replacing 

1  A  Comviiy  return  of  June  1(1.  177").  in  which  all  tin-  men  able  to  hoar  arm>  from 
-ixteen  year-  upwanl  are  enumerated,  >lio\v>  ill  men,  with  10  on  the  alarm  list,  a 
total  nt  ,1.  ii(  this  (Jl,  mon.'o\vr,  1 1  wi-ri*  reported  as  alri-aily  ^one  ti>  the  war.  This 
may  indicate  appro  \  j  niately  the  respective  proportions  of  men  in  the  two  cla^L-s  in 
oilier  northern  town-.  Slat.'  I'ajitT-.  vol.  xiv.  p  ^  M. 

rotter'-  Mil    Hist.  N.  II..  .Vlj.  i  ien.'s  Report,  I*  SO.  vol.  ii.  p.  :>Sl. 
I'rovinee  1'aner-,  vol.   vii.  pp.  7'Jl~7M. 
'    1'utU-r's  Mil.  Ili-t.  X.  11..  .Vlj    (,,  n.V  Report,  l^tjo,  vol.  ii.  p.  -Js;. 


The  Militia  in  Northern  New  Hampshire. 


541 


the  loss  in  arms  and  accoutrements  from  this  disgraceful  affair 
was  a  serious  matter  for  the  farmer  soldiers  of  the  frontier.1 

The  numerical  strength  of  Morey's  regiment  can  be  ascertained 
with  reasonable  accuracy.  The  record,  reprinted  in  State  Papers, 
Vol.  XIV.  p.  556,  which  gives  the  statistics  of  enrolment  for  an 
apportionment  of  recruits  called  for  to  fill  the  three  continental 
regiments  in  1777,  is  apparently  complete  except  as  to  Colonel 
Morey's  regiment.  The  total  strength  of  the  regiment  is  given  as 
347.  This  is  manifestly  based  on  the  census  of  the  returns  of  the 
fall  of  1775.2  The  part  which  remains  in  the  original  manuscript 


Names  of  towns. 

Fire-anus 
lit  for  use. 

Guns 
wanted. 

Powder  in- 
habitants 
have. 

Powder 
town  has. 

Lead  and 
bullets, 
etc. 

Pistols. 

Orford     . 

13 

29 

30  Ibs. 

Lyme       .                    . 

30 

38 

Bath   

8 

24 

8  Ibs 

15 

Cockburne  (Columbia).     . 
Colebrook    

3 
1 

2 

3! 
I 

llaverhill     
Piermont 

1 

31 

6 

50* 
1(3 

Stratford      

7 

7 

11 

Apthorp     (Littleton     and 
Dalton)    .... 

Gunthwaite  (Lisbon)     .     . 
Northumberland  .... 
Lancaster    
Lyman    

7 
8 

6 
15 

7 

14 

10 

11 

(3  Ibs. 

Landaff  

1 

1  lead,  2 

Morristown   (Franconia  and 
Lincoln)  

3 

31 

"j  dozen 
[flints. 

f  10  Ibs. 
-  lead,  20 

[flints. 

is  indicated  by  italics.  The  part  in  Roman  is  reconstructed  from 
the  census  returns  above  mentioned.  The  result  is  so  nearly  that 
given  in  the  record  summary  that  we  have  a  right  to  assume  our 
method  of  reconstruction  of  the  statistics  of  enrolment  for  the 
regiment  to  be  sufficiently  accurate. 


Orford 
Lyme  . 
Bath 


Carried  forward 


47 
69 
35 

Tol 


1  Memorial  of  Charles  Johnston,  Joseph  Hutchins,  Simeon  Goodwin,  and  Joshua 
Howard,  State  Tapers,  vol.  xii.  p.  187;  Memorial  of  Officers  of  Bedel's  Regiment 
addressed  to  Major-General  Gates  and  dated  at  Ticonderoga  July  17,  1770,  American 
Archives,  series  5,  vol.  i.  pp.  31)8,  399. 

-  Province  Papers,  vol.  vii.  p.  724. 


o42  Hist  or  i/  of  Littleton. 

Brought  foncard  .     .     .151 

C'ocklwrne G 

Colebrooke 1 

Haverhill        86 

PuTmont 43 

Stratford ' 16 

Apthorp  (estimated)  1 5 

Gunthwaite 11 

Xorthuinberland  (State  Papers,  vol.  xiv.  p.  559,  7)     .     .  20 

Lancaster  (State  Tapers,  vol.  xiv.  p.  559,  6)      ....  17 

Lyman  (State  Papers,  vol.  xiv.  p.  559,  0)  (estimated)      .  9 

Landaff    9 

Morristown  .                               ...          6 


Reconstructed  summary 378 

Record  (ollicial) 347 


Variance 31 

The  difference  in  the  record  statement  2  of  the  number  of  men 
in  Lancaster,  Northumberland,  and  Lyman,  and  the  statistics  as 
corrected  by  the  census  returns3  with  the  uncertainty  taken  into 
account  as  to  Lyman  and  Apthorp,  from  which  necessarily  only 
estimates  arc  given,  is  not  very  important,  and,  due  allowance 
being  made  according  to  the  apparent  requirements  of  the  case, 
no  serious  historical  error  will  be  possible. 

It  may  therefore  be  assumed,  for  the  purposes  of  this  narra- 
tive, that  we  have  the  territorial  extent  of  the  regiment  outlined, 
and  its  numerical  strength  also,  as  nearly  as  it  is  practicable  to 
state  it  from  the  records,  read  in  connection  with  the  census  of 
1775. 

\Ve  are  also  enabled  to  locate  most  of  the  companies  which 
constituted  the  regiment,  and  to  give  the  roster  of  field  and  com- 
pany officers  with  the  exception  of  one  or  two  companies.  This 
statement  refers  to  the  organization  as  it  stood  in  September, 
1775. 

A   LIST  OF  TIIK   1-hn  RKCJIMKNT  OF  FOOT,  COLONY  OF  Ni:w 
II.VMPSIIIKK,  Sept.   5th,    1775.4 

Commissioned  otli  Sept.,  1775. 

Israel  Morey.  Esq..  Colonel.  Charles  Johiis[t]on,  Esq.,  Lt.-Col. 

Jonathan  Child.  Esq.,  .Major.  Jonathan  Hale.  Esq.,  2d  .Maj. 


The  Militia  in  Northern  New  Hampshire.  543 

Haverhill  First  Company. 

Joshua  Hay  ward,  Capt.  Samuel  Ladd,  Lt. 

Ebenezer  Rice,  2d  Lt.  John  Ladd,  Ensign. 

Orford  2nd  Company. 

Daniel  Tillotson,  Capt.  Peletiah  Bliss,  Lieut. 

Eldad  Post,  2d  Lt.  Jonathan  Derby,  Ensign. 

Lyme  3rd  Compan}-. 

John  Sloan,  Capt.  Benjamin  Grant,  Jr.,  Lt. 

Jabez  Vaughn,  2d  Lt.  James  English,  Ensign. 

4th  Company 
(Name  of  town  and  roster  not  in  original.) 

Piermonl/  5th  Company. 

Jonathan  Chandler,  Capt.  John  Weed,  Lt. 

Azariah  Webb,  2d  Lt.  Burgess  Metcalf,  Ensign. 

Gunthwaite  6th  Company. 

Luther  Richardson,  Capt.  Jacob  Snuff,  Lieut. 

William  Martin,  2d  Lt.  Timothy  Bagley,  Ensign. 

Bath  7th  Company 

Samuel  Titus,  Capt.  Daniel  Bedel,  Lieut. 

Henry  Hancock,  2d  Lt.  Aaron  Bay  ley,  Ensign. 

Bath,  Commissioned  20th  June  1780 
Ebenezer  Sanborn,  Capt.  Thomas  McConneli 

Joshua  Sanders  2d  Lt.  Job  Moulton,  Ensign. 

It  is  apparent  from  the  statistical  view  that  there  would  be 
serious  practical  obstacles  in  the  way  of  an  organization  of  a 
company  of  militia  in  the  scattered  townships  to  the  north  of 
Gunthwaite.  Neither  Lancaster  nor  Northumberland,  the  two 
most  populous  settlements,  had  enough  men  of  military  age  for  a 
company  of  the  strength  required  by  law.  It  is  hardly  to  be 
supposed  that  people  so  much  dispersed  could  effect  very  much 
for  the  purpose  of  maintaining  a  company  of  militia.  The  theory 
that  they  did  not  so  unite  in  the  early  years  of  the  Revolution 
seems  to  be  sustained  by  the  fact 'that  the  Coos  forts  were  gar- 
risoned by  companies  or  squads  of  rangers  sometimes  recruited 
from  the  northern  towns  within  a  wide  circuit,  and  sometimes 
sent  in  from  distant  places.  We  may  assume,  in  the  absence  of 
contemporary  records,  that  the  service  constantly  required  in 
guarding  and  scouting  this  frontier,  and  in  contributing  to  the 
requirements  of  a  more  general  service,  was  a  sufficient  test  of 
the  devotion  of  these  pioneers  to  the  cause  of  independence,  and 
that  their  duties  in  the  fields  and  in  the  forts  left  no  opportunity 


544  History  of  Littleton. 

or  occasion  for  further  organization  into  a  company  or  companies 
in  Morev's  regiment  of  militia,  to  which  territorially  they  would  be 
constituent.  Conditions  did  not  change  materially  till  the  end  of 
the  war. 

There  are  certain  facts  in  the  official  records,  pertinent  in  this 
connection,  which  have  not  been  overlooked.  It  appears  in  the 
State  Papers  as  early  as  January,  1776,  that  Edwards  Bucknam, 
of  Lancaster,  in  a  vote  of  the  Legislature  appointing  coroners  for 
the  county  of  (Jrafton,  is  accorded  the  title  of  captain.  This  may 
indicate  that  he  had  such  command  before  he  settled  at  that  point 
or  afterwards.  No  evidence  is  accessible  to  settle  the  question. 
Furthermore,  in  1770  it  appears  that  the  settlers  in  those  parts 
chose  Nathan  Caswell  to  be  captain  of  some  sort  of  local  military 
organization.  Whether  it  was  merely  a  temporary  measure  or 
intended  as  an  extension  of  the  militia  system  is  not  disclosed  by 
the  record.1 

The  history  of  Morey's  regiment  derives  interest  from  events 
which  had  a  peculiar  significance  in  the  politics  of  the  towns  em- 
braced within  its  limits.  A  number  of  the  leading  men  in  these 
settlements  were  from  Connecticut,  and  their  ideas  of  govern- 
ment were  naturally  in  accordance  with  their  education  and  ex- 
perience in  the  Commonwealth  from  which  they  had  emigrated. 

Hanover,  with  its  college  and  faculty,  which  constituted  a  Con- 
necticut colony  of  itself,  was  the  intellectual  centre  for  this 
movement,  which  took  substantial  form  early  in  177i>.  The  form 
of  government  adopted  for  the  time  being  by  the  Fifth  Provincial 
Congress  was  not  acceptable  to  the  majority  of  the  people  in  the 
towns  now  constituting  the  western  part;  of  (Jrafton  County. 
Colonel  ilurd  and  Lieut. -Col.  Charles  Johnston,  however,  were  not 
partisans  of  the  views  which  generally  prevailed  on  this  subject 
in  their  vicinity.  Colonel  Morey  and  Colonel  J>edel  were  con- 
spicuous among  the  opposers  of  the  party  in  power  in  the  so-called 
Kxi'ter  government.  The  group  of  towns  which  included  C-un- 
thwaite  on  the  nor)  hand  Lebanon  on  the  south,  in  (J  rat  ton  County, 
organized  themselves  by  town  groups  and  local  committees  for 
the  management  of  civil  and  military  concerns,  and  formally  de- 
clined to  recognize  tin;  new  State  government  of  New  Hampshire. 
It  will  not,  be  found  useful  to  pursue  the  history  of  this  contro- 
versy at  length  in  this  connection.  It  may  be  remembered,  how- 
ever, that  tin'  Independents  of  the  Connecticut  Valley  manoeuvred 
with  >kill  and  persistence  to  accomplish  such  a  union  of  Vermont 
towns  with  New  Hampshire  as  promised  either  to  augment  the 

1    State  Papers,  vol.  viii.  p.  'J.[  ;  1,1.  vol.  xiii.  pp.  171,  175  ;   I/I.  vol.  xv.  p.  705. 


The  Militia  in  Northern  Neiv  Hampshire.  545 

influence  of  the  western  part  of  the  State  and  to  diminish  in  a 
corresponding  degree  the  political  power  which  the  eastern  sec- 
tion hud  acquired,  or  to  sever  themselves  from  New  Hampshire 
and  join  with  the  proposed  State  of  Vermont  or  New  Connecticut 
under  more  favorable  conditions  than  they  could  expect  from  New 
Hampshire.  At  two  periods  between  1776  and  the  close  of  the 
war  —  that  is  to  say,  in  1778  and  1781-1782,  —  these  towns  were 
in  active  union  with  Vermont  as  far  as  the  formal  action  of  both 
parties  could  accomplish  such  a  result.1 

Colonel  Bedel,  of  Haverhill,  and  Colonel  Brewster,  of  Hanover, 
were  members  of  the  Vermont  Board  of  War,2  and  Colonel  Morey 
recognized  the  civil  and  military  authority  of  Vermont,  and  as  far 
as  his  authority  and  influence  were  effectual,  his  regiment  was 
a  component  of  the  Vermont  militia.  Colonel  Bedel's  regiment, 
which  ha'd  been  organized  under  continental  authority,  was  dis- 
continued by  vote  of  Congress  November  27,  1778.  There  is 
evidence  that  Colonel  Bedel's  connection  with  the  Vermont  con- 
troversy was  a  moving  cause  in  this  result.3  He  represented  the 

1  Briefly  stated,  the  contention  of  the  New  Hampshire  party  was  that  upon  the 
dissolution  of  political  relations  between  the  colonies  and  the  mother  country,  and 
more  especially  in  respect  to  the  territory  in  controversy  between  New  York  and 
New  Hampshire,  the  towns,  between  the  political  units  and  the  original  sources  of 
political  authority,  were  invested  witli  the  right  to  determine  for  themselves  the  ques- 
tion whether  to  accord  allegiance  to  the  one  or  the  other  of  the  disputing  States,  or 
whether  to  erect  themselves  into  a  State  independent  of  the  mandate  of  any  other 
association  of  towns  or  committees  formed  for  the  purposes  of  government.  They 
urged  that  inasmuch  as  the  New  Hampshire  Constitution  of  177(3  had  never  been 
submitted  to  the  people  or  to  the  towns  for  ratification,  and  had  been  accepted  by  a 
part  of  the  towns  only,  it  was  operative  only  upon  such  as  had  elected  to  ratify  its 
provisions.  The  protesting  towns  took  care  not  to  do  any  act  which  could  be  con- 
strued as  a  ratification  of  that  form  of  government  in  the  six  years  from  early  in 
177(5  to  1782.  Their  argument  was  presented  in  the  controversial  and  official  litera- 
ture of  that  time  with  great  skill  and  effectiveness.  They  succeeded  in  making 
themselves  felt  as  a  political  force  to  be  reckoned  with  by  three  established  States 
and  the  Continental  Congress,  as  well  as  the  prospective  commonwealth  of  Vermont. 

A  number  of  the  more  important  collections  of  documents  and  historical  treatises 
relating  to  this  subject  in  its  various  aspects  are  mentioned  in  the  preface  to  State 
Papers,  vol.  xxvi.  p.  ix.  Several  valuable  contributions  to  the  history  of  the  same 
controversy  are  embodied  in  recent  biographies  of  historic  personages  of  that 
time.  Among,  them  the  following  are  especially  noteworthy  :  Klisha  Payne,  by 
William  11.  Cotton,  Proceedings  Grafton  and  Coos  Counties  Bar  Association,  vol.  i. 
p.  497 ;  Samuel  Livermore,  by  Charles  It.  Corning,  Id.,  p.  365;  John  Sullivan,  bv 
Alonzo  II.  Quint,  address  at  the  dedication  of  the  Sullivan  monument  at  Durham, 
Proceedings  of  that  occasion,  published  by  the  State,  p.  53;  Meshech  Weare,  a 
Monograph,  by  p]zra  S.  Stearns,  pamphlet,  18<J4 ;  Id.,  Proceedings  N.  II.  Society 
of  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution,  vol.  i.  p.  (32. 

-  Kecords  of  Governor  and  Council  of  Vt.,  vol.  ii.  p.  89. 

3  See  letters  of  Lieut.-Col.  John  Wheelock  and  General  Washington  on  this  sub- 
ject, both  of  date  November  20,  1778,  and  the  comments  of  the  historian  of  Hanover, 
Chase's  Hist,  of  Hanover,  p.  3'J5. 
VOL.  ii. — 35 


54ti  History  of  Littleton. 

adjoining  towns    of   Bath,   Lyman,   and   Morristown,  as  well   as 
Huverhill,  in  the   Vermont  Assembly  in  1781. * 

1  Colonel  Bi'Ji'l  was  the  most  prominent  figure  from  tlic  region  of  western  Grafton 
in  tlie  continental  service,  lie  was  principally  occupied  in  guarding  this  frontier  and 
co-operating  with  the  northern  army.  He  ceased  to  be  active  in  the  field,  after  Con- 
gress in  November,  177S,  declined  to  continue  his  regiment  under  authority  of  the 
confederacy.  Col.  Moses  1  la/en  was  in  a  measure  his  successor,  with  a  regiment 
partaking  of  the  characteristics  of  the  ranger  service  and  witli  continental  commis- 
sion. The  two  men  were  in  intimate  relations,  and  Colonel  Bedel  was  often  called 
upon,  after  his  formal  retirement,  to  aid  in  the  collection  and  forwarding  of  military 
stores  in  ami  from  the  Coos  country.  (Bedel  Papers,  State  papers,  vol.  xvii.  passim.) 
He  was  not  in  favor  with  President  Weare,  the  executive  head  of  the  New  Hampshire 
Revolutionary  administration  (Letter  to  the  Delegates  in  Congress,  August  1'J,  1778, 
and  Vt.  State  Papers,  oO.'J,  and  in  Vermont  politics  he  was  a  strenuous  opponent  of 
the  party  represented  by  Governor  Chittenden  and  the  Aliens.  The  Ilaldimand  cor- 
respondence discloses  an  attempt  on  the  part  of  the  British-Canadian  diplomats  to 
enlist  Colonel  Bedel  in  co-operation  with  the  leaders  of  the  Bennington  party  in  the 
truce  that  was  proposed,  with  a  cessation  of  hostilities  against  Vermont.  (Coll.  Vt. 
Hist.  Soc.,  vol.  ii.  pp.  '2(\1 ,  '2~'-\.)  In  view  of  the  attitude  of  his  political  associates  in 
the  valley  (Id.,  p.  17;))  the  eventual  conclusion  of  Colonel  Bedel  in  respect  to  such  a 
convention  between  Governor  Ilaldimand  and  Governor  Chittenden,  the  Aliens  and 
Fay,  could  be  foreseen  with  comparative  certainty. 

As  already  stated  in  the  text,  Colonel  Bedel  was  a  member  of  the  Vermont  Board 
of  War  in  17bl-1782.  From  the  standpoint  of  military  strategy  no  one  could  better 
appreciate  the  importance  of  the  fertile  and  populous  middle  and  upper  valley  of  the 
Connecticut  as  a  source  of  supply  for  the  continental  army  than  Colonel  Bedel.  Ik- 
was  keenly  alive  to  the  necessity  of  keeping  a  strong  force  well  in  hand  in  that  region 
at  all  times  ;  otherwise  invasion  would  be  invited,  and  its  disastrous  consequences 
in  the  depopulation  and  devastation  of  the  valley  inevitable.  Colonel  Bedel's  insist- 
ence upon  this  policy  undoubtedly  cau.«ed  the  discontinuance  of  his  command. 
(Memoir  of  Gen.  John  Stark  by  Caleb  Stark,  1W77,  pp.  liil,  Hi(i,  17'.'.)  It'  he  was  after- 
wards in  any  sense  a  party  to  the  negotiations  with  Governor  Ilaldimand,  it  was 
without  doubt  moved  by  his  skepticism  as  to  the  efficacy  of  the  measure  sanctioned 
by  Congress  for  the  defence  of  this  region  and  a  conviction  that  it  was  justifiable 
in  the  prospective  failure  of  other  protection  to  keep  the  enemy  bevond  our  own 
boundaries  by  recourse  to  the  methods  of  diplomacy.  With  the  failure  of  the  Inde- 
pendents of  the  valley  as  a  controlling  force,  cither  in  the  politics  of  the  one  State  or 
the  other,  which  immediately  followed  the  settlement  of  the  boundary  at  the  west 
bank  of  the  river.  Colonel  Payne  of  Lebanon,  Judge  Woodward  of  Hanover,  Colonel 
Bedel,  Colonel  Morey,  and  their  associates  found  themselves  in  irretrievable  political 
defeat  and  squarely  face  to  face  with  the  inevitable.  With  a  few  exceptions  these 
men  loyally  adapted  themselves  to  the  settled  conditions.  Colonel  Potter,  in  a  note 
to  his  Military  History,  states  that  Bedel  was  a  major-general  of  the  second  division 
of  the  N.  11.  militia  alter  the  war,  and  this  statement  is  adopted  by  Governor  Harri 
man  and  other  writers.  (Adjt. -Gen's.  Report,  N.  II.,  18Cli,  vol.  ii.  p.  24'2  :  "Granite 
Monthly,"  vol.  iii.  p.  Til:;.)  Noting  the  absence  of  any  record  to  verify  the  assertion 
taking  into  account  the  significant  fact  that  he  is  always  designated  as  "colonel  "  in 
t lie  Journal-,  of  the  House  in  17>  1-17<S">,  while  those  known  to  have  been  commissioned 
a.-  generals  in  the  militia  are  invariably  given  the  title  in  the  same  record  whenever 
a  military  designation  is  attached,  and  considering  the  attitude  of  Colonel  Bedel 
toward-  New  Hampshire  authority  in  the  later  years  of  the  war,  we  are  convinced 
that  on  thi>  point  Colonel  Potter  was  in  error.  There  was  but  one  major-general  in 
command  of  the  New  Hampshire  militia  at  any  one  time  until  about  the  date  of  the 
dccea>e  of  Colonel  Bedel,  and  this  ollicc  had  but  two  incumbents  until  17H>,  first 
General  Folsoin  and  later  General  Sullivan.  No  oflicial  record  mentions  Colonel 


The  Militia  in  Northern  Neiv  Hampshire.  547 

Colonel  Morej7,  notwithstanding  his  open  and  persistent  sup- 
port of  the  independent  movement,  continued  in  command  of  the 
Twelfth  Regiment  until  hostilities  reached  the  verge  of  armed 
collision  between  New  Hampshire  and  Vermont  over  the  juris- 
dictional  issue.  He  was  then,  on  the  llth  day  of  January,  1782, 
summarily  removed  from  his  command  by  the  New  Hampshire 
Legislature,  and  Lieut. -Col.  Charles  Johnston  was  made  Colonel. 
This,  the  last  experiment  in  any  form  of  a  union  of  the  towns  on 
the  east  side  of  the  river  with  Vermont,  shortly  resulted  in  a 
definite  and  unqualified  failure.  The  leaders  in  the  movement 
generally  acquiesced  in  the  result,  but  Colonel  Morey  could  not 
bring  himself  to  such  compliance  with  the  logic  of  events.  He 
removed  at  once  and  permanently  into  Fairlee  on  the  Vermont 
side  of  the  river.  There  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  days,  and 
occupied  a  commanding  position  for  many  years  both  in  civil  and 
military  affairs. 

Colonel  Morey  was  undoubtedly  a  consistent  partisan.  In  an- 
tagonism to  the  Exeter  party  in  New  Hampshire  his  attitude  was 
unequivocal  and  his  conduct  straightforward.  In  the  politics  of 
the  new  State  of  Vermont  he  was  the  same  sturdy  and  persistent 
opponent  of  the  Bennington  party.  This  is  not  the  place  for  a 
treatment  of  the  negotiations  between  the  Vermont  leaders  and 
the  British-Canadian  authorities  in  the  latter  part  of  the  war 
period.1  As  indicating  the  position  of  some  of  the  prominent 
men  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  then  claimed  as  a  part  of  Ver- 
mont, an  extract  from  a  report  of  one  of  the  commissioners,  dated 
September  30,  1781,  is  given:  — 

"I  find  that  Congress  are  much  alarmed,  and  have  lately  at  great  ex- 
pense employed  a  number  of  emissaries  in  Vermont  to  counteract  under- 
hand whatever  is  doing  for  government.  The  principal  of  these  are 
General  Bailey,  Colonels  Chas.  Johnston,  Moron  (Morey?),  Brewster, 
and  Major  Chikls  on  Connecticut  River. 

Bedel  as  a  brigadier  or  major-general.  In  the  two  years  intervening  between  the  fail- 
ure of  the  union  with  Vermont  and  the  inauguration  of  a  State  government  under  the 
Constitution  of  1784,  the  animosities  and  disappointments  engendered  by  the  struggle 
between  the  States  for  jurisdiction  over  the  territory  between  the  Green  Mountains 
and  the  Masonian  line  were  becoming  less  appreciable  before  otiier  interests  and 
fresher  issues.  Colonel  Payne  for  Lebanon  and  Colonel  Bedel  tor  Haverhill  were 
returned  to  the  new  Legislature,  and  were  at  once  accorded  recognition  commensurate 
with  their  character  and  ability.  (State  Papers,  vol.  xx.  jmaxim.) 

Colonel  Bedel  died  in  1787  in  the  full  prospect  of  supplementing  a  useful  and  dis- 
tinguished military  career  by  one  as  honorable  on  the  civic  side  in  public  affairs. 
(See  also  Biography  of  Timothy  Bedel  by  Edgar  Aldrich,  Proceedings  N.  11.  Hist. 
Soc.,  vol.  iii.  pp.  1  (.)4-2o  1 . ) 

1  Haldimand  Papers,  Coll.  Vt.  Hist.  Soc.,  vol   ii.  p.  55. 


54S  History  of  Littleton. 

'•  This  junto,  of  which  General  Bailey  is  the  soul,  are  endeavoring  to 
set  the  populace  against  their  present  leaders  by  insinuating  to  them 
that  thev  are  lories  and  intend  to  sell  Vermont,  &c."  * 

It  is  entirely  to  Colonel  Moray's  credit  that  he  was  the  subject 
of  such  criticism  as  this  at  the  hands  of  the  British-Canadian 
ollicials.  Indeed,  all  the  evidence  which  throws  light  on  the 
character  of  the  man  at  that  time  vindicates  the  loyalty  and 
patriotism  of  Colonel  Mo  rev  in  the  cause  of  independence. 

The  circumstance  in  which  he  was  placed  and  the  attitude  he 
assumed  in  State  politics  put  him  at  a  serious  disadvantage  in  his 
relations  with  the  dominant  party  in  New  Hampshire.2 

In  Xovembcr,  1770,  Capt.  Joshua  Howard,  of  Haverhill,  was 
promoted  to  be  second  major  in  place  of  Major  Hale.3  In  the 
records  this  officer's  name  appears  occasionally  as  Hay  ward,  as 
well  as  Howard.  There  is  nothing  to  indicate  that  any  changes 
were-  made  in  the  iicld  officers  of  the  regiment  after  the  advance- 
ment of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Johnston  until  March  1,  1783,  when 
the  House  of  Representatives  voted:4  — 

''  That  Capt.  Kbenezer  Green  [of  Lyine]  be  and  hereby  is  appointed 
Lieut. -Col.  of  the  twelfth  regiment  of  militia  in  this  State." 

••  That  Joshua  Howard,  Ksq1'  [of  Haverhill]  be  and  he  herein"  is  ap- 
pointed first  Major  of  the  twelfth  regiment  of  Militia  in  this  State.'' 

"That  Capt.  Edwards  Bueknam  [of  Lancaster]  be  and  he  hereby  is 
appointed  a  Second  Major  of  the  twelfth  regiment  of  Militia  in  this 
State." 

The  Council  records,  as  now  preserved,  do  not  indicate  a  con- 
currence in  these  votes  by  this  body.  Perhaps  there  was  an  error 
of  omission  at  this  point  on  the  part  of  the  recording  officer.  It 
will  be  noted  that  Capt.  Edwards  Bucknam  is  named  by  his  title. 
This  may  and  probably  does  indicate  that  a  company  or  companies 
had  at  this  date  been  organized  farther  north  than  Gunthwaite 
(Lisbon)/1  and  that  Captain  Ducknam  had  been  in  command  of  one 
of  them.  There  is  significance  in  tJie  appointment  of  a  major  to 
be  located  in  the  north  part  of  the  territory  of  the  regiment.  It 
presupposes  a  development  of  the  organization  cither  already  in 
progress  or  expected  in  that  direction. 

The  numbering  of  Moivy's  regiment  in  the  Vermont  military 
establishment  has  not  been  ascertained  with  absolute  certainty, 

1   Coll.  Vt,  Ili-t.  Soc.,  vol.  ii.  p.  ITS;   Amory's  Life  of  John  Sullivan,  p.  -'505. 
-   r,i'.urr:i]>iiv   ot    Israel    Morey    by   ex-liov.    Uo.-well    Farnham,   Proceedings   N.  II. 
Hi.-t.  Sue,,  withheld  for  reconstruction  and  revision. 
'    State   Papers,   vol.  viii.  p.  S.'M. 
1   State  Paper*,  vol.  viii.  p.  'J72.  ••>  State  Papers,  vol.  viii.  p.  21. 


The  Militia  in  Northern  New  Hampshire.  549 

though  it  was  assigned  as  a  regiment  east  of  the  river  to  the 
brigade  of  Gen.  Peter  Olcott.  Col.  Jonathan  Chase's  regiment, 
according  to  the  historian  of  Hanover,  became  the  third  in  the 
Vermont  arrangement,  and  Morey's  was  probably  the  first.1 

From  the  date  of  Colonel  Johnston's  advancement  to  the  colo- 
nelcy in  January,  1782,  he  continued  in  command,  and  his  regi- 
ment existed  territorially  as  it  had  been  during  the  war  until  the 
State  government  had  been  reorganized  under  the  Constitution  of 
1784. 2  In  the  latter  part  of  that  year  the  laws  governing  the 
militia  were  remodelled  on  a  peace  basis,  and  a  resulting  rearrange- 
ment of  regiments  and  reappointment  or  reassignment  of  officers 
ensued. 

Twenty-five  regiments  of  infantry  were  established,  besides  sev- 
eral regiments  of  artillery  and  cavalry.  The  northern  regiment 
became  the  Twenty-Fifth,  and  contained  the  towns  of  Lyman,  Lnn- 
daff,  Lincoln,  Concord  (alias  Gunthwaite),  Cockburne (Columbia), 
Franconia,  Littleton,  Dalton,  Lancaster,  Dartmouth  (Jefferson), 
Northumberland,  Stratford,  Colebrook,  and  Percy  (Stark).  Joseph 
Whipple,  of  Dartmouth,  became  Colonel,  and  held  the  command 
until  the  reorganization  in  1  792. 3  Bath  was  included  in  the  Haver- 
hill  (Thirteenth)  regiment  in  1784,  with  Moses  Dow  as  Colonel. 

This  was  an  interesting  and  progressive  period  for  the  militia. 
John  Sullivan  was  Major-General  from  1784  to  1786,  and  subse- 
quently commander-in-chief  for  three  years  by  virtue  of  his  office 
as  president  of  the  State.4  The  prestige  of  General  Sullivan's 
name  and  his  active  influence  promoted  a  healthful  esprit  de  corps 
in  the  militia  of  the  new  State.  With  a  general  revision  of  the 
laws  and  reorganization  of  the  militia  in  December,  1792,  the 
towns  of  the  Twenty-Fifth  Regiment,  with  little  change  and  with 
the  adoption  of  a  new  feature,  the  battalion  arrangement,  became 
the  Twenty-Fourth.  Concord  (Lisbon),  Lyman,  Littleton,  Fran- 
conia, Lincoln,  and  Dalton  were  the  first  battalion,  and  Lancaster, 
Northumberland,  Dartmouth,  Percy,  Coleburne  (Colebrook),  Coek- 
burne  (Columbia),  Stcwartstown,  and  Stratford  constituting  the 
second.  In  179-5,  Concord  (Lisbon)  and  Lyman  were  severed 
from  the  Twenty -Fourth  and  joined  with  the  Thirteenth  Regiment. 
At  the  same  time  the  battalion  division  was  altered,  and  Lancaster, 
Littleton,  Dalton,  Franconia,  State  Hill  (Bethlehem),  and  Jeffer- 
son constituted  the  first  battalion,  and  the  towns  above  them  the 

1  Keconls  of  Governor  and  Council  of  Vt.,  vol.  ii.  p.  88. 

-  Biography  by  J.  Q.  Bittinjjcr,  Granite  Monthly,  vol.  xv.  p.  85. 

3  Biography  by  Chester  B.  Jordan,  Proceedings  N.  II.  Hist.  Soc.,  vol.  ii.  p.  '2'^. 

4  Ainory's  Life  of  John  Sullivan,  p.  437. 


,").')(>  History  of  Littleton. 

second.1  This  was  the  status  of  the  regiment  until  December, 
1*<»4.  Coils  County  liad  been  established  in  the  previous  year. 
The  towns  of  Coils  County  were  continued  in  the  Twenty-Fourth 
Regiment,  while  Hath,  Lyman,  and  Landaff  were  made  a  first 
battalion,  and  Littleton,  Bethlehem,  Lincoln,  and  Franconia  con- 
stituted the  second  of  the  newly  formed  Thirty-Second  Regi- 
ment.- This  regiment  was  now  an  established  feature  of  the 
general  arrangement  continuing  practically  unchanged  for  half 
a  centurv. 

The  commanders  of  the  Twenty-Fourth  Regiment  in  their  order 
from  1793  to  1S04  were  Edwards  Bncknam,  of  Lancaster,  179-5  ; 
Jahe/  Parsons,  of  Colebrook,  1799;  Joel  Barlow,  of  Stratford, 
I*o1  :  and  Richard  C.  Everett,3  of  Lancaster,  1804. 

Benjamin  Kimball,  of  Bath,  in  1805,  when  the  organization  of 
the  Thirty-Second  Regiment  for  Northern  Grafton  was  effected, 
became  the  first  commandant.4 

In  estimating  the  number  of  enrolled  militia  in  any  town  in  the 
period  succeeding  the  Kevolution.it  must  he  remembered  that  the 
Militia  Act  of  March  18,  1780, continued  the  existing  provision  for 
two  classes.  —  the  train  band,  composed  of  youth  and  men  from 
sixteen  to  forty  years  of  age,  and  an  alarm  list,  composed  of  men 
from  forty  to  sixty  years  of  age.  By  the  Act  of  December  28, 
1792.  the  alarm  list  was  abolished  and  the  military  age  was  from 
eighteen  to  forty.  It  was  made  sixteen  to  forty  in  1795  (June 
lO).  This  was  the  age  fora  long  period  afterwards.  By  the  Act 
of  June  24,  1786,  towns  which  could  furnish  thirtv-two  privates 
and  the  proper  number  of  commissioned  and  non-commissioned 
officers  (thirteen)  were  required  to  establish  one  company;  but 
when  a  town  had  less  than  thirty-two  privates  and  a  sufficient 
number  of  officers  thev  were  joined  to  such  other  corps  as  the  field 
officer  might  think  proper. 

By  Act  of  December  24. 1792,  which  was  reallv  a  new  military 
code,  the  number  of  privates  for  a  company  was  fixed  at  sixty- 
lour,  witli  no  provision  for  a  less  number  for  the  first  company  or 
a  greater  tor  the  second. 

Littleton,  therefore,  at  some  time  between  1790  and  1.SOO.  as 
the  census  statistics  would  indicate,  became  entitled  to  a  full  com- 

1    I  '<.Jll]iiIe>l    Laws  of  1MI.-),   ],.  I'll',. 

-  ( 'ompilei]  Laws  of  !>•():>.  ],.  •_>:, i. 

I'.iouraphy   ,,f  1,'iehanl   ( '.    Kverett   l>y   Chester   H.  Jordan,  Proceedings  Gnif'ton 
:n. 'I  Coos  ('.unities  p,:ir  As-o.-iatioii,  vol.  i.  p.   |:;7. 

'  I- P. m  IT'1'-'  tu  l^l'i  rcLriininl.il  eommati'lers  \ven  ,  i>y  law.  aeronle'l  the  r;nik  of 
i'-ii'e'iaiit  colonel  roniin.'iii'laiit.  .-iii'l  the  iiiennilieiit  heM  rank  ecuiivak'nt  lo  that  !)»•- 
'"'•'''  uti'l  ut'ler  thill  |n-riinl  aceui-.le.l  to  a  colonel.  An  aiil  to  the  governor  in  the  same 
perio'l  ua>  al-i  ile.«i','iia!i.-.l  aipl  i-ankuil  a- a  lieutenant  colonel  coininaiulant. 


The  Militia  in  Northern  New  Hampshire.  551 

pany  of  sixty-four  privates,  independently  of  other  towns.  Per- 
sons in  disability  and  the  classes  exempt  by  law  would  render  the 
available  enrolment  less  than  the  census  might  seem  to  permit. 

A  peculiar  feature  of  the  re-enacted  provision  of  the  law  of 
1780  relating1  to  the  body  of  reserves  designated  as  the  alarm  list, 
and  which  existed  with  various  modifications  from  1775  to  1792, 
at  one  time  including  men  from  fifty  to  sixty-five  years,  at  an- 
other those  from  fifty  to  seventy  years,  and  at  another  those  from 
forty  to  sixty,  wa's  a  provision  that  a  captain  of  a  company  in  the 
alarm  list  should  hold  rank  as  colonel,  lieutenant  as  lieutenant- 
colonel,  and  ensign  as  major.  The  reason  for  this  peculiar  rule 
in  the  rank  of  these  officers  is  not  apparent.  At  the  date  of  the 
repeal  of  this  law,  Littleton  could  have  had  but  a  small  contin- 
gent for  the  alarm  list.  The  organization  of  this  branch  of  the 
service,  requiring  certain  military  duties  from  men  between  the 
ages  of  forty  and  sixty,  fifty  and  sixty-five,  or  fifty  and  seventy, 
was  an  outgrowth  of  the  necessities  of  revolutionary  conditions, 
and  ceased  to  be  a  feature  of  the  system  within  a  few  years  after 
the  settlement  of  permanent  State  and  federal  governments  with 
reasonable  certainty  of  continuing  peace. 

The  population  of  Littleton  is  not  given  in  the  census  of  1785. 
It  is  not  known  that  any  town  organization  existed  for  this  muni- 
cipality till  1787.  It  may  be  assumed,  however,  that  the  neigh- 
boring towns  sparsely  settled,  while  the  war  was  in  progress,  like 
Littleton,  Dalton,  Franconia,  Lincoln,  and  Lyman,  but  afterwards 
steadily  increasing  in  population,  were  now  adopting  methods  of 
organization  in  the  militia  under  existing  laws,  and  that  men  and 
officers  were  distributed  in  some  practicable  way  consistent  with 
prevailing  conditions.  By  the  census  of  1790  Littleton  had  a 
population  of  ninety-six.  This  would  presuppose  a  military  en- 
rolment of  about  twenty.  In  1800  the  population  was  three  hun- 
dred and  eighty-one,  and  the  enrolment  might  be  estimated  at 
seventy-five.  Doubtless  the  settlers  maintained  their  connections 
after  the  war  with  the  military,  supplied  a  due  complement  of 
men,  and  were  accorded  official  recognition  in  the  companies. 
This  supposition  would  account  for  some  of  the  military  titles 
that  were  borne  by  prominent  men  of  this  settlement.  Among 
these  were  dipt.  Peleg  Williams,  Capt.  Thomas  Minor.  Capt. 
Samuel  Learned,  Capt.  David  Lindsey,  Capt.  Elkanah  Iloskins,1 

1  Iloskins  was  a  soldier  of  the  devolution,  and  subsequently  a  participant  in 
Shays'  Rebellion.  He  came  to  northern  New  Hampshire  after  the  failure  of  this  up- 
rising and  on  account  of  his  connection  with  it.  This  possibly  is  where  he  acquired 
his  military  title. 


Hi  xt  or  ij  of  Littleton. 

("apt.  Ebenexer  Pingree,  Capt.  Caleb  Hopkinson,  and  Capt. 
Samuel  Hudson,  neither  of  whom,  so  far  as  any  record  now  ex- 
tant shows,  with  the  exception  possibly  of  Pelcg;  Williams,  had 
acquired  the  rank  of  captain  in  the  active  service  in  the  Revolu- 
tion. At  sonic  time  between  1790  and  1800  the  town  was  accorded 
a  separate  company.  Capt.  James  Williams,  Lieut.  Nathaniel 
Webster,  and  Ensign  Jonas  Nurse  were  its  officers.  This  is  on 
the  authority  of  Mrs.  Martha  (Nurse)  Goodwin,  a  daughter  of 
Ensign  Nurse.  She  recollected  the  occasion  of  "their  first  train- 
in  LT.  The  men  were  entertained  by  the  officers  at  the  public 
tavern.  Each  of  the  officers,  it  may  be  noted,  was  an  innkeeper. 
Mrs.  Goodwin  remembered  that  the  officers  dined  in  the  house 
and  the  men  were  treated  with  nutcakes  and  cheese  on  the  out- 
side. In  her  reminiscences  Mrs.  Goodwin  made  no  superfluous 
allusion  to  the  subject  of  supplementary  refreshment.  In  those 
days  this  was  sine  qua  tt<»i  at  trainings  and  musters.  Those 
affairs  took  place  at  the  tavern  kept  by  the  several  officers  in 
town. 

In  time  the  growth  of  population  allowed  a  division  into  two 
companies,  —  one  in  the  north  part, including  the  village;  and  the 
other  in  the  southwest  part,  taking  in  the  Rankin  Mills  region 
and  West  Littleton.  This  was  not  later  than  1814,  and  perhaps 
earlier.  No  State  record  of  the  appointment  of  company  officers 
is  extant  for  the  years  between  the  close  of  the  Revolution  and 
181 1.5.  From  the  hitter  date  for  a  period  of  about  fortv  years, 
they  are  recorded  in  the  office  of  the  Adjutant-General  at  Con- 
cord. Prior  to  that  time  casual  records  and  traditions  are  the 
souive  ot  such  information  as  we  have  as  to  the  personnel  of 
companv  officers. 

The  date  of  the  organization  of  the  first  separate  military  com- 
panv at  Littleton  may  be  fixed  approximately  by  the  first  mention 
ot  James  Williams  as  Captain  in  the  town  records,  which  was  in 
1i'.|(.i.  Tin-  succession  of  commanders  of  the  company,  accord- 
ing to  the;  same  test,  would  be.  ("2)  Capt.  Nathaniel  Webster. 
(•})  Capf.  Andrew  Rankin,  (4)  Capt.  Perley  Robins.  (.">  ('apt. 
havid  Gooda.ll.  Jr.,  (<5)  Capt.  Noah  Farr.  (  7)  Capt.  David  Rankin, 
(*)  Capt.  (iuy  |-:ia.  tH)  Capt.  Elilm  Sargent. 

I'  \\'ill  not  be  understood  that  this  statement  of  the  official  suc- 
cession in  the  first  Littleton  companv  or  companies  has  the  sanc- 
'i"ii  o|  definite  records,  and  it  is  of  course  ipiite  possible  that  the 
first  organization  of  a  separate  companv  in  town  was  at  an  earlier 
'hite  than  is  indicated  bv  tin-  evidence  on  which  our  supposition 
is  hn.,ed. 


The  Militia  in  Northern  Neiv  Hampshire.  553 

The  assumptions  here  given  preference  are  those  that  seem  the 
most  probable  when  the  record  is  read  with  reference  to  tradi- 
tional evidence  which  is  apparently  authentic  and  reasonable. 

David  Rankin  had  become  Major  of  the  regiment  in  1814,  and 
of  course  had  previously  been  Captain  of  his  company.  Guy  Ela 
is  remembered  as  a  Captain  by  persons  now  living,  as  is  James 
Williams.  Descendants  of  Elihu  Sargent  exhibit  his  commission, 
and  in  the  instrument  (1814)  he  is  named  as  Captain  of  the 
second  company  in  Littleton.  James  Williams  became  known 
later  as  Major,  perhaps  acquiring  the  title  by  a  staff  appoint- 
ment. George  Little,  a  village  merchant  of  a  subsequent  date, 
had  the  same  title.  Possibly  he  obtained  it  before  coming  to  Lit- 
tleton. Certain  reliance  is  placed  upon  the  significance  of  the 
mention  of  a  person  in  a  public  record  in  the  early  times  by  a 
military  or  other  title  of  honor,  because  they  were  considered  im- 
portant and  a  misapplication  in  formal  documents  was  not  toler- 
ated. In  tables  given  elsewhere  in  the  work,  the  full  roster  of 
Littleton  men  in  commission  in  the  militia  is  elaborated. 

This  review  of  the  relations  of  the  people  of  the  town  and  the 
regions  with  which  it  was  associated  in  military  affairs  has  been 
developed  with  careful  reference  to  authentic  historical  records 
and  publications,  and  with  special  scrutiny  of  the  laws  of  the 
•province  and  State  which  governed  the  subject.  The  absence  of 
certain  information  at  several  important  points  is  an  embarrass- 
ment which  is  fully  realized.  Nevertheless,  in  the  general  out- 
line of  the  narrative  and  in  many  important  features  the  course  of 
events  has  been  traced  with  care  and  scrupulous  attention  to  the 
available  sources  of  local  and  State  history.  Without  this  effort 
some  lines  of  inquiry  might  have  remained  obscure  and  some 
important  facts  might  have  passed  beyond  recovery. 


History  of  Littleton. 


LI  ii. 

FREEMASONRY. 

BY  ALHKIIT  STILLMAX  BATCHELLOR. 

^T^IIF  institution  of  Freemasonry  gained  an  organized  establish- 

1  incut  in  \i-\v  Hampshire  in  IToli.  This  was  in  St.  John's 
Lodge  at  Portsmouth.  It  received  its  authority  and  privileges 
immediately  from  a  deputy  of  the  Earl  of  London,  then  Grand 
Master  of  England.  A  long  period  of  war  and  political  commotion 
intervened  between  this  event  and  the  conclusion  of  the  War  of  the 
Revolution.  In  such  times  it  would  not  be  expected  that  an  in- 
stitution having  for  its  great  objects  "the  restraint  of  improper 
desires  and  passions,  the  cultivation  of  an  active  benevolence,  and 
the  promotion  of  a  correct  knowledge  of  the  duties  we  owe  to 
God.  our  neighbor  and  ourselves,"  would  find  the  general  temper 
and  disposition  of  men  at  all  congenial  to  its  advancement.  Until 
the  reign  of  peace  fairly  began,  Freemasonry  seems  to  have  ac- 
complished little  more  than  to  hold  its  own  in  this  State. 

Five  lodges  preceded  the  establishment  of  a  Grand  Lodge. 
This  was  effected  in  ITS'.i,  and  the  eminent  soldier  and  statesman, 
(Jen.  John  Sullivan,  then  President  of  the  State,  became  the  first 
Grand  Master. 

After  the  organization  of  a  Grand  Lodge,  the  extension  and 
increase  of  Freemasonry  kept  pace  with  the  general  prosperity. 
Lodges  multiplied,  and  attracted  the  best  men  and  strongest  minds 
ot  the  principal  communities.  It  is  said  that  lit'tv  of  the  fifty-six 
signers  of  tlie  Declaration  of  Independence  had  been  members  of 
this  fraternity.  For  a  long  period  no  imitative  organization  arose 
as  a  rival  to  this  order.  The  location  of  subordinate  lodges  of 
course  followed  tin.1  centres  of  population  and  municipal  promi- 
ii' Mice.  Littleton  con  t  in  ned  to  be  one  of  the  "least  of  the  cities  of 
Judah  lor  nearly  seventy-five  vears  from  its  first  settlement  in 
lit".  Northumberland,  Lancaster.  Hath.  Ilaverhill,  and  Watcr- 
lord.  \t..  hail  meantime  enjoyed  superior  positions  as  local 
"  ca  pit  als." 

Freemasonry  and  other  similar  institutions  which  take  root  in 
the  social  character  of  man  do  not  assume  the  form  of  active  and 


Freemasonry.  555 

efficient  organizations  until  they  find  the  advanced  fruits  of  in- 
dustry and  civil  progress  at  their  disposal.  Hence  the  first 
organic  work  of  the  institution  is  exemplified  in  the  more  advanced 
communities.  The  lodges  first  established  in  this  vicinity  were 
North  Star,  at  Northumberland  in  1797  ;  Union,  at  Haverhill  in 
1799  ;  Meridian  Sun,  at  Bath  in  1815 ;  and  Morning  Dawn,  at 
Waterford,  Vt.,  in  1818.  The  relations  of  these  lodges  to 
Freemasonry  in  this  section,  and  particularly  Littleton,  will  be 
considered  in  their  order. 

Northumberland  gained  early  importance  as  a  military  post.  It 
had  a  fort  in  the  French  and  Indian  War,  and  another  in  the 
Revolution.  Here  the  settlers  assembled  for  safety  in  times  of 
alarm.  The  town  became  a  centre  of  trade  and  occupied  a 
position  of  importance  as  compared  with  the  other  early  settle- 
ments in  the  vicinity.  Several  Freemasons  who  had  become 
residents  of  the  "  Coos  Country  "  obtained  a  charter  for  a  lodge, 
dated  the  eighteenth  day  of  December,  1797,  to  be  designated  as 
North  Star,  No.  8,  and  to  be  established  at  Northumberland.  The 
lodge  was  continued  at  this  place  only  until  1800,  in  which  year 
it  was  moved  to  Lancaster.  Two  citizens  of  Littleton  appear  by 
the  returns  and  records  to  have  been  recipients  of  the  degrees  at 
Northumberland.  These  were  Levi  Aldrich  and  James  Rankin,  Jr. 

The  first  Freemason  of  Littleton,  so  far  as  has  been  ascertained, 
was  Lcvi  Aldrich.  He  was  a  son  of  Gen.  George  Aldrich,  a 
veteran  of  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  who  was  prominent  in 
Masonry  and  in  public  affairs.  Levi  received  his  degrees  in  1799, 
but  the  exact  dates  cannot  be  ascertained.  He  was  present  at  the 
"raising"  of  Mr.  Rankin,  and  evidently  is  to  be  ranked  as  his 
senior  in  the  craft.  Mr.  Aldrich  was  a  native  of  Westmoreland. 
Levi  Aldrich  settled  in  Littleton  as  early  as  179li.  In  that  year 
he  held  the  town  offices  of  collector  and  constable,  and  wns  a 
Selectman  in  1797.  It  is  said  that  he  occupied  the  farm  on  which 
Mr.  C.  Frank  Lewis  now  lives.  His  wife,  Sybil  Merrill,  was  also 
of  Westmoreland.  She  deceased  before  he  removed  from  Little- 
ton, and  he  subsequently  remarried. 

At  this  period  a  considerable  emigration  from  the  States  into 
Canada  was  in  progress.  Superior  inducements  to  settlers  were 
offered  by  the  government.  This  was  an  attraction  to  many  resi- 
dents of  New  Hampshire  and  Vermont.  The  relief  which  self- 
imposed  exile  to  the  Provinces  gave  to  poor  debtors  was  another 
motive  which  impelled  the  movement  from  the  States. 

Mr.  Aldrich  removed  to  I>arnston  in  1800.  He  at  once  identi- 
fied himself  with  the  brethren  of  the  fraternitv  aloim'  the  line. 


~>~>G  History  of  Littleton. 

In  1809  he  appears  as  a  charter  member  of  Lively  Stone  Lodge, 
established  at  the  Hall  of  Samuel  Pomeroy  at  Derby  Line,  Vt. 

The  War  of  181:2  so  disturbed  the  relations  of  the  brethren  of 
this  lodge,  belonging  as  they  did  on  both  sides  of  the  line,  that 
the  Canadians  obtained  from  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Canada  a  char- 
ter for  a  ne\v  lodge,  which  was  styled  Golden  Rule  Lodge  and 
located  at  Stanstead. 

.Mr.  A  Id  rich  was  one  of  the  charter  members  of  that  lodge,  and 
Tyler  from  1814  to  1823.  He  died  in  1832. 

The  second  Littleton  Freemason  was  James  Rankin,  Jr.  He 
was  a  son  of  Elder  James  Rankin  and  a  man  of  eccentric  char- 
acter. This  led  him  to  extremes  in  a  variety  of  undertakings. 
At  one  period  he  was  an  cxhorter  in  the  Methodist  denomination. 
He  was  made  a  Master  Mason  March  10,  1709 ;  was  subsequently 
identified  with  Meridian  Sun  Lodge  at  Bath  and  with  Morning 
Dawn  at  Waterford.  It  is  inferred  that  he  had  some  untnasonic 
propensities  from  the  fact  that  he  was  admonished  by  North  Star 
Lodge,  and  afterwards  suspended  for  six  months  by  Morning 
Dawn.  He  resided  in  this  town  until  about  1810,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Canada,  and  lived  near  the  hamlet  now  known  as  Smith's 
Mills  near  Stanstead.  He  died  in  1820. 

Union  Lodge,  No.  10,  was  established  at  Haverhill  under  a  char- 
ter dated  January  3,  1799.  Among  the  prominent,  men  in  the 
organization  were  Gen.  Moody  Bedel,  lion.  Stephen  P.  Webster,  and 
Gen.  .Moses  Dow.  The  lod<re  was  removed  to  Orford  in  1809. * 
While  located  there  Edward  Sawyer  was  one  of  its  initiates.  He 
brought  the  lodge  into  some  notoriety  by  his  alleged  connection 
subsequently  with  the  Morgan  affair.  He  became  a  colonel  of  the 
?Xew  York  State  Militia,  and  was  indicted  in  the  latter  part  of 
l*2i!  upon  a  charge  of  being  an  accessory  to  the  exit  of  Morgan 
from  Western  New  York.2  The  u  Anti-Masonic  Almanac  "  of  1834 
states  that  he  was  "a  very  respectable  mechanic." 

lu  an  editorial  in  the  "  Boston  Herald"  of  May  24,  1884,  which 
clears  off  some  of  the  current  nonsense  about  "  the  oldest  Mason," 
he  was  represented  as  residing  at  Grand  Plane,  Mich.,  the  oldest 
Freemason  but  one  then  living,  ("apt.  Sylvanns  Hatch,  of  Port 
Lavacca,  Tex.,  was  his  senior  in  this  regard,  having  been  initiated 
earlier  than  Colonel  Sawyer,  but  in  the  same  year,  ISO!'.  The 
article  (pioteil  gives  Grand  Seeretary  Berrv  of  Maine  as  its  author- 
ity. Mr.  Berry  had  made  this  subject  a  specialty,  and  his  statc- 

1    I'rorcMMlinirs  dram!   I.o^c.  X.  II.,  vol.  i.  pp.  1  }.">,  1  IS. 

-  Weed'*  Aun,l,i,,._.rai  hy,  vol.  i.  p.  L>:;  ;  IIi>tury  of  the  Morgan  Affair  bv  Kobert 
M-.rri:.,  I. ]..!>..  p.  i:,l. 


Freemasonry.  557 

ment  is  no  doubt  deserving  of  the  utmost  confidence.  Both  of 
these  venerable  Freemasons  have  since  deceased,  though  Colonel 
Sawyer's  death  preceded  that  of  Captain  Hatch. 

The  next  Freemason  becoming  a  resident  of  this  town,  of  whom 
there  is  any  information,  was  Joseph  Emerson  Dow.  He  was 
made  a  Master  Mason  in  Union  Lodge  at  Haverhill,  May  20, 1799. 
He  was  a  son  of  Gen.  Moses  Dow,  before  mentioned,  and  father  of 
Moses  A.  Dow,  the  successful  editor  and  publisher.  Joseph  E.  Dow 
resided  here  from  1807  to  1811,  and  was  our  first  resident  lawyer. 
His  house  was  at  North  Littleton,  which  was  then  the  principal 
settlement.  He  was  born  at  Haverhill  in  1777,  and  died  at  Fran- 
conia,  August  25,  1837.  He  held  many  local  offices,  and  was  a 
very  useful  citizen  in  the  communities  where  he  dwelt,  but  was  not 
otherwise  successful  for  himself.1 

Meridian  Sun,  No.  25,  of  Bath,  became  the  nearest  Masonic  in- 
stitution that  was  accessible  to  citizens  of  Littleton  and  so  contin- 
ued to  be  till  the  fall  of  1818. ..  It  maintained  a  very  high  standing 
socially  in  Bath  for  many  years.  Its  rolls  of  membership  bore  the 
names  of  Swan,  Payson,  Hutchins,  Jonathan  Smith,  and  many 
other  worthy  and  notable  men.  Not  one  of  its  members  is  now 
known  to  be  among  the  living,  and  its  local  records  are  lost.  Much 
of  the  interesting  story  of  their  Masonic  labors  and  recreations  is 
forever  buried  with  the  actors  or  obliterated  with  their  archives. 
One  story  of  the  craft  at  Bath  has  become  famous  and  a  part  of 
the  common  stock  of  the  older  narrators. 

It  seems  that  the  brethren  were  accustomed  to  celebrate  St. 
John's  Day  on  an  elaborate  scale  and  with  religious  regularity. 
On  one  of  their  festive  occasions,  Rev.  David  Sutherland,  the 
celebrated  Scotch  Presbyterian  clergyman  of  the  place,  was 
present,  though  not  a  member  of  the  order,  and  was  invited  to 
propose  a  sentiment.  The  reverend  gentleman  responded  with 
due  caution  but  with  pungent  wit.  He  said:  "May  all  Masons  be 
good  men ;  and,  if  it  be  a  righteous  institution,  may  all  good  men 
be  Masons." 

As  Bath  was  the  commercial  emporium  of  the  Ammonoosuc 
Valley,  it  naturally  became  the  principal  centre  of  other  popular 
activities. 

Its  lodge  of  Freemasons  held  its  first  regular  communication  in 
1815.  James  Rankin,  Jr.,  and  Nathaniel  Rix,  Jr.,  of  Littleton,  at 
once  identified  themselves  with  this  lodge. 

Mr.  Rix  had  lived   many  years  in   Canada,  and   probably  re- 

1  Granite  Monthly,  vol.  x.  p.  229  ;  Proceedings  Grafton  and  Coos  Counties  Bar 
Association,  1893,  vol.  ii.  p.  416. 


;V>8  History  of  Littleton. 

eeived  his  Masonic  degrees  in  that  province  or  near  the  line  in 
Vermont ;  but  definite  information  as  to  that  point  has  not  been 
found. 

Asa  Gould  and  Daniel  Carter,  two  West  Littleton  farmers,  next 
appeared  as  candidates  for  the  degrees  at  Bath.  They  both  were 
made  Entered  Apprentices  August  27, 1817,  Fellow  Crafts  June  17. 
1818.  On  the  8th  of  April,  1819,  they  were  both  raised  to  the 
degree  of  Master  Mason  in  the  then  new  Morning  Dawn  Lodge  at 
Waterford. 

Mr.  Gould  was  a  native  of  ilenniker,  a  farmer  who  had  resided 
several  years  in  Vermont,  but  passed  the  most  of  his  life  in  Little- 
ton, lie  was  a  Democrat  in  polities,  but  without  church  affilia- 
tions. He  lived  on  the  Joseph  Albec  place,  more  recently  owned 
by  mining  operators,  and  died  in  1849. 

Mr.  Carter  was  born  in  Pembroke  in  1773,  and  came  to  Littleton 
about  1791.  lie  was  always  a  farmer,  a  Democrat,  and  a  Metho- 
dist. He  occupied  the  farm  which- his  son,  George  Carter,  Esq., 
of  this  village,  cultivated  with  large  success. 

Anson  Wheeler  of  Littleton  followed  Mr.  Carter  and  Mr.  Gould 
in  Meridian  Sun  Lodire.  lie  received  the  E.  A.  degree  December 
•24.  1817  ;  F.  (.'.  July  15,  1818;  M.  M.  November  11,  1818.  He 
was  a  well-known  citixen  of  this  town.  II is  blacksmith  shop  was 
located  near  the  Tillotson  Wheeler  store  on  the  cast  side  of  the 
road.  These  places  were  on  the  farm  at  North  Littleton,  now 
owned  by  George  W.  Richardson.  Mr.  Wheeler  became  a  resident 
of  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  in  his  later  years,  and  died  at  that  place. 

Another  associate  of  these  early  craftsmen  at  Bath,  who  was  a 
resident  of  Littleton,  was  Major  George  Little.  He  was  a  well- 
known  merchant  and  a  man  of  general  affairs.  Of  large  capacity 
and  broad  views,  he  stood  among  the  first  business  men  of  this 
region.  He  had  wealth,  but  it  was  his  own  personality  that  made 
him  the  man  of  mark  that  he  was  in  the  midst  of  prominent 
contemporaries. 

Elijah  Sabine  Woolson,  while  a  resident  of  Lisbon,  received  his 
decrees  in  .Meridian  Sun  Lodge, being  made  a  Master  Mason  April 
lo,  I*:!.).  He  bore  a  high  character  as  a  public  official  and  as  a. 
business  man.  lie  was  a  useful  and  energetic  member  of  this 
community  tor  a  long  term  of  years,  and  died  respected  bv  all  who 
knew  him.  He  was  one  of  the  petitioners  for  the  establishment 
of  Kane  Lodge-  at  Lisbon  in  1S;">s. 

Lodges  bad  been  established  previously  at  Danville,  St.  Johns- 
bury.  Newbury.  and  other  places  in  the  neighboring  counties  of 
Vermont,  and  a  Masonic  sentiment  was  created  which  stimulated 


Freemasonry.  559 

the  brethren  along  the  Connecticut  Valley  to  organize  themselves 
into  a  Masonic  body.  Waterford  was  then  a  flourishing  village, 
and  there  they  determined  to  erect  the  altar. 

The  petition  to  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Vermont  for  the  charter  for 
Morning  Dawn  Lodge  has  been  lost  or  is  not  accessible. 

The  Early  Records,  Grand  Lodge  of  Vermont,  Reprint,  p.  209, 
informs  us  that  "  a  petition  of  sundry  brethren  in  Waterford  was 
presented."  It  was  voted  to  grant  a  charter.  The  date  of  it  is 
given  in  the  early  records  as  October  7,- 1818. 

The  Record  Book  of  Morning  Dawn  Lodge,  No.  48,  has  been 
preserved.  November  12,  1818,  is  the  date  of  the  minutes  of  the 
first  meeting  contained  in  the  book.  The  last  meeting  of  which 
there  is  a  record  is  that  of  November  20,  1828.  A  report  of  the 
secretary  on  the  financial  affairs  of  the  lodge  is  on  a  loose  sheet, 
dated  December  18,  1828. 

For  the  meeting  of  November  12,  1818,  the  record  is  that  the 

"  Lodge  opened  Tor  the  first  time  on  the  first  degree  of  Masonry  for  the 
despatch  of  business,  with  the  following  officers  and  brethren  present: 
A.  Jacobs,  Master;  D.  Quimby,  S.  W.  P.  T.;  II.  Quimby,  J.  W. ;  N. 
Pike,  Treasurer  ;  N.  Rix,  Jr.,  Secretary  ;  Isaac  Farrington,  8.  Deacon; 
Daniel  Pike,  J.  D.,  and  other  brethren,  viz.  :  II.  Holbrook,  J.  Joslin, 
8.  Gaskell,  A.  Gould,  B.  Pike,  H.  Cole,  Daniel  Carter,  A.  Wheeler,  J. 
Rankin,  Frye,  and  Kidder." 

How  these  officers  were  designated  we  arc  not  informed.  The 
book  of  by-laws  has  not  been  preserved.  That  might  add  to  our 
information  concerning  the  preliminary  doings  of  the  grantees  of 
the  charter.  At  this  meeting  of  November  12,  which,  it  will  be 
noted,  was  within  a  month  and  two  or  three  days  after  the  receipt 
of  their  authority  to  proceed  with  the  organization,  two  Littleton 
men,  Comfort  Day  and  Amasa  Whcelock,  presented  their  petitions. 
At  this  meeting  u  a  committee  was  voted  to  agree  with  Mr.  Caswell 
for  the  use  of  his  hall  and  firewood  and  candles  for  the  term  of 
three  months  ;  the  committee  reported  we  could  obtain  them  for 
one  dollar  per  month.  Lodge  voted  to  accept.  Chose  a  committee 
to  settle  with  Mr.  Caswell  for  the  use  of  the  hall  heretofore.  Re- 
ported that  he  charged  sixty-seven  cents  per  night.  Lodge  voted 
to  accept  the  charge.'' 

These  votes  indicate  previous  gatherings  of  the  brethren  or 
meetings  of  the  lodge. 

It  appeared,  also,  by  the  record  of  this  meeting,  that  Nathaniel 
Cook,  Sen.  Warden,  had  deceased,  and  Harvey  Holbrook  was 
chosen  to  the  vacancy. 


ou'O  History  of  Littleton. 

This  record  is  continued  without  interruption  for  ten  years,  and 
is  largelv  filled  with  the  routine  business  which  possesses  no  gen- 
eral interest. 

In  reviewing  it  some  entries  will  be  found  which  illustrate  the 
peculiarities  of  the  times,  or  yield  personal  items  of  historic 
interest. 

Two  dollars  was  the  candidate's  preliminary  deposit;  ten  dol- 
lars, the  next;  and  three  dollars  for  raising;  fifteen  dollars, 
full  fee.  Clergymen  received  them  for  one  dollar,  the  balance 
remitted. 

December  10  a  code  of  by-laws  was  reported  and  accepted. 

Feb.  14,  ISli).  "  Bro.  Rankin's  case  had  under  consideration  and 
voted  to  suspend  him  for  the  term  of  two  months." 

'•  Voted  to  pay  Mr.  Caswell  for  the  use  of  the  hall  and  candles  the 
hist  quarter  three  dollars." 

June  :5rd.  1*11).  "  Voted  to  remove  the  place  of  meeting  of  the  Lodge 
on  the  day  of  our  installation  and  in  future  to  the  hall  of  Mr.  Seth  B. 
Ellis." 

••  Voted  to  have  Bro.  W.  Jacobs  give  notice  to  the  Lodge  at  St.  Johns- 
bury  of  our  installation." 

••  Voted  to  have  Bro.  Albec  Hurl  hurt  invite  the  Lodge  at  Lancaster 
to  our  installation. 

••  Voted  to  have  the  Secretary  invite  by  letter  the  Lodge  at  Bath  to 
attend  our  installation." 

June  ii.  ••  The  instalment  of  our  Lodge  took  place  by  warrant  from 
the  Grand  Lodge  to  K.  \\ .  John  II.  Cotton,  who  presided  as  Grand 
Master,  and  who  filled  the  several  stations  of  the  Grand  Lodge 
with  the  brethren  following:  \V.  Jude  Kimball,  D.  G.  M.  ;  --  \\ilsou, 
S.  G.  \V.  ;  \V.  Peek,  J.  (I.  \V. ;  W.  -  — ,  G.  T.;  Br.  Lymau,  G.  S.  ; 
Br.  I'hineas  Peek,  G.C.  ;  Br.  Joseph  Haseltiue,  G.  Marshal;  Br. 
Elijah  Davis,  S.  G.  I).  ;  Br.  Wilson,  J.  G.I). ;  Br.  Armington,  G.  8.  B.  ; 
Br.  Klisha  Cushman,  G.T. 

The  procession  proceeded  to  the  meeting-house,  where  a  dis- 
course was  delivered  by  the  Grand  Chaplain,  from  1  Corinthians 
iii.  11-1.").  The  lodge  was  then  duly  installed,  and  the  following 
brethren  inaugurated  to  their  respective  offices.  (See  table  for 
list  of  these  officers.) 

At  the  next  meeting,  July  1,  we  get  a  back  sight  at  some  fea- 
tures of  the  meeting. 

••  Voted  to  have  Bros.  Wheeler  and  Gregory  pay  the  Musick  for  ser- 
viee>  at  Installation  as  thev  had  agreed." 


Freemasonry.  561 

"  Voted  to  pay  Capt.  Freeman  for  two  quarts  of  rum,  and  trouble 
of  house  on  the  da}-  of  Installation  two  dollars  and  fifty  cents." 

The  annual  meeting  was  November  4,1819.  Rev.  Dr.  Blumley, 
a  visitor,  installed  the  newly  elected  officers. 

"  Voted  to  have  the  Stewards  agree  with  some  person  to  furnish  the 
Lodge  with  necessary  refreshments  for  the  term  of  six  months,  and  that 
the  Stewards  be  furnished  with  cash  to  meet  the  disbursements." 

Dec.  1.  "  Voted  to  hire  an  Instructor  to  instruct  the  Lodge  in  the 
Masonic  Art,  so  long  as  the  subscription  money  shall  last." 

Apr.  27,  1820.     "  Voted  to  have  a  Pedestal  and  a  Pillar." 

The  record  indicates  that  the  lodge  often  responded  to  the 
calls  of  charity,  and  that  differences  between  the  brethren  were 
usually  referred  to  committees  for  adjustment. 

The  instructor  seems  to  have  been  among  the  brethren  in  1820, 
for  the  lodge  voted  to  pay  for  the  hall  used  by  him. 

Oct.  19.     The  Lodge  was  removed  to  the  hall  of  Mr.  Oakes.1 
"  Voted  that  spirituous  liquors  be  prohibited  in  the  Lodge  after  this 
date." 

The  provision  in  the  by-laws  for  assessments  was  disapproved. 

June  14,  1821.  "Voted  to  purchase  silk,  red,  for  sashes  for  the  offi- 
cers of  this  Lodge,  likewise  Trimming  for  the  same." 

June  25.  The  Lodge  celebrated  .St.  John's  day  in  private  by  listen- 
ing to  an  oration  by  Dr.  Thomas  McDole,  and  to  a  recitation  of  a 
section  of  the  first  degree  by  Bros.  Kidder  and  Barker. 

June  24,  1822.  Celebrated  St.  John's  Day.  "  Received  a  sermon 
delivered  by  Rev.  David  Sutherland." 

Aug.  29.  Voted  to  summon  Bro.  Ralph  Bugbee  [Senior]  before  the 
Lodge. 

This,  the  late  Nathan  Pike,  Jr.,  told  us  was  a  case  of  discipline 
growing  out  of  a  practical  joke  played  off  upon  the  brethren  by 
the  doctor  at  his  house-raising.  After  many  adjournments  it 
ended  in  an  apology  by  the  doctor. 

June  24,  1823.  Celebrated  St.  John's  Day.  Discourse  was  by 
Rev.  Mr.  Hall  for  which  the  Lodge  voted  him  85. 00. 

May  9,  1824.      "Voted  to  have  a  Mark  Masters  Lodge  in  this  place." 
Dec.  30.     "  Voted  to  hire  a  lecturing  master  for  the  benefit  of  this 
Lodge.     S30  appropriated  from  the  funds  of  the  Lodge  for  this  pur- 
pose." 

1  Henry  Oakes,  formerly  a  merchant  of  this  town,  and  grandfather  of  Henry  0. 
Kent,  of  Lancaster. 
VOL.  ii.  —  36 


5G2  History  of  Littleton. 

Nov.  .'51,  I.s2.">.     "  Voted  to  take  the  '  Masonic  Mirror '  six  months." 

Mav  1(>.  The  test  degree  received  from  Chas.  Abbott  by  several 
members. 

-I une  IT).  "  Voted  to  dine  at  Brother  Pike's  at  the  festival,  25th  in- 
stant. Chose  Brother  <'.  Day  as  Grand  Marshal  and  Brother  A. 
Bracket!  as  Marshal  of  the  Ladies. 

••  Voted  to  have  the  Master  engage  the  St.  Johnsbury  Band  of  Music 
to  play  at  the  Festival." 

Aug.  IN.  "  Voted  the  Lodge  accept  Win.  Mann's  hall  the  ensuing 
year  on  the  following  terms,  viz. :  The  Hall  furnished  and  candles 
and  furniture  gratis,  and  liquor  at  cost  freight  and  three  per  cent, 
coins." 

Nov.  ;>.  ki  Win.  Brackett,  .lames  Joslyn  and  Laban  Tift  chosen  a 
committee  to  procure  the  use  of  the  hall  from  Lyman  Uewey,  who  re- 
ported that  he  would  furnish  refreshments  and  accommodations  on  the 
same  conditions  proposed  and  agreed  to  by  Mr.  Mann." 

.July  2(>.  1828.  ik  E[than]  A[llen]  Crawford  was  then  initiated  into 
the  degree  of  entered  apprentice  in  due  form." 

This  was  the  last  degree  work  performed  by  the  lodge. 

Aug.  (i.  ••  An  address  was  read  to  the  lodge  by  Brother  Erastus 
Fairbanks  and  another  by  N.  F.  Morrison." 

••  Voted  that  the  lodge  approve  of  tiie  ground  which  Mr.  Fairbanks 
has  taken  and  that  something  of  the  kind  might  be  beneficial  to  the 
public  and  the  Fraternity." 

Nov.  20,  l.S2<S.  Seven  of  the  brethren  were  present  and  filled  the 
oflices  as  follows:  —  Sarn'l  M.  Cobb,  W.  M.I'.  T.  ;  Dennison  Pike, 
S.  W.  P.  T.  ;  K.  F.  Kowell,  J.  W.  P.  T.  ;  James  Joslyn, Treas.  P.  T.  ;  M. 
F.  Morrison.  Sccty  ?  ;  Herbert  Quimby,  S.  D.  P.  T.  ;  N.  Pike.  J.  1).  ;  II. 
(Juiinby,  Tyler. 

The  annual  election  of  olllcers  was  had.      (See  table.) 

••Voted  to  give  Brother  Dennison  Pike  one  dollar  per  evening  for 
every  evening  his  hall  is  occupied  by  the  Lodge  the  ensuing  year." 

••  Voted  section  of  the  By-laws  making  it  incumbent  on  the  lodge 
to  meet  at  1  o'clock  P.  M.  be  repealed. 

Voted  that  the  hour  of  meeting  for  the  Lodge  in  future  shall  be  at  -I 
(/••lock  P.M. 

There  being  no  further  business  the  Lodge  closed  in  due  form.1 

The  Knd." 

1  AmoiiLT  the  candidates  who  completed  the  third  degree  in  Morning  Dawn  and 
who  appear  to  have  hern  of  Littleton,  were  Daniel  Carter  and  Asa  (Jonld,  April  K, 
Ml';  Amasa  Wheelork  and  Merrill  Williams,  May  0,  181!);  Jonathan  Kowe.ll,  .June  '•>, 
1-1'J:  Clement  Could  and  Comfort  Day,  Feh.  .".  IX'JO;  .lames  Williams,  Jr..  May  25, 
)^<>;  Capt.  TilletMjii  Wheeler,  June  2!»,  IttiO;  Laban  Tift't,  Oct.  1!»,  IS^O  ;  David 
Webber,  Feb.  7,  lM'1  ;  Win.  Hrackett  and  Win.  Burns,  Sept.  -Ji!,  1W1  ;  Walter  Charl- 


Freemasonry.  563 

The  anti-Masonic  movement  of  1826  rapidly  gathered  force. 
In  no  State  was  it  more  violent  than  in  Vermont.  A  State 
government  was  chosen  under  its  impetus.  Society  and  the 
churches  were  in  accord  with  the  most  extreme  elements  of  party 
zealots.  The  recreant  Mason  was  regarded  with  much  more 
public  favor  than  the  ordinary  citizen  who  had  never  been  counted 
among  the  ritualists.  To  adhere  to  the  institution  of  Freemasonry 
was  more  than  unpopular,  it  was  infamous.  To  hold  to  an  open 
profession  of  fidelity  to  the  craft  required  an  abundance  of  the 
stuff  of  which  martyrs  are  made.  To  maintain  open  organizations 
of  such  men  was  more  than  could  be  expected  oi  human  nature  in 
the  aggregate.  Such  was  the  atmosphere  that  surrounded  the 
little  lodge  at  Waterford  from  1826  to  1828.  And  thus  was 
iinished  the  work  of  Morning  Dawn  Lodge.  Its  history  had  been 
wrought  out  in  harmony.  The  best  men  of  the  community  had 
been  drawn  to  it.  The  brethren  had  cultivated  the  amenities  of 
good  fellowship  without  encouraging  vice  or  excess.  They  had 
sustained  their  lodge  as  an  educator,  as  a  harmonizer,  and  as  an 
example  of  benevolent  endeavor. 

The  Morgan  affair,  however,  had  been  made  a  means  throughout 
the  country  of  rallying  the  discontented  elements  of  the  political 
parties  of  that  day,  with  the  fanatical  faction  of  the  people,  for 
a  crusade  against  the  institution  of  Freemasonry.  Politicians  who 
were  in  desperate  straits  for  the  lack  of  contestable  issues  made 
much  capital  out  of  this  material.  Men  invariably  become  restless 
within  the  lines  of  political  parties  of  long  standing.  There  was 
in  the  Morgan  affair,  as  its  foster  parents  fashioned  it, just  enough 
food  for  fanaticism,  just  enough  of  a  political  issue,  just  enough 
of  opportunity  for  demagogues,  to  nourish  an  ephemeral  move- 
ment. It  served  its  purpose.  The  party  men  who  were  ripe  for 
sedition  were  accommodated.  In  the  agitation  they  cared  not  so 
much  for  the  protest  against  Freemasonry  as  for  the  rebuke  they 
were  to  administer  to  the  management  of  the  old  parties.  They 
all  became  Whigs  and  Democrats  after  this  diversion.  It  was  the 
method  of  transformation  from  Republicans  and  Federalists. 
Some  fanatics  meantime  were  made  happy  and  some  demagogues 
were  exalted.  Thirty  years  later  a  similar  political  emeute 
occurred,  —  the  native  American,  in  dire  peril  from  the  alleged 

ton,  Oct.  26,  1821 ;  Joseph  Pingree,  Michael  Fitzgerald,  and  Otis  Batehelder,  Nov.  28, 
1821 ;  Sewell  Brackett  and  Aaron  Bracket!,  Dec.  26,  1821 ;  S.  llurllmrt,  Feb.  20, 
1823;  Amasa  Kellogg,  April  24, 1823;  Adams  Moore,  July  17,  1823;  Samuel  Kelley, 
Nov.  13,  1823;  Simeon  B.  Johnson,  April  8,  1824;  Asa  Robins,  Aug.  5,  1824;  Hiram 
13.  Smith,  Dec.  2,  1821;  Stephen  Steere  and  Simeon  Kernick,  June  15,  1820;  Enoch 
B.  Simonds,  Dec.  14,  1820. 


5b'4  Iflsfonj  of  Littleton. 

niacliiiiations  of  the  Pope,  who  was  a  "good  enough  Morgan" 
in  18") -I  for  their  purposes.  The  Know-Nothing1  movement,  so 
called,  uniting  the  discontented  members  of  old  political  parties 
with  a  lively  mixture  of  demagogy  and  fanaticism  had  its  run  on 
the  political  boards  and  served  a  political  purpose.  It  gave  the 
rank  and  tile  an  opportunity  to  run  a  dividing  line  across  the  old 
parties.  It  protected  individuals  from  political  persecution  on 
account  of  desertion  from  {tarty  ;  for  in  such  revolt  the  indi- 
vidual cannot  be  successfully  dealt  with  as  a  political  traitor, 
he  is  merged  in  the  multitude.  '•  Unsuccessful  rebellion  is  trea- 
son ;  successful  is  revolution.1"  From  the  din  and  smoke  raised 
by  this  American  party  a  reorganized  democracy  and  a  newly 
organized  Republican  party  appeared  forty-eight  years  ago ;  not 
a  few  political  observers  believe  that  a  repetition  of  this  history 
on  other  lines  is  impending.  It  is  significant  of  the  hollowness 
of  the  professions  of  that  anti-Masonic  party,  judging  these  so- 
called  principles  by  the  rule  of  permanency,  that  almost  the 
whole  people  have  returned  to  the  forms  of  secret  organization, 
borrowed  from  Freemasonry  for  the  advancement  of  various 
beneficent  undertakings:  and  Freemasonry  as  an  institution  is  the 
strongest  and  most  respected  social  organization  in  the  world, 
more  firmly  established  than  at  any  time  previous  to  the  great 
agitation. 

In  fact,  the  American  party  accomplished  its  mission  of  political 
revolution  by  a  secret  organization  with  many  forms  similar  to 
those  of  Freemasonry.  Methods  which  in  18*26  appeared  to  be  the 
bone  of  the  body  politic,  in  1854  and  1855  had  become  a  sovereign 
ant idote  for  all  its  ills. 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  philosophy  of  anti-Masonry  as  a 
moral  or  political  movement,  it  resulted  in  a  temporary  check  upon 
the  institution  of  Freemasonry  in  a  large  section  of  the  country. 
There  were  hut  very  few  of  the  subordinate  bodies  that  with- 
stood the  storm  of  abuse,  obloquy,  and  persecution,  which  pursued 
both  organization  and  individual, 

In  \Vaterford  they  withdrew  patronage  from  the  adhering 
Masons  ot  tin-  medical  profession,  and  refused  to  support  the 
Masonic  elergy.  They  ra/.ed  Dr.  Bugbee's  fences  to  the  ground, 
and  pelted  his  cattle  with  stones  and  clubs.  The  highway  sepa- 
rated his  lands,  and  the  determination  of  the  public  to  allow  him 
no  underpass  tor  his  cattle  was  one  method  adopted  to  punish  him 
tor  hi>  [•Yeemnsonry.  In  a  long  agitation  and  litigation  he  finally 
prevailed.  This  part  of  the  road  was  long  known  as  the  Anti- 
Masonie  Bridge.  They  demanded  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Read  Hall, 


Freemasonry.  565 

of  Concord,  Vt,  that  he  withdraw  from  the  order.  He  withdrew 
from  membership  in  his  lodge.  They  then  demanded  that  he 
denounce  the  order.  He  refused,  because  he  knew  nothing  in  it 
to  denounce.  Incensed  at  this,  they  compelled  him  to  leave  his 
church,  which  had  become  strong  under  his  pastorate,  and 
to  forsake  Essex  County  Grammar  School,  which  had  become 
famous  as  well  as  prosperous  under  his  instruction  and  guidance. 
It  is  no  inconsiderable  part  of  his  fame  that  to  him  belonged  the 
honor  of  founding  the  first  normal  school,  and  of  organizing  that 
system  of  instruction  in  this  country.  It  was  at  Concord,  Vt., 
•that  he  organized,  in  1823,  the  first  school  in  the  United  States  for 
the  training  of  teachers.  This  department  of  the  Essex  County 
School  he  continued  till  1830. l 

The  Rev.  Thomas  Hall,  at  Waterford,  suffered  by  the  same 
intolerance.  His  case  is  one  of  special  historic  interest.  A 
partial  record  of  the  action  of  the  society  and  of  the  church  has 
been  preserved.  The  initiative  in  the  formal  proceedings  seems 
to  have  been  taken  by  the  society.  The  official  report  is  brief  but 
suggestive,  and  is  given  in  full. 

The  members  of  the  Congregational  Society  in  Waterford  tire  hereby 
notified  and  warned  to  meet  at  the  dwelling  house  of  Lyman  Dewey  in 
Waterford  on  Thursday  the  ninth  instant  at  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon 
to  act  on  the  following  articles,  viz. 

First.     To  choose  a  moderator  to  govern  said  meeting. 

Secondly.  To  see  what  method  the  Society  will  take  respecting  the 
present  difficulties  that  exist  and  to  see  whether  they  will  keep  Mr. 
Hall  or  dismiss  him. 

JONAS  CARPENTER,  Society  Clerk. 

WATERFORD,  April  1st,  1829. 

WATKRKORD,  April  9th,  1829.  The  members  of  the  Congregational 
Society  met  agreeable  to  the  above  warning  and  the  meeting  was 
opened  by  reading  this  warning.  Then  proceeded  to  business. 

And  first  Choose  Harvey  Ilolbrook  moderator.  Secondly  voted  to 
Choose  a  Committee  to  Draft  a  resolution  to  lay  before  the  Society. 

Then  Chose  Harvey  Ilolbrook  Esq.  l)ea.  William  Ezekiel  Cutter 
and  Joseph  Knights.  Jr.  for  said  Committee. 

The  Committee  withdrew  for  a  Short  time  and  then  made  the  follow- 
ing report. 

M r.  Hall,  Sir.  at  a  meeting  of  the  1st  Congregational  Society  in  Water- 
ford  a  Committee  of  four  persons  were  C'hosen  (viz.')  Harvey  Holbrook 
Esq.  Dea.  William  Ilolbrook  Kzekiel  Cutter  and  Joseph  Knight  Jr. 
for  the  purpose  of  Seeing  what  method  it  was  best  to  take  respecting 

1    Appleton's  (Vclopiudi'i  of  American  Biography,  vol.  iii.  p.  -10. 


5GG  'History  of  Littleton. 

the  present  difliculty  that  exists  respecting  Free  Masonry  and  said 
Committe  require  that  you  shall  withdraw  from  the  Institution  of  Free 
masonry  as  far  as  this  that  you  shall  not  meet  with  them  nor  uphold 
the  Institution  as  long  as  we  shall  Continue  to  retain  you  as  a  minister 
of  the  gospel. 

l>ut  we  would  have  it  understood  that  should  you  leave  this  Country 
and  go  to  foreign  lands  we  do  not  wish  to  bind  your  conscience  and  of 
course  you  will  have  free  liberty  to  act  as  you  please  —  which  report 
was  read  and  oxcepted  by  a  unanimous  vote  except  one  —  Then  Chose 
Dea.  Wm.  Holbrook  to  present  said  resolutions  to  Mr.  Thomas  Hall 
and  then  Mr.  Hall  came  before  the  Society  and  manifested  his  accept- 
ance of  said  resolutions  and  its  requirements. 

Then  voted  to  Dissolve  said  meeting. 

JONAH  CAUPEXTKU,  Society  Clerk.1 

In  1830  Mr.  Hall  requested  a  dismissal  for  the  reason  that  a 
minority  of  the  church  had  become  aggrieved  on  account  of  his 
relations  with  Freemasonry.  A  council  was  constituted  in  May, 
and  the  subject  fully  considered.  Rev.  Leonard  Worcester,  Rev. 
Prury  Fairbank,  and  Rev.  S.  R.  flail  were  among  the  members. 
The  minority  of  the  church  made  a  statement  to  the  effect  that 
they  had  no  grounds  of  dissatisfaction  against  the  pastor  except 
his  connection  with  the  Masonic  institution,  but  that  they  should 
be  led  to  withdraw  support  from  him  on  that  account.  The 
majority  of  the  church  stated  in  writing  that  they  did  not  desire 
to  have  their  pastor  taken  from  them  because  he  was  a  Mason. 
It  also  appeared  that  Mr.  Hall  had  withdrawn  himself  from  all 
.Masonic  meetings,  and  that  he  neither  expected  nor  desired  to 
have  anything  more,1  to  do  with  the  institution.  The  minority 
of  the  church  demanded,  as  a  condition  of  their  support,  that  he 
should  renounce  his  connection  with  the  institution.  The  pastor 
declined  to  go  to  that  extent,  and  the  council  stated  that  it  did  not 
by  any  means  appear  but  that  this  was  as  far  as  the  pastor  could 
conscientiously  go  in  regard  to  this  matter.  They  declared  that 
lor  themselves  they  should  not  insist  upon  his  going  farther,  and 
that  in  their  judgment  bis  brethren  ought  not  to  insist  upon  it. 
In  the  course  of  their  statement  the  council  sav  thev  "'are  bv  no 
means  regardless  of  the  feelings  of  their  beloved  brethren  of  the 
minority.  It  is  no  matter  of  wonder  to  them  that  under  exist- 
in'.:'  circumstances  their  brethren  should  view  the  institution  of 
Freemasonry  as  a  irreat  evil.  Some  of  them  (the  council)  have, 
indeed,  in  no  considerable  measure  participated  in  those  appre- 
h<']i>i"]is."  The  conclusion  of  the  council  was  that  it  was  not 

1    Fit>t  liook  of  Ilcconl  ot'tlir  Congregational  Society  in  Water-ford,  p.  ~(>. 


Freemasonry.  567 

advisable  to  sever  the  pastoral  relation.1  Mr.  Hall  continued 
with  the  church  for  a  short  time  after  this  date,  but  a  considerable 
part  of  the  church  persisted  in  their  refusal  to  aid  in  his  support, 
and  the  issue  they  had  raised  against  him  on  his  relations  to  Free- 
masonry was  an  irremediable  mischief  to  the  church. 

Another  council  was  held  in  November  to  consider  the  same 
subject.  The  proceedings  are  not  on  record,  but  it  appears  that 
the  church  (by  a  majority  vote  presumably)  accepted  the  report 
of  the  council.2  The  biography  of  Mr.  Hall  shows  that  the  result 
of  the  deliberations  of  the  second  council  was  that  his  dismissal 
was  advised,  and  his  pastoral  relation  ended  that  year. 

In  Littleton  the  anti-Masonic  sentiment  did  not  find  a  favorable 
field  for  its  characteristic  development.  There  were  no  overt 
acts.  A  few  zealous  citizens  acted  together  as  a  political  party, 
One  of  their  number,  Gen.  David  Rankin,  was  a  candidate  for 
presidential  elector  in  1832.  They  succeeded  by  a  coalition  in 
electing  a  town  representative  in  1833.  But  the  principal  results 
of  the  agitation  here  were  exhibited  in  loud  talk  and  an  occasional 
shower  of  epithets,  intended  for  the  Freemasons  and  their  friends. 
The  opponents  of  the  Federalist  party  who  were  members  of  the 
order  were  incensed  at  the  coalition  and  became  stanch  Demo- 
crats of  the  Jackson  order.  Among  them  are  such  men  as  William 
Brackctt  and  Comfort  Day.  It  is  possible  that  the  counter-current 
carried  anti-Masonic  Democrats  into  the  coalition.  There  is  no 
reason  to  suppose  that  any  of  these  Littleton  Freemasons  renounced 
their  allegiance  to  the  principles  of  the  institution  or  their  ad- 
herence to  it  as  an  organization.  They  were  not  of  the  character 
to  be  driven  by  intimidation  from  a  belief  they  considered  sound 
and  reasonable.  They  often  met  together  in  an  informal  way,  and 
by  discussion  and  rehearsal  kept  their  knowledge  of  the  doctrines 
and  ritual  from  passing  out  of  mind. 

Prominent  among  these  earlier  members  of  the  craft  here, 
Ebenezer  Eastman  should  be  named.  lie  received  his  degrees  in 
Vermont,  according  to  the  family  tradition,  but  in  what  lodge  has 
not  been  ascertained,  lie  was  conspicuous  in  business  affairs,  and 
no  man  did  more  than  he  to  bring  about  the  advent  of  our  first 
railway,  which  was  the  favorable  turning-point  in  the  prospects  of 
the  town. 

These  veterans  were  foremost  in  the  formation  of  our  lodge, 
and  from  one  of  those  stanch  old  craftsmen  it  took  the  name  of 
Burns,  thirty  years  after  the  curtain  fell  on  the  last  scene  in  the 
lodge  at  Waterford. 

1  MSS.  Records  of  the  Church  at  Waterford,  vol.  i.  pp.  71-81.          *  Id.  p.  00. 


5GS  Histnry  of  Litthton. 

Ama/iah  Jacobs,  W.  M..  ISIS,  1810,  was  a  merchant  engaged 
in  business  at  the  village  of  Lower  Waferforcl.  Little  of  interest 
concerning  him  is  at  hand.  It  is  not  known  where  he  originated 
or  olitainetl  the  Masonic  decrees.  The  tradition  is  that  he  went 
West,  hut  that  information,  indefinite  at  best,  is  of  less  value  when 
the  date  of  emigration  is  unknown. 

Hon.  Nathaniel  Kix,  Jr.,  W.  M.,  1820,  1821,  was  the  eldest  son 
of  Nathaniel  Kix,  a  soldier  of  the  Revolutionary  Army,  and  Esther 
(Clark)  Kix,  and  was  born  in  Landaff,  November  2li,  1777.  In 
171.'1.)  father  and  son  located  on  Lot  6,  Range  12, in  Stanstead,  P.  Q. 
There  thev  remained  until  about  the  time  of  the  War  of  1812, 
when  they  came  to  Littleton.  Here  Nathaniel,  Jr.,  became  a 
prominent  citixen.  Beginning  with  1821,  he  was  representative 
in  the  Legislature  for  seven  years  in  succession,  the  largest  con- 
tinuous service  of  any  member  from  Littleton  except  lion.  Harry 
Kingham,  and  the  largest  number  of  years  except  those  of  Mr. 
IJingham  and  Rev.  David  Goodall.  lie  was  prominent  as  a  civil 
magistrate  and  in  town  offices.  lie  married  Kebecca  Eastman,  of 
Hath,  March  3,  1802.  He  died  October  21,  1857.  lie  resided  at 
North  Littleton,  and  was  progressive  as  well  as  influential  in  his 
undertakings.  lit,1  attempted  vine-culture  for  the  production  of 
light  wines.  Later  on  he  was  a  prominent  worker  in  the  cause 
of  temperance,  an  advocate  of  total  abstinence,  and  may  probably 
be  regarded  as  one  of  the  pioneers  in  the  agitation  of  this  re- 
form in  this  vicinity.  lie  was  doubtless  a  man  of  large  politi- 
cal ambition,  and  aspired  to  the  governorship.  Having  been 
elected  to  the  office  of  Register  of  Heeds  in  1 8->o,  he  moved 
to  Ilaverhill,  holding  this  office  till  1S4<>.  While  residing  at 
Haverhill  he  again  served  two  terms  as  representative  in  the 
(ieneral  Court. 

1  laverhill  was  prolific  of  incumbents  of  high  office  in  those  days, 
but  Mr.  Kix  failed  there  of  any  considerable  advancement  of  his 
political  fortunes.  A  large  part  of  his  time  was  occupied  in  town, 
county,  a ud  State  offices,  and  in  the  duties  of  a  civil  magistrate. 
As  an  adviser,  his  judgment  was  much  sought,  and  great  reliance 
placed  upon  it.  lie  was  everywhere-  honored  and  respected.  He 
was  a  man  of  good  stature  and  agreeable  presence.  lie  was  a 
valuable  citi/cn,  an  honest  and  efficient,  public  officer,  and  de- 
servedly one  <>|  the  most  prominent  and  popular  citi/.ens  of  this 
town  in  the  first  half  of  its  historv. 

lie  sleeps  in  the  upper  cemetery  at  North  Littleton,  and  his 
Masonic  brethren  ha\e  placed  his  portrait  in  crayon  on  the  walls 
of  the  lodire. 


Freemasonry.  569 

Samuel  Kidder,  W.  M.,  1822,  1823,  was  a  clothier  at  the  Upper 
Waterford  or  Flanders  Village.  He  was  a  native  of  the  town. 
He  removed  to  Maine,  residing  for  a  time  at  Lewiston.  Subse- 
quently he  made  his  abode  in  Pennsylvania,  where  he  died.  He 
is  said  to  have  been  the  best  informed  man  in  the  lodge  in  matters 
Masonic. 

Hezekiah  Cole,  W.  M.,  1824,  was  a  partner  with  Samuel  Kidder 
in  business  at  Upper  Waterford.  He  also  was  a  native  of  Water- 
ford.  He  removed  to  Charlestown,  Mass.,  where  he  died. 

Nathan  Pike,  W.  M.,  1825,  1826,  was  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  Waterford,  Vt.  He  was  of  a  party  of  young  men  from  Fra- 
mingham,  Mass.,  who  came  up  to  this  region  through  Ilaverhill  and 
Lisbon  to  seek  their  fortune  in  subduing  the  wilderness.  Pike 
obtained  his  allotment  of  land  on  that  part  of  the  town  where  the 
village  of  Upper  Waterford  is  situated.  He  was  successful  in  his 
undertakings,  and  became  one  of  the  principal  citizens.  He  kept 
a  tavern  for  many  years,  farmed,  and  was  interested  in  other 
profitable  industries.  Mrs.  Miner,  of  Haverhill,  was  his  hostess  on 
his  first  journey  to  the  scene  of  his  future  enterprises,  and  he  made 
her  daughter  his  wife.  They  reared  a  large  family,  and  their  chil- 
dren made  a  good  record  for  the  family  name.  Nathan's  father, 
who  followed  him  to  Vermont,  and  his  oldest  son,  were  both  named 
Daniel.  The  latter  took  the  addition  2d,  to  distinguish  him  from 
his  grandfather.  Prior  to  the  establishment  of  Morning  Dawn 
Lodge,  Nathan  Pike  and  his  sons,  Daniel  and  Brigham,  had 
become  Masons. 

All  efforts  to  ascertain  where  they  obtained  the  degrees  have 
been  fruitless.  The  family  tradition  is  that  they  were  initiated  at 
Portland,  but  the  records  of  the  lodges  there  do  not  verify  it. 
These  men  were  largely  instrumental  in  procuring  a  charter  for 
the  new  lodge.  At  first  the  communications  were  at  Caswell's 
Hall,  some  two  miles  distant  from  Pike's  Tavern.  After  a  time 
they  were  held  at  Mr.  Pike's  house,  and  eventually  were  removed 
to  the  new  hall  which  he  built  as  a  part  of  his  hotel  establishment. 
Others  of  his  sons  were  made  Masons  in  this  lodge,  and  Nathan, 
Jr.  (who  became  a  member  of  the  order  March  21,1825),  was  the 
last  survivor  of  its  membership.  He  died  at  Waterford.  January 
12,  1887,  and  was  buried  with  Masonic  honors  by  the  officers  and 
brethren  of  Burns  Lodge.  The  elder  Pike  was  born  August  2, 
1772,  and  died  August  G,  182!>.  His  funeral  was  Masonic,  and 
was  attended  by  a  deputation  of  his  brethren  from  the  State  of 
Maine. 

Daniel  Pike,  2d,  was  born  November  21,  1794,  and  resided  at 


~>70  History  of  Littleton. 

Waterford  till  well  advanced  in  years.  He  was  regarded  as  ex- 
ceptionallv  well  informed  and  skilful  in  the  ritual  and  work  of 
Freemasonry.  His  personality  added  much  to  the  strength  and 
influence  of  his  lodge.  In  disposition  he  was  genial,  and  con- 
tributed his  share  to  vary  the  humdrum  of  life  among  his  kindred 
and  fellows. 

The  quiet  humor  of  his  remarks  at  a  political  meeting  where  he 
is  credited  with  aiding  largely  in  preventing  a  wrangle  from 
developing  into  a  general  mel'e,  is  still  remembered  as  the  most 
notable  feature  of  the  occasion.  It  was  a  joint  debate  be- 
tween the  Whigs  and  Democrats  in  which  two  prominent  men 
represented  each  side.  Harry  Ilibbard  was  one  of  the  Democratic 
champions,  and  Henry  A.  Bellows,  then  called  Harry  Bellows,  was 
one  of  the  advocates  for  the  Whigs.  The  discussion  degenerated 
into  personalities,  the  partisans  of  the  speakers  got  beyond  .the 
control  of  the  moderators,  and  confusion  reigned  for  a  time.  At 
length  some  slight  progress  toward  pacification  was  made.  One 
after  another  made  statements  tending  to  fix  or  shirk  responsi- 
bility for  the  turbulent  results.  Mr.  Pike,  at  a  favorable  moment, 
got  the  floor,  and  so  stated  the  course  of  the  events  of  the  day  that 
hilarity  superseded  wrath  and  recrimination.  He  said  he  felt 
competent  to  speak  of  the  occurrences  as  a  dispassionate  observer- 
Some  one  interrupted  him  with  the  remark  that  he  was  not  present 
all  the  time  himself.  He  retorted  that  he  was  except,  for  a  short 
time  in  which  his  absence  made  no  detraction  from  his  qualifica- 
tion as  a  witness.  "  When  Mr.  Bellows  was  speaking,"  he  said, 
'*  I  suggested  to  my  neighbor  that  we  might  as  well  go  out  and 
get  an  eye-opener.  '  But,'  said  my  friend, 'yon  will  lose  a  part 
of  Squire  Bellows'  argument,  Mr.  Pike.'  k  No,'  I  replied,  k  L  have 
heard  that  speech  several  times  already  in  this  campaign,  and  I 
know  just  where  we  are.  Squire  Bellows  is  now  on  the  "  Purse 
and  Sword."  We  can  go  out  and  get  our  hitters,  and  certainly 
get:  back  by  the  time  he  gets  to  the  '"  Cuban  Bloodhounds."  We 
went  out  and,  as  we  returned  to  our  places,  we  found  that  it  was 
as  I  had  predicted.  Mr.  Bellows  was  just  bringing  up  the 'Cuban 

.Mr.  ['ike  removed  to  Carmel,  Me.  Three  sons  and  two  daughters 
were  his  children.  lie  was  successful  in  affairs  and  much  re- 
spected. He  was  instantly  killed  by  an  accident  from  the  use  of 
machinery  nn  his  farm. 

I'ev.  Thomas  Hall.  W.  M..  1Si>7,  was  a  native  of  Cornish,  X.  II., 
the  son  ot  .Moody  and  Lois  (Harrington)  Hall.  He  was  prepared 
tor  college  at  the  Kimball  L'nion  Academy  at  Plainfield,  and 


Freemasonry.  571 

was  graduated  from  Dartmouth  College  1823.  Having  studied 
theology  with  Rev.  Asa  Burton,  D.  D.,  of  Thetford,  Vt.,  he 
was  ordained  a  Congregationalist  minister  at  Waterford,  Vt., 
September  28,  1825.  For  five  years  he  was  the  settled  pastor  at 
that  place,  and  was  dismissed  November  4,  1830.  In  the  time 
of  this  pastorate  the  anti-Masonic  excitement  was  rife  in  that 
vicinity,  and  Mr.  Hall,  being  a  member  of  this  order,  was  sub- 
jected to  a  multitude  of  petty  persecutions  on  account  of  his  con- 
nection with  Freemasonry,  which,  though  not  concealed  nor  denied, 
was  unobtrusive.  Subsequently  he  was  pastor  at  Norwich,  Vt. ;  at 
Waterford  again  from  1834  till  1844;  Guildhall,  Vt.,  1845-1847; 
Vershire,  Vt.,  1848-1853  ;  Bethlehem  and  Franconia,  December, 
1854,  to  December,  1857.  While  engaged  in  this  pastorate  he 
prepared  an  historical  sketch  of  the  churches  at  those  places, 
which  appears  in  the  collection  known  as  "  Lawrence's  Churches." 
He  served  the  churches  at  Upper  Waterford  and  Dalton,  January, 
1858,  to  February,  1859.  At  the  time  of  this  pastorate  he  resided 
at  West  Littleton,  on  what  is  known  as  Diamond  Hill.  He 
died  at  Guildhall  on  the  16th  of  February,  1859.  He  was  twice 
married  :  (1)  to  Marianna,  daughter  of  B.  Loomis,  of  Thet- 
ford, Vt.,  and  (2)  to  Sarah  Helen,  daughter  of  Levi  Richards, 
of  Thetford,  Vt. 

He  was  a  devout  and  amiable  man,  whose  life  exemplified  the 
Christian  graces.  His  memory  is  fragrant  with  all  who  knew 
him  in  any  portion  of  his  long  and  useful  ministry. 

Moses  Ford  Morrison,  M.  D.,  W.  M.,  1828.  As  his  daughter, 
Mrs.  S\vain,  expressed  it,  Dr.  Morrison  was  "  a  waif."  His  mother 
died  soon  after  he  was  born.  His  father,  having  a  numerous 
family,  gave  him  to  Moses  Ford,  of  Piermont,  who  in  turn  gave 
the  boy  his  own  name  and  an  academic  education.  He  studied 
medicine  and  practised  at  Landaff,  in  this  State,  then  at  Water- 
ford,  Vt.,  and  afterwards  at  Bath,  where  he  continued  from  July, 
1832,  till  1852.  At  this  time  he  moved  to  Nunda  in  Western  New 
York,  where  Mrs.  Swain  was  living.  He  received  his  degree  of 
M.  D.  at  Dartmouth  in  1823.  His  parents  were  David  and  Hannah 
(  Whittaker)  Morrison.  Their  children  arriving  at  adult  age  were 
Jane  /.,  Albert,  Adeline  E.  P.,  John,  Napoleon  B.,  Helen  W., 
Eugenia  A.,  and  Pauline  E.  A.  His  wife  was  Zilpha  Smith, 
daughter  of  James  Smith,  a  well-to-do  farmer  of  Bath.  He  was 
a  man  of  quick  perceptions,  literary  tastes,  and  his  reading 
covered  a  wide  range  of  literature.  In  religious  belief  he  de- 
parted from  the  ancestral  trend  and  held  to  liberal  views,  perhaps 
to  that  extent  that  he  might  be  properly  termed  a  free  thinker. 


57-  History  of  Littleton, 

lie  was  the  last  Master  of  the  lodge  at  Waterford.  His  death 
occurred  at  Heeatur,  Ohio,  in  Xoveinl)er,  1850. l 

The  exceptional  influences  that  brought  about  the  downfall  of 
Morning  l>awn  Lodge,  No.  48,  at  Waterford,  in  1828,  soon  passed 
awav.and  bv  1850  the  passions  and  dissensions,  so  strong  and  deep 
that  they  disrupted  political  parties,  divided  families,  drove  pastors 
from  their  pulpits,  and  deprived  business  and  professional  men  of 
customers,  patients,  and  clients,  were  nothing  but  a  memory.  In 
1852  the  surviving  members  of  Morning  Dawn  Lodge  and  a  few 
others,  residents  of  the  town,  discussed  the  possibility  of  organ- 
izing a  lodge  in  this  town.  William  Burns,  William  Brackctt, 
and  Ebene/er  Eastman  were  leaders  in  the  movement.  Before 
their  plans  had  assumed  definite  form,  the  death  of  Mr.  Eastman 
caused  a  postponement,  and  when  they  were  resumed  with  promise 
of  success,  the  wild  flurry  of  Know-Nothingism  aroused  a  temporary 
prejudice  against  all  secret  societies,  and  the  projectors  awaited  a 
more  favorable  opportunity,  which  came  in  1858. 

Those  connected  with  the  lodge  at  Waterford  then  resident  in 
town  were  Aaron  Brackett,  William  Brackett,  Otis  Batchelder, 
William  Burns,  Simeon  15.  Johnson,  Hiram  B.  Smith,  Adams  Moore, 
Simeon  Remick,  and  Laban  Tift.  Nathan  Pike,  still  a  resident  of 
Waterford,  was  a  promoter  of  the  movement.  Members  of  the 
ancient  order  who  had  received  their  degrees  in  other  lodges  were 
Elijah  S.  Woolson.of  Meridian  Sun,  at  Bath:  Nathaniel  Bishop,  of 
Unity,  Lyndon,  Vt.,  and  Marshal  Sanders,  of  No.  45,  Pontiac, 
Mich.,  while  .John  (J.  Sinclair,  of  North  Star,  at  Lancaster,  then 
residing  at  Bethlehem,  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  proposed 
lodge,  approved  the  movement  but  never  became  a  member. 
All  the  foregoing,  excepting  E.  S.  Woolson  and  Simeon  Remick, 
were  enrolled  in  the  membership  of  the  lodge  when  established. 

The  members  of  the  ancient  lodge  were  advanced  in  years,  and 
younger  men  were  desired  to  carry  on  the  work,  and  concerted 
action  was  had  whereby  Col.  .Joseph  L.  (Jibb  and  Horace  E. 

Chamberlin    reeei^-d   their  decrees  at    North  Star,  No.  8,  at  Lan- 

J?- 
caster,   in    May.  1  i 58,  and    Philip    II.    Paddlel'ord.  in   August,   and 

.James  J.  Barrett,  in  October  of  the  same  year,  at  Kane  Lodge. 
No.  ill.  at  Lisbon. 

Soon  alter  Mr.  Barrett  was  raised  to  the  degree  of  Master  Mason, 
a  petit  ion.  signed  by  I*.  II.  Paddleford,  Marshal  Sanders.  Joseph  L. 
Oibb.  II.  E.  Chamberlin,  James  J.  Barrett,  William  Bracked.  II.  B. 
Smith.  \\  ilhani  Burns, and  S.  B.  Johnson,  was  presented  to  M< 


lose 


Freemasonry.  573 

Paul,  Grand  Master  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  New  Hampshire,"  pray- 
ing for  letters  of  dispensation  or  a  warrant  of  constitution  to 
empower  them  to  assemble  a  legal  lodge  to  discharge  the  duties 
of  Masonry  in  a  regular  and  constitutional  manner  according  to 
the  original  forms  of  the  order."  The  petitioners  recommended 
the  appointment  of  the  following  officers:  "  P.  H.  Paddleford,  to 
be  first  Master;  H.  E.  Chamberlin,  to  be  first  Senior  Warden,  and 
James  J.  Barrett,  to  be  the  first  Junior  Warden  of  said  lodge." 
The  name  of  Burns  Lodge  was  also  recommended  by  the  peti- 
tioners. The  prayer  was  granted  in  each  of  these  particulars,  and 
a  dispensation  issued,  bearing  date  the  ninth  day  of  February,  1859. 

The  first  meeting  under  the  dispensation  was  held  February  19, 
1859,  at  which  Colonel  Gibb  was  made  Treasurer,  and  Major  A. 
Brackett  Secretary,  and  it  was  voted  that  the  regular  communica- 
tions be  held  monthly,  on  Thursday  of  the  week  in  which  the  moon 
fulls.  The  Worshipful  Master,  Senior  and  Junior  Wardens,  Secre- 
tary, and  Treasurer  were  constituted  a  committee  to  draft  a  code 
of  by-laws. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Grand  Lodge  the  transactions  of 
the  Burns  Lodge,  No.  66,  were  approved  and  a  charter  granted  iu 
due  and  ancient  form.1 

1  The  following  is  the  charter:  — 
To  all  the  Fraternity  to  whom  these  Presents  shall  come,  The  Grand  Lodge  of  the 

Most  Ancient  and  Honorable  Society  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons  for  the  State 
,  of  New  Hampshire,  send  Greeting: 

WHKUEAS  A  PETITION-  lias  been  presented  to  us  by  Brothers  P.  II.  Paddleford, 
Joseph  L.  Gibb,  James  J.  Barrett,  II.  B.  Smith,  Marshal  Sanders,  H.  E.  Chamberlin, 
William  Brackett,  William  Burns,  and  S.  B.  Johnson,  residing  in  the  towns  of  Little- 
ton and  Bethlehem  and  State  of  New  Hampshire,  all  Ancient,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  praying  that  they,  with  such  others  as  shall  hereafter  join  them,  may  be 
erected  and  constituted  a  regular  Lodge  of  Free  ami  Accepted  Masons  —  which  Pe- 
tition appearing  to  us  as  tending  to  the  advancement  of  Masonry  and  the  good  of 
the  Craft : 

KNOW  YE,  therefore,  that  we,  the  Grand  Lodge  aforesaid,  reposing  special  Trust 
and  Confidence  in  the  Prudence  and  Fidelity  of  our  beloved  Brethren  above  named, 
have  Constituted  and  Appointed,  and  by  these  Presents  do  constitute  and  appoint 
them,  the  said  P.  H.  Paddleford,  Joseph  L.  Gibb,  James  J.  Barrett,  II.  B.  Smith, 
Marshal  Sanders,  and  others,  a  regular  Lodge  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  under 
the  Title  and  Designation  of  BCKNS  LODGE,  No.  0(5,  hereby  giving  and  granting  unto 
them  and  their  Successors,  full  Power  and  Authority  to  convene  as  Masons,  within 
the  Town  of  Littleton,  in  the  County  of  Graft  on,  and  State  aforesaid  —  to  receive 
and  enter  Apprentices,  pass  Fellow  Crafts,  and  raise  Master  Masons,  upon  the  pay- 
ment of  such  compensations  for  the  same  as  may  be  determined  by  the  Grand  Lodge. 
Also,  to  make  choice  of  a  Master,  Wardens,  and  other  Office  Hearers,  annually,  or 
otherwise,  as  they  shall  see  cause  ;  to  receive  and  collect  Funds  for  the  relief  of  poor 
and  distressed  Brethren,  their  Widows  and  Children,  and,  in  general,  to  transact  all 
matters  relating  to  Masonry,  which  to  them  may  appear  to  be  for  the  good  of  the 
Craft,  according  to  the  ancient  Usages  and  Customs  of  Masons. 

And  we  do  hereby  require  the  said  constituted  Brethren  to  attend  the  Grand  Lodge 


574  History  of  Littleton. 

For  several  years  the  regular  communications  were  held  on 
both  afternoon  and  evening.1  The  first  annual  meeting  convened 
in  .June,  1859,  at  ten  of  the  clock  in  the  forenoon.  The  lodge 
proceeded  to  the  election  of  oflicers,  and  Philip  II.  Paddleford 
\vas  chosen  Worshipful  Master  ;  II.  E.  Chamberlin,  Senior  Warden  ; 
James  J.  Barrett,  Junior  Warden  ;  Aaron  Brackett,  Secretary,  and 
Joseph  L.  Gibb,  Treasurer.  Subsequently  Rev.  Lewis  P.  Cushman 
was  appointed  Chaplain;  Marshal  Sanders,  Senior  Deacon;  George 
C.  Wilkins,  Junior  Deacon,  and  James  F.  Palmer,  Tyler.  The 
afternoon  session  was  occupied  with  the  election  of  members  and 
balloting  for  candidates.  Eleven  former  members  of  Morning 
Dawn  Lodge,  No.  48,  were  elected  to  membership,  and  seven  can- 
didates for  degrees  approved.  In  balloting,  the  box  rested  upon 
the  altar,  and  members  formally  approached  and  cast  their  ballots. 
The  first  year  was  in  all  respects  prosperous.  All  regular  and 
seventeen  special  meetings  were  held,  and  fourteen  candidates 
raised  to  the  degree  of  Master  Mason.  The  cash  receipts  were 
«37^.'2.")  ;  the  expenditures,  8328.44,  leaving  a  balance  in  the 
treasury  of  £48.81. 

In  1800  occurred  a  fraternal  incident  of  unusual  interest. 
Ammonoosuc  Lodge  of  Odd  Fellows,  when  about  to  surrender  its 
charter,  voted  to  present  its  Bible  to  Burns  Lodge.  For  this  pur- 
pose a  special  meeting  was  held  at  the  lodge  room  on  January  \"1. 
A  large  delegation  of  each  fraternity  was  present.  Gen.  E.  O. 
Kenney,  in  behalf  of  the  Odd  Fellows,  made  the  presentation  ad- 
dress, which  was  happily  appropriate  in  both  form  and  sentiment. 
The  response  in  behalf  of  Burns  Lodge  was  made  by  Col.  Henry 

at  their  Annual  Communications,  and  other  Meetings,  by  their  Master  and  Wardens. 
or  by  Proxies  regularly  appointed  ;  also,  to  keep  a  fair  and  regular  Record  of  all  their 
proceedings,  and  to  lay  them  before  the  Grand  Lodge  when  required. 

And  we  do  enjoin  upon  our  Krethren  of  the  said  Lodge,  that  they  be  punctual  in 
the  payment  of  such  sums  as  may  be  assessed  for  the  support  of  the  Grand  Lodge: 
that  they  behave  tl  emselves  respectfully  and  obediently  to  their  superiors  in  otliee. 


and  in  all  other  resj 


and  elsewhere,  to  n 
Jn  toiimony  where* 


ects  conduct  themselves  as  good  Masons. 

y  declare  the  Precedence  of  the  said  Lodge,  in  the  Grand  Lodge 

minence  from  the  date  hereof. 


)',  \\'i;,  the  GRAND  MASTER,  DEPUTY  GRAND  MASTER  and  GKAM> 
\VAI;DKN»,  by  virtue  of  the  Power  and  Authority  to  us  committed,  have  hereunto 
»et  our  Hand.-,  and  cau>ed  the  Seal  of  the  GRAND  Lodge  to  be  attixed,  at  (,'oncord, 
thi>  eighth  day  of  .June.  Anno  Domini  <  >ne  Thousand  Kight  Hundred  and  Kilty- 
nine,  and  of  .Masonry  Five  Thousand  Light  Hundred  and  Fifty-nine. 
L.  S.  |  Mo*i;s  PAUL,  (.'ran,/  Master. 

AARON  P.  II  i,(iiu:»,  /hjinty  (irtind  Jluxttr. 
JACOH  C.  HANSON,  >'<  in<»'  (n'«ml   II  'in/in. 

P.y  order.,}'  the  Grain!   Lodge,  ./it,ii>,,-  (,r<n,d    \\'<n-<l<n. 

HOKACI.  ('HAM.,   til-ilia/  >''(/,//;///. 

1    The  Hy-Lawe  in  thi.-  respect  were  changed  in  May,  1H87. 


Freemasonry.  575 

W.  Rowell,  in  brief  but  felicitous  remarks.  This  Bible  was  placed 
upon  the  altar,  where  it  has  remained  as  one  of  the  great  lights  of 
Masonry  for  forty-four  years. 

Worshipful  Master  Paddleford  declined  to  continue  in  the  East 
during  another  term.  At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  he  was  appointed  District  Deputy  Grand  Master  for  the 
Sixth  Masonic  District  in  1860,  and  reappoiuted  in  1861  and  1862. 
He  received  the  Royal  Arch  degrees  in  Franklin  Chapter,  Lisbon,  in 
the  summer  of  1859 ;  elected  Master  of  the  First  Vail,  November 
8,  1860  ;  P.  Sojourner  in  1860,  1861,  1862,  and  1863.  From 
1864  to  1867,  inclusive,  and  in  1869,  he  was  elected  King.  Re- 
ceived the  Knights  Templar  Orders  in  North  Star  Commandery 
at  Lancaster  in  1864 ;  was  a  charter  member  of  St.  Gerard  Com- 
mandery and  its  Prelate  from  1868  to  1871,  inclusive,  also  in  1874 
and  1875.  Mr.  Paddleford  possessed  the  true  Masonic  spirit,  was 
unselfish,  helpful,  and  while  without  ambition  for  official  fraternity 
positions,  was  always  willing  to  serve  when  it  was  clear  that  it 
was  for  the  best  interest  of  the  institution  that  he  should  do  so. 
The  record  shows  that  from  the  time  he  was  raised  to  the  Sublime 
Degree  of  a  Master  Mason  until  his  death  in  1876,  it  was  seldom 
that  he  did  not  hold  an  official  station.  He  was  not  what  is 
termed  a  "  pen-and-ink  man,"  and  writing  reports  was  not  his 
forte.  He  was,  nevertheless,  a  hard  worker,  and  his  knowledge  of 
the  ritual  was  nearly  perfect,  and  all  preferments  that  came  to 
him  "  rested  upon  real  worth  and  personal  merit  only."  His 
death  was  a  loss  to  the  fraternity. 

In  1860  the  lodge  secured  the  convenient  hall  abandoned  by 
the  Odd  Fellows  in  Smith's  Building,  and  there  the  annual  com- 
munication was  held  in  May.  Horace  Elliott  Chamberlin  was 
elected  Worshipful  Master  ;  Marshal  Sanders,  Senior  Warden  ; 
James  J.  Barrett,  Junior  Warden  ;  and  Aaron  Brackett  and  Joseph 
L.  Gibb,  respectively,  Secretary  and  Treasurer.  The  appointed  offi- 
cers for  the  year  were  H.  W.  Rowell,  Senior  Deacon  ;  Ai  Fitz- 
gerald, Junior  Deacon  ;  Rev.  L.  P.  Cushman,  Chaplain  ;  Charles 
Hartshorn,  Marshal;  David  Page  Sanborn,  Senior  Steward; 
Samuel  B.  Page,  Junior  Steward  ;  and  Henry  Thomas,  Tyler. 

The  regular  meetings  were  well  attended  through  the  year,  and 
ten  special  communications  were  held.  Twelve  candidates  were 
initiated,  among  them  Josiah  Kilburn,  Alonzo  Weeks,  Chauncey 
11.  Greene,  and  George  Farr.  In  this  year  a  large  restful  chair 
was  presented  by  the  lodge  to  Dr.  Burns,  Henry  W.  Rowell 
being  the  presenter.  The  aged  doctor  responded  with  evident 
emotion,  thanking  the  brethren  for  their  thoughtfuliiess.  An 


570  History  of  Littleton. 

incident  that  marked  the  progress  of  public  affairs  in  the  wide 
field  of  national  events  occurred  at  the  communication  in  April, 
1801.  The.  lodge  had  assembled  as  usual,  when  it  was  called 
from  labor  to  refreshment,  to  enable  the  brethren  "  to  attend  a 
meeting  of  citizens  held  in  Jlounsevel's  Hall  to  interchange  views 
in  regard  to  the  alarming  condition  of  our  country."  On  being 
recalled  to  labor  but  a  small  number  were  present,  and  the  lodge 
closed  in  due  and  ancient  form. 

Worshipful  Master  Chamberlin.  following  the  example  of  his 
predecessor,  declined  a  re-election  to  the  position  he  had  graced 
through  the  year.  He  was  a  dignified  and  accomplished  presiding 
officer,  and  thoroughly  equipped  for  the  work  of  the  high  position. 
He  received  his  degrees  in  North  Star  Lodge  at  Lancaster,  in 
1858;  the  chapter  degrees  at  Lisbon  in  Franklin  Chapter,  of 
which  he  was  Captain  of  the  Host  in  1850-1800,  and  Treasurer  in 
1803.  Since  his  residence  in  Concord  he  has  received  the  honors 
of  knighthood,  and  has  received  still  higher  degrees  in  the  ancient 
order  of  Scottish  Rite  Masonry.  Mr.  Chamberlin  is  the  only  sur- 
viving charter  member  of  the  lodge,  and  though  for  many  years  a 
non-resident,  he  has  continued  to  hold  his  membership  in  the  lodge 
which  he  contributed  to  found,  and  of  which  he  was  the  first 
Senior  Warden.  He  has  passed  the  threescore  and  ten  mark, 
but  bears  his  years  well,  a  man  strong  in  mind  and  body. 

In  May,  1801,  the  lodge  entered  upon  its  third  year  in  the  face 
of  many  difficulties  and  in  the  midst  of  great  national  events. 
The  war  thinned  its  membership  and  weakened  its  working  force, 
but  it  held  to  its  course  with  pertinacity,  and  successfully  passed 
the  crisis  that  threatened  its  existence  for  three  years.  Marshal 
Sanders  was  chosen  to  succeed  Mr.  Chamberlin  in  the  East,  Alon/o 
Weeks  succeeded  Colonel  Gibb  as  Treasurer,  and  there  were  other 
changes  in  the  list  of  officers  which  the  curious  reader  will  find 
recorded  in  the  Masonic  Tables  in  this  volume.  The  absorbing 
interest  of  the  people  in  the  war  is  most  emphatically  indicated 
by  the  fact  that  during  the  year  but  six  regular  meetings  were 
held  in  the  afternoon,  and  but  ten  evening  sessions,  \vhile  only 
seven  special  meetings  were  called.  This  result  was  not.  caused 
by  loss  of  interest,  but  through  the  overpowering  demands  of  the 
momentous  interests  at  stake  at  the  time.  The  closing  month  of 
tin-  year  was  memorable  by  reason  of  the  death  of  the  first  member 
of  the  lodge,  who  was  called  to  sacrifice  his  life  for  his  country 
in  the  great  conflict.  Philip  C.  Wilkins  died  at  Camp  California, 
JV'crmbcr  18.  1X01,  having  contracted  typhoid  fever  at  the  time 
his  regiment,  the  Fifth  New  Hampshire  Volunteers,  was  transferred 


AAKON   BKACKKTT. 
X KI. SON   C.   FARK. 


Freemasonry.  577 

from  Bladensburg  to  the  Virginia  camp.  His  remains  reached 
his  former  New  Hampshire  home  on  January  24,  1862. t  Funeral 
services,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Burns  Lodge,  assisted  by  Kane 
Lodge,  were  held  at  the  Congregational  Church  on  the  26th  of 
January.  A  large  concourse  assembled  to  pay  the  last  rites  to 
the  departed  brother.  The  sermon  was  preached  by  the  Rev. 
C.  E.  Milliken,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dearborn,  of  Lisbon,  assisting.1 

Worshipful  Master  Sanders  was  re-elected  to  the  chair  in  May, 
but  did  not  serve  out  the  term  by  reason  of  his  enlistment  in  the 
Thirteenth  New  Hampshire  Regiment,  in  which  he  became  the 
captain  of  a  company.  Senior  Warden  George  C.  Wilkins  pre- 
sided in  the  East  from  October  to  the  close  of  the  Masonic  year  in 
May,  1863.  All  the  regular  communications  were  held  this  year, 
as  well  as  nine  specials.  Several  dispensations  were  granted  by 
District  Deputy  Grand  Master  Paddleford  for  conferring  all  the 
degrees  at  meetings  held  within  a  single  week.  These  dispensa- 
tions were  in  favor  of  candidates  who  had  or  were  about  to  enter 
the  service  of  the  country  in  a  military  capacity.  The  practice 
had  been  inaugurated  in  the  preceding  year.  In  the  year  seven 
candidates  were  raised,  and  two  brothers,  Henry  Thomas  and  G.M. 
Buffum,  entered  upon  their  reward.  Beside  Worshipful  Master 
Sanders,  Brothers  George  Farr,  Nathan  Burns,  Benjamin  W.  Kil- 
burn,  and  Frank  D.  Sanborn  enlisted  in  the  army  and  went  to  the 
front.  During  the  year  there  was  a  marked  increase  in  the  chari- 
table work  of  the  lodge,  and  a  closer  scrutiny  made  in  regard  to 
the  Masonic  qualifications  of  the  candidates  proposed  for  initiation, 
and  nine  were  rejected. 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  May,  1864,  the  lodge  found  itself  in 
a  precarious  position  on  account  of  a  dearth  of  members  qualified 
to  fill  the  several  offices,  and  was  forced  to  adopt  the  unmasonic 
method  of  appointing  a  committee  to  report  a  list  of  candidates 
for  officers.  The  committee  named  Philip  II.  Paddleford  for 
Worshipful  Master,  and  he  was  duly  elected,  but  subsequently 
absolutely  refused  to  be  installed.  At  the  annual  meeting  of  the 
Grand  Lodge  a  dispensation  was  obtained,  authorizing  the  lodge 
to  fill  the  vacancy  thus  caused  by  a  new  election.  But  this  failed 
to  relieve  the  situation,  no  member  qualified  under  the  rules  being 
willing  to  accept.  Finally,  in  November,  former  Worshipful  Master 
H.  E.  Chamberlin  consented  to  serve  the  lodge  during  the  re- 
maining months  of  the  term. 

1  A  writer  in  the  "  People's  Journal,"  of  January  31,  1802,  subjects  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Milliken  to  severe  criticism  on  account  of  his  alleged  lack  of  due  recognition  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity  in  conducting  this  service. 
VOL.  n.  —  37 


578  History  of  Littleton. 

The  condition  of  affairs  at  this  time  (the  summer  and  autumn 
of  1S(>4)  was  critical  in  the  extreme.  For  a  time  no  work  could 
he  transacted  for  the  reason  that  the  several  official  positions 
could  not  he  filled  by  memhers  sufficiently  familiar  with  the 
ritual  to  discharge  the  duties.  Under  these  circumstances  several 
memhiTs,  among  whom  \ve  recall  the  names  of  Ai  Fitzgerald, 
Jlenry  W.  Smith,  Charles  F.  Everett,  Charles  E.  Baker,  Chauncey 
II.  Greene,  (Jeorge  C.  Wilkins,  then  suffering  from  the  disease 
that  in  a  few  months  proved  fatal,  and  a  few  others,  met  in  the  hall 
several  times  a  week  for  study  and  practice  of  the  work,  and  were 
soon  in  a  position  to  accept  temporary  appointments  and  perform 
the  work  of  the  lodge.  The  effect  of  this  preparation  and  i'amil- 
iari/ation  with  the  work  was  seen  in  tin,1  following  years,  when 
the  lodge  received  the  highest  commendation  from  the  District 
Deputy  Grand  Master  for  accomplishments  in  conferring  degrees. 

The  Masonic  record  of  Worshipful  Master  Marshal  Sanders  is 
brief.  He  received  ihc  Blue  Lodge  degrees  in  the  lodge  at 
Poiiliae.  Mich.,  Master  degree  being  conferred  July  -!5,  1S55. 
There  is  no  record  indicating  that  he  received  any  of  the  higher 
degrees.  Ue  was  the  first  Senior  Deacon  of  Burns  Lodge  (1859), 
Senior  Warden  in  IHOU,  AVorshipful  Master  in  18(51  and  18U± 
Ju  September  of  the  last-named  year  lie  enlisted  and  went  to  the 
front.  He  contracted  a  fatal  disease  while  in  the  service,  and  died 
April  4,  ISiJG.  He  was  a  thoroughly  educated  Mason,  having  a 
well-memorized  knowledge  of  the  work,  and  was  efficient  in  the 
discharge  of  all  official  duties. 

Chauncey  Hastings  Greene  was  chosen  Master  in  1S(54,  and  a  few 
months  after  enlisted  in  the  artillery  regiment.  In  his  absence 
the  duties  of  Master  were  discharged  by  the  Wardens  Albert  II. 
Qiiimhy  and  Henry  W.  Smith. 

The  Masonic  year  was  a  continuation  of  the  critical  period  in  the 
history  of  the  lodge.  All  regular  communications  were  duly  held, 
and  ten  candidates  were  raised.  At  this  period  something  of  an 
innovation,  that  has  seldom,  if  ever,  been  repeated,  was  introduced. 
A  special  communication  was  held  Sunday  evening.  December  7. 
DiMriet  Deputy  Grand  Master  K/ra  C.  Knight,  and  other  members 
ot  kane  Lodge,  were  present.  The  work  was  of  the  Entered 
Apprentice  degree.  Luther  I).  Sanborn  being  the  candidate. 
Supper  \vas  served  at  Thaycr's  Hotel  at  the  close  of  the  work. 

During  the  year  the  final  Masonic  rites  were  paid  to  the  mem- 
ory of  .Joseph  L.  Gibb  and  (Jeorge  C.  Wilkins,  both  of  whom  had 
been  \aluable  working  members  of  the  lodge. 

The  bi;-thdav  of  Washington  was  observed  in  Isiji)  bv  a  levee  at 


Freemasonry.  579 

Thayer's  Hotel,  which  was  largely  attended.  Many  from  out  of 
town  were  present  with  ladies.  The  arrangements  were  under  the 
direction  of  a  committee  appointed  by  the  lodge.1  A  steel  en- 
graving of  Washington  was  presented  to  the  lodge  by  Lorenzo 
C.  Kenney. 

The  year's  work  indicated  an  improvement  in  the  financial 
affairs  of  the  lodge,  there  being  a  surplus  in  the  treasury  of 
$280.38. 

From  May,  1865,  to  May,  1866,  Henry  W.  Smith  was  Worshipful 
Master.  The  regular  meetings  were  duly  held,  as  were  seventeen 
special  meetings.  Action  was  taken  this  year  to  increase  the 
library  which  had  been  established  in  1860.  The  work,  however, 
was  not  systematized,  and  while  some  additions  were  made  to  the 
collection,  they  could  not  be  regarded  as  especially  valuable. 
Fifteen  candidates  were  raised  to  the  Sublime  degree  of  Master 
Mason  in  this  year,  and  the  other  work  was  correspondingly 
successful. 

Worshipful  Master  Smith  took  his  first  Masonic  degree  March 
13,  1861,  and  was  raised  May  23  of  the  same  year.  Received  the 
Chapter  degrees  at  Franklin  Chapter  in  1868;  was  Senior  Deacon 
of  Burns  Lodge  in  1862-1863;  Junior  Warden,  1864;  Worshipful 
Master  in  1865  ;  Representative  to  the  Grand  Lodge  in  1868  and 
1872;  Marshal  in  1869-1870  ;  Secretary,  1880  ;  appointed  District 
Deputy  Grand  Lecturer  in  1869,  a  position  he  declined  to  accept. 
He  has  been  an  interested  but  modest  member  and  worker  for  the 
interests  of  the  lodge ;  not  desiring  to  hold  official  positions,  for 
which  he  had  capacity  but  no  particular  taste,  he  was  yet  always 
willing  to  do  those  things  which  were  regarded  by  his  brethren  as 
necessary  for  the  best  interests  of  the  lodge. 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  May,  1866,  Chauncey  II.  Greene  was 
again  chosen  to  preside  in  the  East.  The  lodge  emerged  from  the 
shadow  of  the  cloud  that  had  darkened  its  course  during  the  war, 
and  entered  upon  a  career  of  prosperity  that  has  continued  to  the 
present  time.  Some  weeks  before  the  annual  communication 
some  of  the  younger  members  of  the  lodge,  with  a  view  of 
securing  quarters  adequate  to  the  growing  demands  of  the  lodge, 
formulated  a  plan  which  resulted  in  the  erection  of  Union  Block, 
in  which  the  lodge  acquired  a  long  lease  of  the  upper  story  for 
its  use.  The  builders  of  the  block  organized  as  a  corporation,  and 
all  its  stock  was  subscribed  for  and  held  for  many  years  by  mem- 
bers of  Burns  Lodge. 

1  The  committee  consisted  of  Charles  Hartshorn,  flames  J.  Barrett,  C.  C.  Smith, 
Cephas  Brackett,  Lorenzo  C.  Kenney,  James  H.  Jackson,  Henry  \V.  Smith,  Samuel 
Taylor  Morse,  and  Ai  Fitzgerald. 


580  History  of  Littleton. 

In  January,  1807,  the  necessary  lease  of  the  rooms  was  executed, 
and  8450  appropriated  by  the  lodge,  and  the  further  sum  of 
8755,  secured  by  individual  subscriptions  by  members,  —  $1,205, 
in  all,  —  for  use  in  furnishing  the  new  rooms.  The  erection  of 
the  building  and  the  contribution  of  this  considerable  sum  for 
the  purpose  named  indicate  the  spirit  that  prevailed  among  the 
members  at  that  time.  It  was  an  undertaking  that  was  deemed 
chimerical  by  many  members  when  first  broached,  but  a  week's 
work  by  those  who  circulated  the  paper  for  subscriptions  turned 
doubt  to  certainty,  and  from  that  time  on  the  enterprise  received 
the  entire  co-operation  of  every  member.  When  completed,  the  hall 
was  regarded  as  among  the  best  in  the  State.  The  lodge  took 
possession  of  the  hall  early  in  1867,  and  held  a  public  installation 
of  officers  by  District  Deputy  Grand  Master  Paddleford  in  May  of 
that  year. 

AVorshipful  Master  Greene  was  re-elected  in  May,  1867,  and 
served  by  virtue  of  successive  re-elections  until  May,  1871.  The 
year  1868  was  notable  in  the  annals  of  the  lodge  by  the  death  of 
Major  Aaron  Braekett,  who  had  been  Secretary  of  the  lodge  from 
its  organization.  For  some  unknown  reason  the  major  was  not  a 
petitioner  for  the  charter,  though  he  had  received  his  degrees  in 
Morning  Dawn  Lodge  in  1821.  lie  was,  however,  elected  to  mem- 
bership at  the  first  meeting  of  the  lodsre.  lie  was  a  brother  of 

i  O  " 

William  Braekett,  and  for  many  years  had  been  one  of  the  re- 
spected and  useful  eiti/.cns  of  the  town.  He  had  been  representa- 
tive to  the  Legislature,  town  clerk,  fire  ward,  and  for  many  years 
was  chorister  at  the  Congregational  Church.  He  belonged  to  a 
class  of  men,  somewhat  rare,  who  do  every  thing  they  undertake  in 
line  form.  For  nearly  half  a  century  he  had  been  called  upon  re- 
peatedly to  act  as  secretary  of  both  public  and  private  associations, 
and  his  records  were  models  of  their  kind. 

Chauneey  II.  Greene's  Masonic  record  is  probably  more  ex- 
tended and  diversified  than  that  of  any  other  member  of  Burns 
Lodge,  and  may  be  found  in  the  statistical  tables  in  this  volume, 
and  briefly  in  the  volume  devoted  to  the  genealogy.  It  covers  all 
the  Masonic  bodies  that  now  have,  or  have  had,  an  established 
organization  in  town.  He  has  been  a  vigorous  worker  in  Hie 
rause  since  his  first,  connection  with  the  order,  and  has  filled 
acceptably  nearly  all  its  offices. 

William  Arthur  Haskins  was  elected  Worshipful  Master  in 
May,  1871.  and  held  the  position  eleven  years,  —  a  longer  period 
than  any  other  person  who  had  filled  the  office.  He  retired  in 
May,  1<S8_.  He  is  said  to  have  been  an  accomplished  workman. 


Freemasonry.  581 

presiding  with  dignity  and  administering  its  various  duties  with 
urbanity  and  absolute  mastery  of  the  ritual. 

Mr.  Haskins  was  succeeded  in  the  East  by  Elbert  C.  Stevens,  who 
filled  the  chair  but  one  year,  declining  a  re-election ;  then  came 
Albert  Stillman  Batchellor  and  John  Franklin  Tilton,each  holding 
one  year  ;  Ruel  W.  Poor,  Millard  Fillmore  Young,  and  Charles  F. 
Bingham,  each  for  two  years.  In  1891  Thaddeus  E.  Sanger  filled 
the  chair  for  one  year,  and  its  occupants  since  have  been  Charles 
F.  Eastman,  Solon  L.  Simonds,  Herbert  K.  Hallett,  Wilbur  Fisk 
Robins,  Alfred  W.  Coburn,  and  the  present  occupant,  William 
M.  Silsby,  who,  with  the  exception  of  W.  F.  Robins,  who  was 
elected  three  times,  held  for  two  years  each.1 

Burns  Lodge  is  one  of  the  flourishing  institutions  of  the  town, 
and  ranks  well  with  similar  bodies  in  the  State.  It  has  a  present 
membership  of  193.  As  Masonic  bodies  are  secret  associations, 
the  difficulties  attending  the  preparation  of  a  history  of  its 
transactions  are  obvious.  We  know  who  are  in,  but  not  what 
transpires  after  they  passed  the  outer  gate,  nor  the  names  of 
those  who  have  knocked  at  its  doors  only  to  be  denied  admission. 
In  late  years  liberal  sums  from  the  treasury  have  been  appropriated 
for  charitable  work,  but  in  its  giving,  as  in  its  work,  it  has  followed 
the  injunction,"  When  thou  doest  alms,  let  not  thy  left  hand  know 
what  thy  right  hand  doeth." 

At  the  time  when  Burns  Lodge  had  recovered  from  the  depres- 
sion incident  to  the  war,  the  members  of  Franklin  Chapter  at 
Lisbon,  resident  in  this  town,  desired  the  establishment  of  a  com- 
mandery  of  Knights  Templar  and  the  appendant  orders  here. 
Having  first  procured  the  assent  thereto  of  North  Star  Com- 
mandery  at  Lancaster,  they,  in  May,  1868,  petitioned  Sir  Knight 
Charles  A.  Tufts,  Grand  Commander  of  the  Grand  Commandery 
of  the  State,  to  grant  them  a  dispensation  for  a  commandery  in 
Littleton,  which  was  granted  in  the  following  terms : 

[DISPENSATION.] 

To  all  whom  it  may  concern,  Greeting,  whereas,  a  petition  of  sundry 
Knights  Templar  in  the  town  of  Littleton,  praying  that  a  dispensation 
may  be  granted  them  to  open  and  hold  a  Commandery  of  Knights 
Templar  and  Councils  of  the  appendant  orders  at  the  town  of  Littleton, 
in  the  County  of  Graf  ton  and  State  of  New  Hampshire,  aforesaid,  has 
been  presented  to  me  for  consideration,  and  whereas  it  appears  to  me 
that  the  prayers  of  the  petitioners  ought  to  be  granted. 

Now  KNOW  YE,  that  I,  CHARLES  A.  TUFTS,  Grand  Commander  of  the 

1  For  list  of  officers  in  the  several  Masonic  bodies  in  this  town,  see  statistical  tables 
relating  to  Masonry. 


582  History  of  Littleton. 

Grand  Commandery  of  Knights  Templar  for  the  State  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, by  virtue  of  the  power  in  me  vested,  do  grant  this  my  Dispensa- 
tion to  CILUXI  i.v  II.  GKEEXE,  JAMKS  J.  BARRETT,  CHARLES  C.  SMITH, 
NELSON  ('.  FARR.  LOREXXO  C.  KEXXEY,  PHILIP  H.  PADDLEFOUD,  THAD- 
i>r.rs  T.  CrsiiM.-vx,  AAROX  D.  FISHER,  and  GEORGE  ABBOTT,  the  peti- 
tioners aforesaid  and  to  their  associates  and  successors,  and  empower 
them  to  open  and  hold  a  Commandery  of  Knights  Templar  and  Councils 
of  the  appendant  orders  at  the  place  aforesaid,  to  be  called  and  dis- 
tinguished by  the  name  of  St.  Gerard  Commandery,  Xo.  9,  and  in  each 
of  the  several  Orders  to  confer  the  respective  degrees  thereof  upon  such 
person  or  persons  possessing  the  requisite  qualifications  as  they  may 
think  proper. 

And  I  do  by  these  presents  appoint  SIR  CHAUXCEY  H.  GREEXE  as 
Eminent  Commander,  SIR  JAMES  J.  BARRETT  as  Generalissimo  and  SIR 
LOKKN/O  C.  KKXXEY  as  Captain  General,  with  continuance  to  them  of 
the  said  powers  and  privileges  until  the  fourth  Tuesday  of  September, 
in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty-eight, 
and  no  longer:  at  which  time  they  are  hereby  enjoined  to  make  a  re- 
turn of  this  Dispensation  with  all  their  ollicial  doings  under  the  same. 
Provided,  nevertheless,  that  the  said  oilicers  and  members  of  said 
Commandery,  pay  due  respect  to  our  Grand  Commandery  and  the  Con- 
stitution and  Edicts  thereof,  and  in  no  way  remove  the  ancient  land- 
marks of  the  Order;  otherwise  this  Dispensation  and  all  things  therein 
contained  to  be  void  and  of  no  effect. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  seal,  at  the  City  of  Dover,  this  tenth  day 
of  June,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
sixty-eight. 

CHARLES  A.  Terrs,  G.  C.  [SEAL.] 

A I  the  liino  the  petition  was  filed  it  was  proposed  bv  Ilio 
petitioners  thai  Hie  Grand  Commander,  diaries  A.  Tuffs,  of  Dover, 
Albert  \\.  Hatch,  of  Portsmouth,  and  Thomas  Iv  Hatch,  of  Kcene, 
SUIT '.rest  a  name  for  the  new  organization,  find  their  selection  of 
"St.  Gerard"  was  written  info  the  dispensation  and  afterward 
into  the  charter.  This  name  is  revered  in  Masonic  circles,  but  it 
is  not  known  why  St.  lias  been  prefixed.  This  Gerard  was  the, 
loimder  of  the  Order  of  Hospitalers,  or  St.  .John  of  Jerusalem. 
altiTward  known  as  the  Order  of  .Malta,  but  lie  was  never  eanon- 
i/.rd.  Most  likely  the  error  in  regard  to  the  title  arose,  as  in  manv 
other  case>.  from  flic  fact  that  it  should  have  been  bestowed,  and 
custom  sanctions  its  use.  especially  in  Masonic  bodies.1 

1  John  ]'.  Tiltc.n.  who  -;itlic>roil  the  material  for  this  lirief  sketch,  wrote  Allxrt  S. 
Wait.  a»kiir_r  for  I  lie  liUtory  of'  t  he  name,  ami  hi>  replv  follows  : 

XKWI'OKT.  X.  H.,  Sc'))ti>iiil>cr 'Ji;.  r.Ki.",. 


if  St.    (ieranl,  and    \\  liy 


Freemasonry.  583 

The  first  regular  conclave  of  the  Commandery  was  held  August 
31,  1868,  at  half-past  nine  in  the  forenoon.  Grand  Commander 
Charles  A.  Tufts  was  present.  At  this  morning-  conclave  William 
H.  Chandler  and  George  W.  Eastman  received  the  orders  of  the 
Red  Cross.  In  the  afternoon  the  order  of  the  temple  was  conferred 
on  the  same  candidates,  and  in  the  evening  Andrew  ,T.  Edgerly,  of 
Haverhill,  received  the  same  orders.  William  II.  Chandler  was 
then  elected  and  installed  Standard  Bearer,  and  A.  J.  Edgerly  as 
First  Guard. 

At  the  annual    conclave  of   the  Grand   Commandery  held  in 

Knights  Templar  was  named  from  him.     I  will  give  you  the  best  information  I 
possess  upon  the  subject. 

This  Gerard  was  the  founder  of  the  Order  of  Hospitalers,  or  St.  John  of  Jerusalem, 
afterwards  and  still  known  as  the  Order  of  Malta.  Says  the  "  Modern  Universal  His- 
tory," vol.  xv.  pp.  '216-217  (which  has  the  completes!  and  best  history  of  the  Order 
of  Malta  which  I  know),  speaking  of  the  Christians  in  Jerusalem  just  prior  to  tiie 
siege  of  that  city  by  the  Crusaders  under  Godfrey  de  Bouillon  :  "  Among  these  was 
the  celebrated  Gerard,  a  Frenchman  of  Prnvtmce,  who,  from  the  time  he  came  to  visit 
the  places  of  the  city,  had  dedicated  himself  to  the  service  of  the  hospital  of  St.  John, 
and,  from  his  singular  piety  and  tenderness  to  the  pilgrims,  had  the  care  and  manage- 
ment of  that  house  committed  to  him,  under  the  title  of  administrator."  The  ac- 
count goes  on  to  describe  his  exertions,  assisted  by  a  Roman  lady  by  the  name  of 
Atjnes,  for  the  relief  of  the  suffering  Christians,  until  his  death  in  the  year  1118,  when 
he  was  succeeded  in  the  government  of  the  Order  by  Raymond  Dupuy,  under  whom, 
from  a  peaceful  monastic  society  devoted  to  charitable  works,  the  institution  be- 
came a  military  order,  devoted  to  the  defence  of  Jerusalem  against  the  Moslems. 
Gerard's  birtli  was  about  the  year  1040;  his  death,  as  already  stated,  in  1118,  or,  as 
some  notices  of  him  say,  about  1120. 

There  is  also  some  account  of  this  person  in  Addison's  "  History  of  Knight  Tem- 
plars," ed.  by  Macoy,  p.  105  and  se</.  His  name  occurs  also  in  a  short  paragraph 
among  the  proper  names  in  the  Century  Dictionary. 

Some  account  of  him  will  be  found  in  the  9th  ed.  of  the  TCnclyclopaedia  Britannica, 
vol.  x.  p.  430,  and  vol.  xxi.  p.  174;  also  in  the  International  Cyclopaedia,  vol.  vi. 
p.  007.  A  very  good  notice  of  him  will  be  found  in  Mackey's  Kncyclop;edia  of  Free- 
masonry, in  the  article  entitled  "  Knights  of  Malta,"  and  the  statements  there  appear 
well  authorized  by  the  "  Universal  History." 

Although  the  undoubted  founder  of  the  order,  Gerard  is  not  generally  esteemed  its 
first  Grand  Master,  that  distinction  being  generally  accorded  to  Raymond  Dupuy.  I 
suppose  for  the  reason  that  it  was  under  the  latter  that  the  Order  first  took  its  mili- 
tant character.  In  some  of  the  references  to  him  he  is  distinguished  as  '•  The 
Blessed,"  but  I  do  not  find  him  anywhere  in  history  referred  to  as  a  saint,  or  any 
intimation  that  he  was  ever  canonixed.  Whether  his  name  actually  appears  upon 
the  church  calendar  as  a  saint,  I  am  not  informed.  I  doubt  whether  it  does.  There 
was  a  Saint  Gerard,  undoubtedly  canonized  as  such,  who  lived  some  four  hundred 
years  later,  seldom  mentioned,  and  only  slightly  known  in  history  ;  but  this  person 
never  had  anything  to  do  with  the  Order  of  Malta,  or  any  thing  else  in  which  Masonry 
or  any  Masonic  order  is  interested,  and  is  clearly  not  the  person  about  whom  you 
inquire. 

I  have  thus  suggested  to  you  all  the  sources  of  information  to  which  I  have  access, 
and  shall  be  only  too  glad  to  know  that  I  have  been  able  to  assist  you  in  any  degree 
in  the  pursuit  of  your  inquiry. 

Very  fraternally  yours, 

Ai.KKKr  S.  WAIT. 


f)S4  History  of  Littleton. 

Concord  on   September   20,   1868,   St.   Gerard    Commandery   re- 
ceived  its  charter.1 

On  January  lf>,  1809,  the  following  officers  were  installed  by 
CIrand  Commander  Henry  0.  Kent,  of  Lancaster:  Chauncey  IT. 
Greene,  Eminent  Commander;  James  J.  Barrett,  Generalissimo  ; 
Loren/o  C.  Kenney,  Captain  General  ;  Philip  H.  Paddleford, 
Prelate  ;  Charles  C.  Smith,  Senior  Warden  ;  Cephas  Brackett, 
Treasurer  :  Nelson  C.  Farr,  Recorder  ;  William  IT.  Chandler, 
Standard  Hearer;  George  Abbott,  Sword  Bearer;  Aaron  D. 
Fisher,  Warden;  Andrew  J.  Edgerly,  First  Guard;  Charles  II. 

1  (Cory.)  [CIIAHTEH.] 

THK  GRAND  COMMANDERY  or  KXIGHTS  TEMPLAK  OF  THK  STATE  OF  NEW 

II  VMl'SHIRE, 

Assembled  in  Grand  Conclave  in  Concord  in  said  State. 

SEND  GREETING  : 

HE  IT  KXOWX,  That  whereas  a  petition  has  been  presented  by  CHAUNCEY  II. 
GIIEENE,  JAMES  J.  HAHHETT,  LORENXO  C.  KEXXEY,  CHARLES  C.  SMITH,  XELSOX  C. 
FARR,  1'.  II.  I'ADDLEFORI>,  T.  T.  CISHMAX,  A.  I).  FISHER,  and  GEORGE  AHHOTT,  all 
Knights  Templar  in  regular  standing,  residing  in  Littleton,  in  the  State  of  New 
Hampshire,  and  its  vicinity,  praying  for  authority  to  assemble  at  a  regular  Com- 
mandery in  said  town  of  Littleton  ;  and  whereas,  said  petition  is  accompanied  with 
satisfactory  recommendations. 

Now  KNOW  YE,  Tlmt  \\'/\  the-  (ifdtut  Commandery  of  Knights  Ti-mi>/ur  and  t/ir  n/>- 
l>:'i!<l<int  Ctrili'i-s  of  the  State  of  New  Hampshire,  by  our  Grand  Officers,  do  hereby 
authori/i-  and  empower  the  said  CIIAIXCEV  II.  GREENE  and  his  associates  above 
named,  to  form,  open  and  hold  a  regular  CorxciL  OF  KNIGHTS  OF  THK  HI-:I>  CROI-S, 
and  ( 'OMMANDE i;v  OF  KNIGHTS  TEMPLAR  and  KXIGIITS  OF  MALTA,  of  the  ORDER  OF 
ST.  JOHN  OF  Jr.Hi  SALEM,  in  said  town  of  Littleton,  by  the  name,  style  and  title  of 
ST.  Gi.KUii)  COMMANDERY,  No.  '.I,  and  said  Commandery  is  hereby  invested  with  full 
power  to  assemble  on  all  lawful  and  proper  occasions,  to  create  KXIGHTS  OF  THE 
KED  CHO-S.  K NIG ii  is  TEMPLAR  and  KNIGHT*  OF  MALTA  ;  to  make  Hy-I.a  ws  for  their 
own  government,  and  generally  to  transact  all  such  matters  and  tilings  as  may  and 
ought  to  be  transacted,  consistent  with  the  ancient  usages  and  customs  of  the  Order. 
And  we  do  hereby  appoint  said  CH.U  XCEV  II.  GREEXE  First  Commander,  said 
J\MKS  J.  I'\I;I:ETT,  First  Generalissimo,  and  said  LOREXXO  C.  KKXNEY,  First  Cap- 
tain General  of  said  St.  Gerard  Commandery. 

And  we  hereby  require  said  St.  Gerard  Commandery  to  make  annual  returns  to 
the  Grand  Commandery  of  New  Hampshire,  of  the  names  of  their  officers  and  mem- 
bers and  the  names  of  all  candidates  accepted  and  rejected,  and  to  pay  annually  the 
sum  of  two  dollars  for  each  and  every  Knights  Templar  created  therein,  for  the 
benefit  o|'  the  fund*  of  said  Grand  Commandery,  or  such  other  sums  as  said  Grand 
Cummandcry  may  from  time  to  time  require. 

And  we  do  furthermore  enjoin  it  upon  said  St.  Gerard  Commandery  to  conform  in 
all  their  doing*  to  the  Constitution.  Laws,  and  Fdicts  of  the  Grand  Commandery  of 
Nc-w  Hamp-hire  and  of  'the  Grand  Kncampmcnt  of  the  Knifed  States,  and  in  failure 
there"l.  thi>  Charter  and  all  the  power-  herein  granted,  shall  he  null  and  void. 

f  the  Grand    Commandery,  at   Concord,  this 
IWiS,  A.  O.  7 •")<>. 

HEXIIY  O.   KENT,  '.'rnx/l  f'<ninn(iii<lcr. 
\Vii.i.i\\i  HAKRKTT,  l)i-f>.  (If.  < 'mil //KIIK/II. 
J-IIIN   I).  I'ATTERSOX,  f.'r/iin/  dnu-riilisxhnn. 
S.  (,.  (iniFFix,  l.'i-iind  L'ti/,/tiin   (I'l-iientl. 


Freemasonry.  585 

Applebee,  Second  Guard  ;  Samuel  P.  Ford,  Third  Guard.  Ac- 
cording to  the  provisions  of  the  constitution  the  annual  conclave 
was  held  in  June,  when  the  above  officers  were  re-elected. 

In  his  annual  report  to  the  Grand  Commandery  in  September, 
1869,  Grand  Commander  Henry  0.  Kent  says  :  "  St.  Gerard  of 
Littleton  was  formally  instituted  by  me  in  1869.  This  com- 
mandery  deserves  special  official  commendation  and  warrants  pre- 
dictions of  success.  Its  members  possess  an  indomitable  spirit. 
They  have  prepared  one  of  the  most  elegant  and  capacious  halls 
in  the  State,  are  well  supplied  with  regalias,  are  proficient  in  work 
and  discipline,  and  afford  abundant  evidence  of  the  executive 
ability  of  the  officers  and  zeal  of  the  members."  These  predictions 
have  been  abundantly  fulfilled. 

The  commandery,  on  its  social  side,  has  entertained  several 
visiting  commands,  and  has  been  entertained  by  them  in  return. 
In  June,  1885,  the  commandery  visited  St.  Johnsbury,  Vt.,  and 
took  part  in  the  dedication  of  the  Masonic  Hall ;  on  June  22- 
25,  1886,  it  entertained  William  Parkman  Commandery  of  East 
Boston,  Mass.,  and  Cosur  De  Lion  of  Charlestown,  Mass.  The 
visiting  commands  came  on  a  special  train,  and  were  escorted  to 
the  Oak  Hill  House.  In  the  evening  they  were  entertained  at  a 
banquet  in  Union  Hall.  In  commemoration  of  this  event  a  testi- 
monial was  presented  St.  Gerard  Commandery.  Several  other 
commands  have  been  the  guests  of  St.  Gerard  since  that  time. 

The  commandery  made  pilgrimages  to  Charlestown,  Mass.,  in 
June,  1888,  and  to  Boston,  in  August,  1895,  to  attend  the  Twenty- 
sixth  Triennial  Conclave.  Ninety-five  members  were  guests  of 
the  Hugh  De  Paine  Commandery,  of  Maiden,  Mass.,  on  this 
occasion. 

An  interesting  event  in  the  history  of  St.  Gerard  Commandery 
occurred  in  June,  1886,  when  the  heirs  of  the  late  Sir  Knight 
James  J.  Barrett  presented  St.  Gerard,  for  preservation,  the 
diploma  of  Gush.  R.  Edson,  given  him  by  the  General  Assembly 
under  sanction  of  Lodge  No.  15,  in  Fairfield  County,  South  Caro- 
lina, which  came  into  possession  of  Sir  Knight  Barrett  by  gift  from 
Samuel  Alden  Edson,  a  grandson  of  the  Sir  Knight  who  issued 
it.  The  diploma  is  dated  September  25,  1795.  It  bears  the  sig- 
natures of  William  Johnston,  High  Priest  ;  Samuel  M.  Mills,  Cap- 
tain General;  George  Kennedy,  Grand  Master,  and  J.  Johnston, 
Scribe. 

St.  Gerard  has  an  extensive  jurisdiction  and  a  large  and  in- 
fluential membership,  and  lias  continuously  maintained  its  position 
among  the  strong  commanderies  of  the  State. 


")8G  History  of  Littleton. 

Omega  Council.  Xo.  0,  Select,  Royal,  and  Super-Excellent  Mas- 
ters, was  organized  under  a  dispensation  granted  on  the  thirteenth 
dav  of  March,  1ST."),  bv  Oliver  C.  Fisher,  Most  Puissant  (Irani! 
.Master  <>f  the  (Irand  Council  of  New  Hampshire.  The  petitioners 
were  Charles  IJ.  (Jriswold,  of  Haverhill,  a  member  of  Bradford,  "Vt., 
('ouucil.  Xo.  11  ;  Samuel  15.  Page,  of  Haverhill,  member  of  Horace 
Chase  Council,  Xo.  4.  of  Concord  ;  Samuel  P.  Carbee,  of  Haverhill, 
member  of  P>radford,  Vt.,  Council  Xo.  11:  (leorge  W.  Barrett,  of 
Littleton,  member  of  Pythagorean  Council  Xo.  4,  of  Laconia  ;  Wil- 
liam A.  llaskins,  of  Littleton;  Frank  Simpson,  of  Haverhill,  of 
Pythagorean  Council  :  Ceorge  F.  Savage,  of  Lisbon,  a  member 
of  Caledonia  Council,  X'o.  lo,  St.  Johnsbury,  Vt.  ;  and  Benjamin 
F.  Wells,  of  Littleton,  of  an  army  council  which  was  located  at 
Fort  Slocum  near  Washington,  in  18<>4. 

In  the  dispensation  Most  Puissant  (-Irand  Master  Fisher  desig- 
nated William  A.  llaskins,  T.  I.  Master,  and  Samuel  B.  Page, 
Deputy  Master. 

The  first  meeting  was  held  March  28, 1876,  and  a  large  number 
of  petitions  for  membership  and  degrees  were  received. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  (Irand  Council,  May  1">,  1870,  a 
petition  for  a  charter  for  this  council  was  presented.  The 
names  attached,  beside  those;  who  asked  for  the  dispensation, 
were  Chauncey  II.  (Ireene.  Curtis  dates,  Benjamin  Morrill, 
K/.ra  P..  Mann,  Xelson  C,  Farr,  (leorge  F.  Abbott,  and  Cephas 
Braekett. 

The  council  was  regularly  instituted  March  !»,  1877,  when 
Deputy  Past  (Irand  Master  Henry  Colby,  assisted  by  companions, 
Henry  L.  Currier  as  (Irand  Marshal,  performed  the  ceremony  and 
installed  the  officers  elected  under  the  charter. 

For  some  time  previous  to  lSS(j  the  removal  of  the  council  to 
Plymouth  had  been  under  consideration,  and  at  the  annual  meet- 
in  t:1  on  April  :M  of  that  vear,  it  was  voted  to  concur  in  the  propo- 
sition for  its  removal  to  that  town.  The  last  meeting  in  this  (own 
was  held  in  .lanuarv  or  Februarv.  1-S81.  A  special  meeting,  un- 
der dispensation,  was  held  at  Plymouth  on  the  :>>d  of  February. 
lss;l.  and  degrees  conferred  on  a  larire  number  of  applicants  of 
Plymouth  and  vicinity.  The  pilgrims  who  transferred  the  para- 
phernalia 1<>  Plymouth  were  C.  II.  (Ireene,  II.  A.  .Johnson.  .1.  F. 
Tilton,  C.  W.  Barrett.  T.  M.  Fletcher,  (leorge  T.  Crnft.  (I.  F. 
Abbott,  F.  I).  Dunn,  and  C.  C.  Smith.  The  council  has  flourished 
in  its  present  location,  and  justified  the  wisdom  of  the  change. 

There  are  t  \vo  orders  of  Ancient  and  Ancient  Accepted  Scottish 
Kite  Masonry  located  in  Littleton,  — a  council  of  the  Princes  of 


Freemasonry.  587 

Jerusalem  and  a  chapter  of  St.  Rose  of  Croix.  Both  were  insti- 
tuted under  dispensations,  and  each  was  chartered  September 
19,  1895. 

The  officers  of  the  council  at  the  time  of  its  institution  in  1894 
were  Thomas  M.  Fletcher,  M.  E.  Grand  Master  ;  Oscar  C.  Hatch, 
Deputy  Grand  Master;  Charles  F.  Eastman,  M.  E.  Senior  Grand 
Warden  ;  William  H.  Bellows,  M.  E.  Junior  Grand  Warden  ; 
Charles  C.  Smith,  Grand  Treasurer,  and  Fred  H.  English,  Grand 
Secretary. 

The  chapter  officers  at  the  same  time  \vere  Chauncey  H.  Greene, 
M.  W.  and  P.  Master  ;  Charles  L.  Clay,  M.  E.  Senior  Warden  ; 
Herbert  E.  Kenney,  M.  E.  Junior  Grand  Warden  ;  Thomas  M. 
Fletcher,  M.  E.  Grand  Orator  ;  Charles  C.  Smith,  R.  and  P.  K. 
Treasurer,  and  Fred  H.  English,  R.  and  P.  K.  Secretary. 

All  the  Masonic  bodies  in  Littleton  at  the  present  time  are 
strong  in  numbers,  well  officered,  and  representative  of  the 
professional  and  business  life  of  the  town  in  their  membership. 


588  History  of  Littleton. 


LIV. 

ODD  FELLOWS  AND  OTHER  FRATERNAL  ORDERS.1 

AMMOXOOSUC  LODGE  of  Odd  Fellows,  No.  24,  was  insti- 
tuted at  Littleton,  October  26,  1848,  by  Grand  Master  J.  C. 
Lyford,  upon  petition  of  Otis  Batchclder,  M.  L.  Goold,  Ebenezer 
Eastman,  D.  P.  Saul)orn,  and  J.  II.  Angier.  Among  its  early 
members  were  John  G.  Sinclair,  who  was  many  years  after- 
ward granted  permission  to  join  the  lodge  at  Orlando,  Florida. 
Other  distinguished  gentlemen  were  members  during  its  existence 
whose  names  we  need  not  mention.  The  lodge  continued  its 
existence  with  varying  fortunes  for  a  period  of  twelve  years. 
At  one  time  it  had  a  substantial  membership  of  about  sixty  ;  but 
with  removals,  suspensions,  and  deaths,  with  a  general  lack  of 
interest,  in  1860  it  surrendered  its  charter  in  an  honorable 
manner  and  returned  its  effects  to  the  Grand  Lodge.  At  the 
time  of  its  surrender  it  granted  final  cards  to  thirty-three  members. 
On  this  list  we  find  the  names  of  three  of  the  charter  members, 
viz.,  Batchelder,  Sanborn,  and  Goold;  also  the  names  of  Sinclair 
and  E.  D.  Kenney.  Marquis  L.  Goold  was  Secretary  for  some 
six  years,  and  the  records  under  his  hands  are  models  of  neatness 
and  correctness.  But  at  the  time  of  the  surrender  General 
Kenney,  a  noble  man  and  true  Odd  Fellow,  held  the  office. 
Having  concluded  the  official  records  of  the  last  proceedings,  in 
a  tone  of  sadness,  if  not  of  absolute  sorrow,  he  added  these  sig- 
nificant words  :  ''Thus  ends  a  branch  of  one  of  the  best  institu- 
tions ever  devised  by  man.1'  It  was  in  view  of  the  dissolution 
that  the  Bible  was  presented  to  the  Masonic  Lodge,  and  Brother 
Kenney  appointed  to  make  the  presentation,  which  he  did  in 
an  appropriate,  speech.- 

Jn  response  to  the  remarks  of  General  Kennev,  an  address  was 
made  by  Col.  Henry  \V.  I'owell,  in  behalf  of  Burns  Lodge,  which 
expressed  their  grateful  appreciation  of  the  fraternal  regard  of 

1  This  brief  >ketdi  of  Atnmrmoosuc  Lodt;e  was  written  by  Joseph  Kidder,  of 
Manchester. 

'-'  See  Mandie>ter  Daily  Union,  June  '_'(),  1SSG. 


Odd  Fellows  and  other  Fraternal  Orders.  589 

Ammonoosuc  Lodge,  manifested  both  by  word  and  deed  on  this 
occasion,  and  which  prompted  the  presentation  of  the  Bible  which 
the  lodge  accepted.  The  book  is  still  on  the  altar,  bearing  a 
suitable  inscription  in  testimony  of  its  interesting  history,  and, 
as  the  great  Light  in  Masonry,  has  been  opened  and  closed,  as 
Burns  Lodge  has  been  opened  and  closed,  for  more  than  forty 
years. 

The  last  meeting  of  Ammonoosuc  Lodge  was  held  January  25, 
1860.  "The  immediate  cause  of  the  surrender  at  tbat  time," 
says  the  same  writer,  "  with  so  many  members  '  square  on  the 
books'  is  not  now  apparent.  Tbe  untoward  event  occurred  at  a 
period  when  there  was  a  loss  of  interest  in  the  order  generally, 
ami  just  before  the  great  civil  commotion  that  shook  our  country 
from  centre  to  circumference.  Probably  the  members  were  dis- 
couraged,- and  really  believed  this  order  in  a  short  time  would 
collapse.  But  the  best  of  men  and  in  their  best  estate  are  short- 
sighted and  oftentimes  in  error.  With  thirty-one  members  the 
lodge  should  have  lived  and  prospered.  It  was  about  the  period 
of  the  turning-point  in  the  order.  It  soon  recovered  from  the 
paralysis  that  threatened  its  local  and  national  existence,  and  its 
subsequent  march  as  a  fraternal  organization  has  been  as  a  giant 
among  kindred  organizations,  firm  and  unshaken.  To-day  it 
occupies  a  proud  position,  and  its  future  history  will  be  one  of 
triumphs,  marking  in  an  emphatic  manner  the  civilization  of  the 
age  that  is  passing.  Ammonoosuc  Lodge  was  never  resuscitated, 
nor  its  charter  returned,  in  1876,  in  the  centennial  year,  a  lodge 
was  established  at  Littleton,  called  Lafayette,  and  took  No.  11  of 
defunct  Monadnock,  at  Mason  Village.  A  few  months  later  Web- 
ster Lodge  was  christened  at  Goffstown,  and  the  old  No.  24  was 
given  to  that  lodge  under  the  laws  of  the  order.  During  the  same 
year  (1877)  a  lodge  was  instituted  at  Groveton,  and  it  was 
allowed  to  take  the  name  of  Ammouoosuc,  with  the  old  No.  29 
that  once  belonged  to  Fitztrojan  Lodge  at  Fit/william.  It  will 
thus  be  seen  that  both  names  and  numbers  underwent  many 
strange  changes  but  without  detriment  to  the  order.  There  are 
now  few  better  lodges  in  the  jurisdiction  than  Lafayette  No.  11  at 
Littleton,  Webster  No.  24  at  Goffstown,  and  Ammonoosuc  No.  29 
at  Groveton.  They  are  all  well  established,  in  good  working  con- 
dition, with  funds  in  the  treasury  and  a  membership  thoroughly 
imbued  with  the  principles  of  the  order.  There  is  no  question  of 
their  continued  growth  and  prosperity." 

The  first  officer  in  a  lodge  of  Odd  Fellows  is  designated  as 
Noble  Grand.  The  incumbents  of  the  office  in  Ammonoosuc 


590  History  of  Littleton. 

Lodge  No.  24  in  Littleton  were:  1848,  James  H.  Angier ;  1840, 
David  P.  Sanborn;  1850,  Otis  Batchclder,  Marquis  L.  Goold ; 
1851,  Adams  Moore,  Francis  Ilodgman;  1852,  Charles  W.  Bracket!, 
Joseph  L.  Gibb;  1858,  James  II.  Angier,  Benjamin  W.  Kilburn ; 
1854,  Edward  O.  Kcnncy,  George  S.  Woolson  ;  1855,  Aaron  B. 
Minor,  Josiah  Kilburn;  1856,  George  R  Batchclder,  George 
Abbott;  1857,  Albert  II.  Quimby,  James  J.  Barrett;  1858, 
Calvin  J.  Wallace,  Ai  Fit/gerald  ;  1859,  Alonzo  Weeks,  Chester 
M.  Goodwin. 

The  growth  of  the  town  in  the  years  following  that  of  the  sur- 
render of  the  charter  of  Ammonoosuc  Lodge  No.  '24  brought  here 
as  residents  a  number  of  members  of  the  order.  In  1874  the 
question  of  re-establishing  a  lodge  was  considered.  Such  progress 
was  made  that  in  187(5  application  was  made  to  the  Grand  Lodge 
for  a  charter,  which  was  granted,  and  Lafayette  Lodge  No.  11, 
l.O.  O.  F.,  was  instituted,  October  4,  1870,  with  the  following  charter 
members:  William  A.  Richardson,  Horace  Gates,  Chauncey  11. 
Greene,  George  \V.  Barrett,  Royal  1).  Rounsevel,  George  W. 
Ruland.  and  Henry  11.  Porter.  The  officers  installed  at  the 
time  of  the  institution  of  the  lodge  were  as  follows:  William  A. 
Richardson,  Noble  Grand  ;  Horace  Gates,  Vice  Grand  ;  Chauncey 
II.  Greene,  Secretary  ;  George  W.  Barrett,  Treasurer;  Henry  J. 
Fisher,  Warden. 

The  lodge  grew  rapidly  for  a  few  years,  but  since  1900  has 
about  maintained  its  strength  of  that  time.  Its  present  member- 
ship (19(j:|)  is  120. 

In  189U  the  Paddlcford  building  was  purchased  of  William  A. 
Richardson,  and  the  necessary  changes  made  in  the  upper  story 
for  the  use  of  the  several  organizations  connected  with  Lafayette 
Lodge,  and  it  has  since  been  occupied  by  them.  The  first  floor 
is  rented  for  mercantile  purposes. 

The  present  officers  are:  Wilbur  W.  Cragie,  Noble  Grand; 
Charles  Elliott,  Vice  Grand;  S.  Everett  Richardson,  Secretary; 
Edward  II.  Wells,  Treasurer;  Edward  Pyer,  Conductor;  Philip 
Nessor.  Warden. 

Littleton  Encampment  No.  20,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  was  instituted,  April  •>, 
1871'.  by  the  oflicers  of  Grand  Lodge.  The  officers  then  installed 
were  Chauncey  II.  Greene,  Chief  Patriarch  ;  George  T.  Cruft,  High 
Priest;  E.  15.  llamblin,  Senior  Warden;  George  W.  IJarrett, 
Scribe  :  Klbridge  Flint,  Treasurer  ;  Henry  J.  Fisher,  Junior  War- 
den. The  present  oflicers  (1903)  are  Cyprian  Trombley,  Chief 
Patriarch;  George  II.  'Van  Ness.  High  Priest;  E.  15.  llamblin, 
Senior  Warden:  Percival  S.  Graham,  Scribe;  Orrin  \V.  Hunkins, 


Odd  Fellows  and  other  Fraternal   Orders.  591 

Treasurer ;  John  K.  Beers,  Junior  Warden.     The  present  mem- 
bership of  the  encampment  is  sixty-live. 

Grand  Canton  Albin  was  organized  in  1887  with  a  membership 
of  seventy-five  members,  of  whom  William  A.  Richardson,  Cap- 
tain, Henry  J.  Fisher,  Lieutenant,  Fred  A.  Russell,  Ensign,  were 
charter  members. 

Helen  L.  Fisher  Rebekah  Degree  Lodge  No.  54,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  was 
established,  June  7,  1893,  with  the  following  officers  :  Jay  O. 
Galer,  Noble  Grand  ;  Mrs.  Lillian  M.  Hunkins,  Vice  Grand  ;  Mrs. 
Jane  A.  Galer,  Secretary ;  Mrs!  Eliza  Huron,  Treasurer ;  Mrs. 
Nettie  F.  Kelley,  Conductor;  and  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Flint,  Warden. 

It  will  bo  seen  that  fraternal  organizations  did  not  thrive  in 
Littleton  half  a  century  ago.  The  Odd  Fellows  were  the  first  to 
institute  a  lodge.  They  were  followed  by  the  Sons  of  Temperance. 
The  influence  of  Know-Nothingism  was  such  as  to  place  all  secret 
societies  under  a  ban  for  several  years.  During  this  period  both 
the  Odd  Fellows  and  Sons  of  Temperance  surrendered  their  char- 
ters. It  was  at  the  beginning  of  tbe  Know-Nothing  episode  that 
the  first  attempt  was  made  to  establish  a  Masonic  Lodge,  an  effort 
that  was  postponed  for  several  years,  and  its  final  institution  was 
the  first  event  to  mark  the  passing  of  the  prejudice  against  such 
societies  that  had  prevailed  since  1854. 

Within  twenty  years  there  has  been  a  marked  tendency  to 
patronize  such  orders  in  the  town.  Taken  in  their  order  of  found- 
ing, lodges  of  the  following  societies  have  been  established  here 
in  that  period :  Knights  of  Honor ;  the  Grange  and  its  auxiliary 
societies,  if  they  be  classed  with  the  fraternal  orders  ;  the  French- 
Canadian  Society,  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters,  the  Independent 
Order  of  Foresters,  and  Knights  of  Pythias,  each  of  which  has  a 
well-established  lodge  or  society  in  Littleton.  These  are  exclusive 
of  the  temperance  societies,  and  the  social  and  women's  clubs  that 
are  not  secret  organizations. 

The  first  Lodge  of  Good  Templars  was  organized  in  the  autumn 
of  18U5  with  a  large  membership.  The  temperance  laws  of  the 
State  had  not  been  enforced  systematically  during  the  war  period, 
and  the  condition  of  affairs  was  of  a  character  to  induce  temper- 
ance people  to  organize  to  put  down  the  evil.  They  chose  this 
society  as  the  agency  for  the  accomplishment  of  their  purpose. 
The  officers  at  the  time  of  its  institution  were:  George  Farr, 
Worthy  Chief  Templar;  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Hodgman,  W.  A" ice  Tem- 
plar ;  Lafayette  Noble,  W.  Secretary  ;  Charles  Hodgman,  W.  Treas- 
urer ;  Nelson  C.  Farr,  W.  Financial  Secretary,  and  John  Merrill, 
AY.  Chaplain.  In  the  chapter  on  Temperance  will  be  found  an 
account  of  the  historv  of  this  lodye  in  Littleton. 


;~>92  History  of  Littleton. 

Chiswick  Lodge  Xo.  2411,  Knights  of  Honor,  was  established 
March  31.  1881.  Its  first  officers  were  as  follows:  Thaddeus  E. 
Sanger,  Dictator  ;  Fred.  13.  Wright,  Vice  Dictator;  Robert  M. 
Dow,  Assistant  Dictator;  Henry  F.  Green,  Reporter;  William 
II.  Mellows,  Financial  Reporter;  and  Oscar  0.  Hatch,  Treasurer. 
The  present  officers,  in  the  order  named  above,  are :  Charles 
Eaton,  Henry  F.  Green,  Allen  J.  Church,  George  R.  Williamson, 
and  Benjamin  F.  Wells.1 

The  French-Canadian  Society  —  as  its  name  indicates  —  is  com- 
posed exclusively  of  French  Canadians,  or  their  descendants  born 
in  this  country.  This  society  was  organized  December  10,  1802. 
It  has  a  large  membership  and  is  in  a  flourishing  condition.  At 
the  time  of  its  institution  it  was  officered  as  follows:  Charles 
Laflame,  President ;  Ubald  Cormier,  Secretary,  and  Louis  Caver, 
Treasurer.  The  present  board  (I'.'Oo)  consists  of  Victor  Aude- 
beau,  Ubald  Cormier,  and  Archie  Ricard. 

The  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters,  St.  Rose  of  Sima  Court, 
Xo.  ">20,  was  chartered  August  28,  18(J5,  when  its  officers  con- 
sisted of  Cyrille  J.  Paradis,  Chief  Ranger  ;  Charles  F.  Kellcy, 
Vice  Chief  Ranger:  Louis  E.  Gireaux,  Secretary.  The  official 
board  for  1!>03  is  :  Frank  Vignau,  Francis  Garneau,  and  Eugene 
Byron. 

The  Independent  Order  of  Foresters  Court  Ammonoosuc  XTo. 
I'.i'.io,  was  established  October  8,  189"),  with  a  board  of  officers 
consisting  of  Fred  A.  Thorn,  C.  D.  1 1.  Chief  Ranger  ;  Henry  0. 
Jackson,  Chief  Ranger ;  Otis  11.  Merrill,  Vice  Chief  Ranger  ; 
George  Walker,  Recording  Secretary  ;  George  C.  Austin,  Finan- 
cial Secretary;  George  E.  Walker,  Treasurer;  Charles  Brown, 
Senior  Warden  ;  Henry  I).  Harriman,  Junior  Warden,  and  George1 
F.  Abbott,  Physician."  In  1'JOO  C.D.  II.  Chief  Hanger  was  dis- 
continued. The  other  officers  in  the  order  named  above  are: 
F.  W.  Page,  Edward  McCray,  Frank  C.  Brown,  Elmer  E.  Russell, 
Adam  Prindle,  Joseph  Lakeway,  Joseph  Iloule,  and  John  M. 
Page. 

Chiswick  Lodge  Knights  of  Pythias  was  organized  August  !>, 
lS',1.").  Among  the  charter  members  were  Frank  L.  Dunlap, 
James  J.  Harrington,  Erving  S.  Prescott,  Charles  P.  Barnum, 
Charles  E.  Smith,  Eldridge  C.  Vomit:-,  Fred.  J.  Gonver.  J.  A. 
Fogg,  E.  P.  Purlin,  W.  C.  Spencer,  E.  E.  Wells,  W.  C.  Chase,  F.  M. 
Strain,  F.  B.  Hatch,  E.  13.  Lynch,  and  Charles  McCarthy. 

1  Tin1  portion  of  Assistant  Dictator  was  abolislii'il  in  1!K)0. 


Agriculture.  593 


LV. 

AGRICULTURE. 

FOR  eighty  years  following  the  settlement  of  the  town  agricul- 
ture was  the  chief  industry  of  the  inhabitants.  The  soil  here 
was  of  the  same  general  character  as  that  found  in  the  hill  towns 
of  the  State ;  strong  and  difficult  of  cultivation  on  account  of  the 
rocks  that  incumbered  its  surface,  but,  when  subdued  by  the  arts 
of  the  husbandman,  yielding  an  abundant  harvest  to  reward  his 
toil. 

The  soil  is  as  diverse  in  quality  as  in  the  form  which  nature  has 
given  it.  Snow,  in  making  his  survey  and  allotment,  noted  briefly 
in  his  field  book  the  general  characteristics  of  the  territory 
traversed  by  him.  That  on  Mann's  Hill  and  at  North  Littleton 
was  described  as  "good  wheat  land,"  that  to  the  north  of  the  old 
meeting-house  as  "  cold  but  good  grass  land,"  and  several  lots  on 
or  near  Mount  Misery  as  "  the  seat  of  poverty  ;  "  the  Ammonoosuc 
meadows  were  "good  but  not  equal  to  the  Cohos  meadows,"  and 
those  on  the  Connecticut  at  North  Littleton  were  "  thin  and  poor, 
especially  the  upper  lots."  On  the  whole,  according  to  his  judg- 
ment, the  good  wheat  and  grass  lands  largely  predominated,  and 
the  trial  of  years  has  approved  the  conclusions  he  then  reached. 
The  same  criticism  might  have  been  made  by  Robert  Charlton  in 
his  field  book  of  the  survey  of  the  west  end. 

The  variety  of  that  class  of  products  on  which  the  farmers  have 
relied  at  different  times  to  market  for  cash  or  its  equivalent  has 
been  described  to  some  extent  in  the  Annals  in  the  first  volume, 
and  need  not  be  stated  at  length  here.  Taken  in  the  order  of 
succession,  they  have  been  salts  or  potashes,  beef  and  pork 
slaughtered,  then  beef  on  the  hoof,  potatoes  for  starch,  hops,  and 
the  products  of  the  dairy,  and,  since  1835,  cord  wood  has  been 
an  unfailing  source  of  revenue.  Each  of  these  products  of  the 
farm  was  produced  in  abundance  in  the  different  periods  of 
demand. 

VOL.  ii.  —  38 


594  History  of  Littleton. 

For  a  hundred  years  the  method  of  cultivating  the  soil  was 
practically  the  same,  the  same  tools  were  used,  and  the  same 
svstem  of  rotation  of  crops  followed.  In  the  seasons  of  planting 
and  harvesting  the  farmer  was  in  the  field  at  dawn,  and  his  day's 
work  was  ended  only  when  the  light  of  day  had  vanished.  In 
this  as  in  other  departments  of  human  endeavor  inventive 
genius  has  come  to  the  aid  of  the  husbandman  with  machinery 
that  has  lessened  his  hours  of  labor  and  brought  them  to  corre- 
spond iu  a  measure  to  those  of  the  mechanic.  Among  the  marked 
results  brought  about  by  a  change  of  implements  have  been  the 
smoothing  of  the  surface  of  the  farms  and  substitution  of  wire 
fences  for  those  of  brush  and  stumps  once  so  common.  Improve- 
ments on  the  farms  of  the  town  have  kept  pace  with  those  in  the 
village  in  appearance,  and  probably  in  all  other  respects,  during 
the  hist  thirty  years. 

The  large  summer  population  in  this  section,  and  the  develop- 
ment of  the  manufacturing  industries  of  the  town,  have  combined 
to  make  this  one  of  the  best,  if  not  the  very  best,  market  in  the 
State  for  farm  products.  The  merchants  in  recent  years  have,  to  a 
considerable  extent,  co-operated  with  the  farmers  in  establishing 
prices,  and  the  average  for  twenty  years  will  show  that  they  have 
received  the  maximum  price  for  their  products  in  the  State.  How 
far  the  change  in  the  method  of  disposing  of  the  products  of  the 
dairy  by  sending  milk  to  the  -Boston  market  may  have  affected 
their  income  cannot  be  estimated  with  anything  approaching 
exactness,  as  there  are  no  statistics  obtainable  upon  which  to  base 
an  estimate. 

Fifty  years  ago  the  'New  Hampshire  Agriculture  Society  held  an 
annual  fair  in  the  cities  or  large  towns  of  the  southern  or  central 
part  of  the  State.  Its  management  was  in  the  hands  of  farmers, 
and  the  lairs  were  creditable  exhibitions  of  the  products  of  the 
farms.  Racing  was  an  incident  and  not  the  main  purpose  of 
these  fairs,  and  they  did  much  to  create  an  interest  in  and  advance 
the  cause  ol  agriculture  in  the  State.  There  were  many  what  we 
may  term  subsidiary  organizations, mostly  in  the  different  counties, 
but  some  represented  geographical  rather  than  political  districts. 
<  )l  the  last-named  class  was  the  Ammonoosuc  Valley  Agriculture 
Society,  which  usually  held  its  annual  fair  in  this  town.  The  first 
exhibition  given  here  was  on  September  24,  1852.  It  was  a  beau- 
tit  ul  i  lay.  and  two  thousand  people  were  present.  The  exhibit  of  the 
products  ol  the  valley  was  unexpectedly  large  and  varied,  in- 
eluding  two  hundred  and  fifty  yoke  of  oxen,  one  town  team  having 
eighty  pair  attached  to  a  cart.  There  was  also  an  excellent  display 


Agriculture.  595 

of  horses  and  cattle.  The  women  contributed  a  large  number  of 
useful  and  artistic  articles,  the  Granite  Hall  being  used  as  a 
Floral  Hall  on  this  occasion.  The  exhibit  of  agricultural  imple- 
ments, churns,  and  tools,  by  J.  Kilburn  <fe  Son  and  David  Page 
Sanborn,  were  among  the  attractions  of  this  hall  also.  Subse- 
quent fairs  by  this  society  were  held  once  or  twice  at  Bath,  and 
possibly  elsewhere,  but  notwithstanding  its  first  success  in  this 
town,  no  other  was  held  here. 

The  Grafton  County  Agricultural  Society,  an  organization 
officered  by  residents  of  Lyme,  Orford,  and  Wentworth,  with  a 
committee  list  containing  representatives  of  nearly  all  the  towns 
in  the  western  judicial  district  of  the  county,  held  its  fair  for  1859 
in  this  town.  Its  exhibition  was  given  on  the  Bowman  meadow, 
the  lower  level  of  which  was  converted  into  a  race  course  where  a 
number  of  trotters  famous  at  the  time  contested  for  supremacy. 
The  steep  bank  which  runs  parallel  with  Union  Street  was  con- 
verted into  a  grand  stand  by  building  board  seats  along  its  surface. 
A  Floral  Hall  was  erected,  seventy  feet  in  length  and  twenty  feet 
in  width.  A  band  stand,  which  was  also  used  as  a  judges'  stand 
during  the  races,  was  built  opposite  the  seats  on  the  bank  and 
separated  from  them  by  the  race  track.  The  races  were  regarded 
as  a  great  success,  the  best  time  made  being  2.42,  which  was  fast 
for  those  days.  Black  Diamond,  owned  in  Stanstead,  Lower 
Canada,  was  the  winner.  Music  by  Holderness  and  Littleton 
Brass  Bands  was  the  principal  amusement  feature  on  this  occasion. 
This  exhibition  lasted  through  two  days. 

The  same  society  held  its  fair  here  the  following  year,  on  the 
same  grounds  with  substantially  the  same  programme.  E.  D. 
Band  delivered  an  unusually  interesting  address;  his  agricultural 
lore  was  mostly  ancient,-  referring  as  it  did  to  times  sung  by 
Virgil  and  Horace,  and  his  "horse  talk"  was  confined  to  the 
exploits  of  Rosinante,  the  steed  of  the  immortal  Knight  of  La 
Mancha.  This  was  the  last  exhibition  given  by  this  society  here. 
We  believe  it  was  soon  after  reorganized,  and  its  permanent  fail- 
grounds  established  at  Plymouth. 

In  1803  a  number  of  Littleton  people  who  were  interested  in 
agriculture  in  general,  and  in  horse  racing  in  particular,  purchased 
the  land  lying  between  what  is  now  the  plant  of  the  Pike  .Manu- 
facturing Company  and  the  Allen  place,  at  the  corner  of  Union 
Street  and  the  Bethlehem  road  at  Apthorp,  constructed  an  excel- 
lent half-mile  track,  and  built  a  large  Floral  Hall,  grand  stand,  and 
judges'  stand,  with  pens  for  cattle,  and  other  needful  bnildinirs  for 
a  fair  ground.  These  grounds  were  first  used  for  their  designated 


590  History  of  Littleton. 

purpose  on  October  7  and  8,  1803,  when  a  fair  that  divided  with 
impartial  exactness  the  attention  of  visitors  between  pure  agri- 
cultural products  and  an  agricultural  horse  trot  met  with  the 
success  that  was  its  due,  and  rewarded  in  a  liberal  manner  the 
acumen  of  its  projectors.  Fully  four  thousand  people  were 
present  on  the  second  day  of  the  fair.  This  success  wras  repeated 
in  lXt!4.  The  management  this  time  gave  more  attention  to  the 
lovers  of  the  horse  than  to  the  followers  of  the  plough,  which  led  to 
so  much  dissatisfaction  that  no  effort  was  made  in  1805  to  give 
an  exhibition.  The  races  of  1804  attracted  much  attention,  and 
the  record  of  the  town  was  lowered  by  a  second,  the  race  being- 
won  bv  Draco  '2.4\. 

In  the  summer  of  1800  W.  W.  Cameron  leased  the  grounds 
for  two  years.  He  was  a  noted  handler  of  fast  horses,  and  under 
his  management  several  meets  were  arranged  in  1800  and  the 
following  year.  The  first  in  1860  was  patronized  by  horsemen, 
and  was  a  fair  success,  as  were  those  of  the  succeeding  year,  but 
they  had  nothing  of  an  agricultural  flavor;  and  when  in  1808  the 
Connecticut  Valley  and  Grafton  County  Agricultural  Societies 
held  a  joint  fair  here,  they  met  with  failure,  more  probably  on 
account  of  rainy  weather  than  the  disfavor  of  the  farmers  arising 
from  the  exclusive  use  of  the  grounds  for  track  performances  in 
the  preceding  seasons.  The  want  of  success  on  this  occasion  dis- 
couraged the  parties  interested,  and  no  efforts  were  afterward 
made  to  hold  fairs  here. 

111  ISTO  Charles  A.  Sinclair  and  others  purchased  the  property, 
and  for  a  few  years  used  it  for  trotting  purposes,  and  a  number 
of  successful  meetings  were  held.  With  the  removal  of  Colonel 
Sinclair  from  town,  in  1874,  the  grounds  were  no  longer  used  for 
the  pin-poses  for  which  they  had  been  set  apart. 

The  early  fairs  served  to  stimulate  agricultural  interest,  espe- 
cially in  the  direction  of  cattle  breeding  and,  to  a  less  extent,  in 
horticulture,  and  for  a  time  their  influence  was  continued,  but 
when  the  interest  waned  the  industry  lost  its  stimulating  force  and 
then-  was  no  unity  or  rivalry  among  those  engaged  in  the  calling. 

Tiie  movement  culminating  in  the  various  forms  of  orgaiii/.ed 
labor  \\as  one  of  the  most  prominent  of  the  nineteenth  century. 
The  various  crafts  had  their  guilds  hundreds  of  years  before,  but 
there  was  antagonism  rather  than  union  among  the  different 
trades,  and.  in  this  country  at  least,  there  had  been  no  effort  to 
combine  in  any  form  on  a  considerable  scale  for  mutual  protection 
amoii'.!  those  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  The  numbers 
employed  in  this  calling,  the  wide  diversity  of  their  products,  and 


Agriculture.  597 

the  fact  that  they  were  proprietors  and  employers  of  labor  were 
obstacles  to  union  that  were  not  common  to  the  occupations  that 
organized  the  unions  of  laboring  men. 

The  grange  differs  in  many  ways  from  the  unions.  It  is  largely 
a  social  organization,  and  is  free  from  the  arbitrary  features  that 
characterize  those  societies,  and  the  financial  benefits  derived  from 
membership  have  come  mostly  through  indirect  channels.  This 
organization  within  a  few  years  became  one  of  the  powerful  socie- 
ties of  this  country. 

The  grange  in  this  town  was  formed  February  19,  1875,  by 
Stephen  Richardson,  of  Columbia,  master  of  the  grange  in  that 
town.  Through  the  efforts  of  John  C.  Quimby,  thirty-one  persons 
met  in  Weeks'  Hall1  and  were  organized  under  the  title  of  White 
Mountain  Grange,  Patrons  of  Husbandry.  The  charter  members 
were  Abijah  Allen,  Mrs.  Adeline  Allen,  Charles  R.  Allen,  Charles 
W.  Bedell,  Mrs.  Mary  Bedell,  Mrs.  D.  Y.  Clarke,  Mrs.  Melissa 
English,  Marshall  C.  Dodge,  John  W.  Farr,  John  W.  English,  Mrs. 
A.  T.  Farr,  Charles  H.  Fitch,  Chester  M.  Goodwin,  Noah  Farr, 
George  0.  W.  Hatch,  Milo  Harris,  Sophronia  Hale,  Warren 
Mclntire,  Amos  H.  Mills,  Mrs.  Ella  Mills,  Frank  I.  Parker,  John 

C.  Quimby,  Henry  Richardson,   Mrs.    Betsey    Wallace,  Amos   P. 
Wallace,  Edward  0.  Wheeler,  William  Wheeler,  and  Mrs.  Eliza 
Wheeler. 

The  organization  was  perfected  by  the  election  and  installation 
of  officers  :  Abijah  Allen,  Master  ;  Chester  M.  Goodwin,  Over- 
seer;  Warren  Mclntire,  Lecturer;  Xoah  Farr,  Steward:  Wil- 
liam Harriman,  Assistant  Steward  ;  John  C.  Quimby,  Chaplain; 
Amos  P.  Wallace,  Treasurer  ;  John  W.  English,  Secretary  ; 
Marshall  C.  Dodge,  Gate  Keeper  ;  Mrs.  Jane  Quimby,  Ceres  :  Mrs. 
Mary  Bedell,  Pomona;  Sophronia  Hale,  Flora,  and  Mrs.  Eliza 
Wheeler,  Assistant  Steward. 

White  Mountain  Grange  has  had  fourteen  different,  .Masters. 
Abijah  Allen  held  the  office  seven  years,  from  1875  to  188:2  ; 
John  \V.  Farr,  six  years,  from  J.883  to  1885  and  again  from  1891 
to  1893;  William  Harrimnn,  three  years;  C.  W.  Bedell  and 
Charles  R.  Allen,  two  years  each:  Mrs.  A.  T.  Farr,  one  year; 

D.  I>.  Crane,  one  year;   Leslie  F.  Bean,  two  years  ;  and  Elmer  E. 
Crane,  two  years. 

From  the  beginning  to  the  present  time  this  grange  has  been 
well  officered  by  substantial  men  and  women,  and  has  steadily 
increased  its  membership  until  at  the  present  time,  l9(.K->,  it  has 
one  hundred  and  ninety-three  members. 

1  Formerly  Brackett's  Hall  in  the  Callioun  Block 


">OS  History  of  Littleton. 

At  the  beginning  its  meetings  were  held  in  Weeks  Hall,  and 
afterward  in  Farr's  Hall.  Grange  Hall,  at  the  corner  of  Union 
and  Pine  Streets,  was  built  in  1877,  and  there  the  meetings  were 
held  for  twenty  years.  This  property  was  owned  by  the  grange, 
and  was  sold  in  1S1>7,  and  the  meetings  have  since  been  held  at 
Odd  Fellows  Hall.  Field  meetings  have,  as  is  usual  with  the 
organization,  been  held  at  appropriate  seasons,  and  all  have  been 
of  a  character  calculated  to  promote  its  highest  interests.  Inter- 
change of  ideas  has  benefited  the  members,  and  the  social  influence 
has  broken  the  monotony  and  given  an  added  zest  to  those  who  in 
the  past  have  narrowed  their  daily  rule  of  conduct  to  a  close 
adherence  to  business. 

The  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  the  establishment  of  White 
Mountain  Grange,  No.  f><>.  was  appropriately  observed  on  the  19th 
of  February,  1000.  At  a  regular  meeting  of  the  grange  on  August 
•Js.  ls(,t(,>,  resolutions  in  relation  to  the  observance  of  the  event 
were  passed,  and  an  executive  committee,  consisting  of  Charles  E. 
Swasey.  Charles  F.  Baker.  Charles  R.  Allen,  with  Leslie  F.  Bean. 
Worthy  Master,  and  Stella  M.  Bean.  Secretary,  as  members 
i-.r  "til  /".  was  appointed  to  arrange  and  carry  out  a  programme. 
At  a  subsequent  meeting  the  executive  committee  recommended 
the  a)i) (ointment  of  the  Rev.  John  C.  Osgood,  Elmer  E.  ( Vane,  Mrs. 
Mary  F.  Baker,  Mrs.  Sarah  Farr,  Mrs.  Jennie  P.  Henry,  and  Mrs. 
Lvdia  Moonev.  as  a  sub-committee,  and  thev  were  appointed  bv 
the  Master.  The  committees  were  divided  into  sub-committees 
as  follows:  On  reception,  Leslie  F.  Bean  and  Stella  M.  Bean:  on 
programme.  Charles  F.  Baker  and  the  Rev.  J.  C.  Osgood:  on 
music,  Charles  E.  Swasey  and  Mrs.  J.  1).  Henry:  on  refreshment, 
Charles  R.  Allen.  Flmer'F.  Crane,  Mrs.  Mary  F.  Baker.  Mrs.  Sarah 
Farr.  and  Mrs.  Lvdia  Moonev. 

The  exercises  were  largely  attended,  many  persons  from  abroad 
hem/  present.  The  State  grange  was  represented  bv  State  Master 
N.  J.  Bachelder.  State  Lecturer  H.  II.  Metcalf,  State  Secretary 
I-].  ('.  Ilutchinson,  and  Ceiieral  Deputy  Thomas  II.  White.  The 
address  of  welcome  was  made  bv  the  Rev.  J.  C.  Osgood,  and  the 
response  was  by  II.  II.  Metcalf.  An  address  by  the  organizer  of 
n/e.  Stephen  R  i  cl  i  a  n  1  son .  of  Utah,  was  read  bv  Mrs.  Jennie 
•y.  Then  came  the  historical  address  by  Charles  E.  Baker, 

1    by  a  | in  by   Mrs.  Flora  J.  Miles,  of  Northern   Pomona 

At  the  evening  session  Master  Flmer  E.  (Vane  presided, 
•  exercises  consisted  of  son/,  recitations,  and    readings    by 
pui'i  -  nt  our  scliiMils.  and  remarks  bv  visitincr  members. 

N'irilierii    Ne\\-    Hampshire    Pomona    <iran/c   was   or/anized   in 


Agriculture.  599 

White  Mountain  Grange  Hall,  January  24,  1888,  with  thirty-six 
charter  members,  of  which  eighteen  were  members  of  White  Moun- 
tain Grange,  six  of  Ammonoosuc  Grange,  Bath,  six  of  Mount 
Washington  Grange,  Whitefield,  four  of  Lancaster  Grange,  Lan- 
caster, and  two  of  Monroe  Grange,  Monroe.  George  Farr  was 
chosen  the  First  Master;  William  Harriman,  Treasurer;  Mrs. 
John  W.  Farr,  Pomona,  and  C.  W.  Bedell,  a  member  of  the  execu- 
tive committee.  It  was  also  voted  at  this  meeting  "  that  Little- 
ton be  the  home  of  the  Pomona  Grange."  This,  like  the  local 
grange,  has  had  a  successful  history,  and  is  among  the  most  pros- 
perous of  those  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  State  grange. 

That  these  institutions  have  been  instrumental  in  advancing  the 
cause  of  agriculture  cannot  be  doubted.  Scientific  farming  is  being 
substituted  —  slowly,  to  be  sure,  for  the  farmer  is  a  natural  conser- 
vative—  for  old  methods  of  hap-hazard  agriculture,  and  worn-out 
lands  are  being  restored  to  their  former  fertility  and  produc- 
tiveness, while  crops  that  impoverished  the  land  have  made  way 
for  those  that  ultimately  insure  its  enrichment.  At  no  time  since 
1850  have  the  farms  of  the  town  been  so  well  cultivated  or  so 
generally  productive  as  they  are  in  this  year  of  our  Lord  nineteen 
hundred  and  three. 


(100  History  of  Littleton. 


LVL 

COURTS. 

T  TXTIL  within  a  quite  recent  period  the  "  shire  town  "  was  the 
v_y  centre  from  which  radiated  the  political  and  business  in- 
fluence of  the  county.  The  establishment  of  the  courts  was  once, 
in  the  early  history  of  the  State,  an  issue  which  commanded  uni- 
versal interest,  and  for  which  many  towns  contended.  Until 
within  the  memory  of  many  now  living,  the  volume  of  litigated 
legal  business  was  many  times  larger  than  at  present,  and  the 
semi-annual  terms  of  the  courts  extended  their  sessions  into 
months,  and  brought  to  the  shire  town  all  the  prominent  men 
of  the  county.  Ilaverliill  and  Plymouth  thus  became  the  resi- 
dence of  the  leading  lawyers,  and  scats  of  influence  for  a  period 
of  nearly  a  hundred  years. 

Littleton,  like  all  other  towns  not  favored  by  the  location  of 
the  county  court,  however,  had  its  justice  courts,  which  were  in 
early  times  the  scene  of  many  important  and  exciting  incidents, 
then  regarded  as  of  more  importance  by  the  people  than  are  now 
the  sessions  of  the  highest  judicial  body.  The  courts  over  which 
the  Rev.  David  Goodall.  Joseph  Robins,  fJuy  Ely,  Simeon  15.  .John- 
son, and  their  successors  presided  as  magistrates  filled  a  large 
space  in  the  public  eye.  They  were  at  first  held  at  the  office  of 
the  attorney  bringing  the  action,  but  in  the  course  of  time  the 
rights  of  the  people  were  considered,  and  then  the  trials  upon 
complaints  were  held  at  the  tavern  or  at  the  hall  over  the  store 
of  W.  C.  A-  A.  Bracket t. 

The  dockets  of  these  magistrates  have  not  all  been  preserved, 
hut  those  of  (Jay  Ely  and  Joseph  Robins  arc  in  the  vaults  of  the 
Town  Clerk,  and  are  interesting,  as  they  east  a  strong  light  on  the 
litigious  spirit  of  the  time.  The  records  of  Ksquire  Kly  begin 
in  1*1! i  with  an  entry  of  the  case  of  John  Xurs  r.  Oliver  Sawyer 
heard  at  "  Mind's  oMiee,  April  •>,''  in  which  action  judgment  was 
fendant,  costs  taxed  at  ninety  cents;  and 
C.th  dav  of  Feb.  A.  l».  1S4T,"  with  an  entry 
Charles  M.  Tnttle  was  plaintiff  and  "Luis 
In  this  last  case  the  plaintiff  was  more  for- 


Courts.  601 

tunate  than  was  Mr.  Xurs,  as  judgment  was  rendered  in  his  be- 
half for  damages  of  £2.61,  and  costs  taxed  at  $2.70. 

The  docket  of  "  Esquire"  Robins  has  its  first  entry  "  on  the  10 
day  of  November  A.  D.  1821,"  when  the  case  of  Benjamin  Bemis 
v.  Alfred  Closon  was  entered.  In  this  action  the  plaintiff  recov- 
ered damages  of  82.39,  with  costs  taxed  at  $6.27,  and  the  last 
civil  action  was  that  of  Edward  Strain  v.  Daniel  Elliott,  in  which 
the  plaintiff  recovered  judgment  for  $9.70,  with  costs  amounting 
to  $3.40.  Magistrate  Robins  entered  his  criminal  complaints  in 
a  separate  docket  in  the  same  book.  Other  parties  to  suits  ap- 
pearing often  are  Vespatian  Wheeler,  Parker  Cushman,  Daniel 
Bemis,  Samuel  F.  Hammond,  who  brought  or  answered  what  may 
be  termed  neighborhood  suits,  —  trespasses,  injury  to  stock,  and 
other  causes  indicating  strained  neighborly  relations.  In  this 
class  of  cases  the  magistrate  usually  found  for  the  plaintiff,  and 
assessed  damages  at  fifty  cents  or  a  dollar.  Long  credits  often 
brought  the  merchants  into  court  with  small  matters  for  collection. 
In  these  suits  appear  the  names  of  Roby,  Curtis,  &  Co.,  Henry 
Oakes,  Oakes  <t  Parks,  George  Little,  W.  C.  &  A.  Brackett,  and 
Hamlin  Rand  as  plaintiffs.  Oh  the  criminal  side  are  complaints 
ranging  from  simple  assault  to  that  of  uttering  counterfeit  money. 
There  are  ten  complaints  for  passing  counterfeit  money  against 
one  person  who  lived  in  that  part  of  Lisbon  adjoining  Franconia, 
on  all  of  which  he  was  held  for  the  Grand  Jury. 

The  lawyers  appearing  in  these  courts  were  Elisha  Hinds, 
Henry  A.  Bellows,  Edmund  Carleton,  Calvin  Ainsworth,  Jr., 
William  Burns,  and  Harry  Bingham,of  this  town  ;  Edmund  Burke, 
of  Whitelield,  and  Goodall  &  Woods,  of  Bath.  The  record  is 
usually  written  out  by  counsel  for  the  plaintiff.  The  first  case  in 
which  the  name  of  Henry  A.  Bellows  appears  is  Levi  Runnels  v. 
Samuel  C.  Bemis,  entered  April  5.  1828  ;  judgment  was  recov- 
ered for  S7.;~>9,  damages  and  costs  taxed  at  S3. 11.  Quite  likely 
this  was  the  first  suit  brought  by  this  young  lawyer  in  this  town  ; 
certainly  it  was  the  first  entered  on  the  docket  of  the  local 
magistrate. 

John  Farr,  Simeon  B.  Johnson,  Edward  O.  Kenney,  and  Wil- 
liam .}.  Bellows  were  in  later  years  among  the  local  magistrates 
most  in  demand  for  the  trial  of  litigated  matters  within  the  jus- 
tice's jurisdiction. 

In  1874  the  Legislature  passed  an  act  creating  a  police  court  in 
the  town,  and  John  L.  Foster  was  appointed  justice,  and  diaries  B. 
Griswold,  special  justice,  both  of  whom  were  commissioned  Sep- 
tember 10,  1874.  Mr.  Foster  was  a  practising  attorney  :  he  re- 


60:2  History  of  Littleton. 

moved  to  Lisbon  in  1877,  and  resigned  the  position  of  justice  of 
the  court  at  that  time.  He  was  a  man  of  dignified  bearing,  solid 
acquirements  in  his  profession,  and  had  gained  a  considerable 
practice  at  the  time  he  decided  to  go  to  the  adjoining  town.  He 
died  in  1808. 

It  does  not  appear  in  the  records  of  the  court  that  Mr.  Griswold 
assumed  the  duties  to  which  he  was  appointed.  At  the  time  of 
his  appointment  he  was  book-keeper  for  G.  &  C.  F.  Eastman- 
He  had  held  the  ofiice  of  Register  of  Deeds,  and,  upon  the  reor- 
gaui/ation  of  the  State  courts  in  1874,  he  was  made  Clerk  of 
Courts  for  Grafton  County,  holding  the  office  until  his  resignation 
in  ISO:?.  lie  was  then  succeeded  by  Dexter  D.  Dow  of  this  town, 
the  present  incumbent. 

Upon  the  resignation  of  Judge  Foster,  John  Farr  was  ap- 
pointed, and  served  until  1880,  when  he  resigned,  and  his  son, 
Captain  George  Farr,  was  appointed  to  the  vacancy  and  held  the 
position  fifteen  years.  He  died  in  March,  1805.  These  judges 
of  this  court  served  the  public  with  ability,  and  held  the  scales 
with  even  balance. 

Albert  Stillman  I>atchcllor  was  appointed  special  justice  of  the 
court  in  1S77,  and  upon  the  death  of  Judge  George  Farr  was 
appointed  justice,  and  has  held  the  office  since  March  "20,  ISO"). 
Lewis  i5.  Heald  became  special  justice  in  1807,  and  resigned  in 
1800  to  accept  the  office  of  deputy  collector  of  internal  revenues. 

Marshall  D.  Cobleigh  became  the  successor  of  Special  Justice 
Heald,  but  held  the  position  little  more  than  a  year,  resigning 
when  he  removed  from  town.  Harry  M.  Morse  was  his  successor 
in  the  position.  He  was  appointed  July  10,  1000,  and  still  holds 
the  office. 

Soon  after  the  court  was  created,  it  established  the  custom  of 
holding  its  sessions  in  the  office  of  Klbert  C.  Stevens,  and  later 
it  had  quarters  in  the  Casino  Uuilding  in  the  rear  of  Union 
l)lock.  When  the  to\vn  building  was  erected,  spacious  quarters 
were  provided  in  it,  and  they  have  ever  since  been  occupied  for  the 
business  and  sessions  of  the  court. 

From  the  date  of  the  establishment  of  the  court  in  1874  until 
USx>(),  the  justices  of  the  court  had  a  fixed  salary  of  SlOO  per 


The  to\vn  at  the  March  meeting  in  1XXO,on  motion  of  Mr.  John 
M.  Mitchell,  formally  recommended  to  the  governor  that  William 
J.  I»i'llu\vs  be  appointed  I'olice  Judge,  to  succeed  John  Farr,  whose 
term  o|  ofiice  \\-oiild  expire.  li\-  constitutional  limitation  Mav  1?2, 
188'.).'  'lh is  memorial  of  the  town  was  addressed  to  Governor 

1   Town  I{t.'cunl.»,  vol.  ii.  p.  ;JSS. 


Courts.  603 

Head  and  liis  council.  Major  Evarts  W.  Farr,  brother  of  Captain 
George,  was  a  member  of  this  council.  The  vote  of  the  town  in 
favor  of  Major  Bellows  was  disregarded  by  the  governor  and 
council,  and  Captain  Farr  was  appointed.  At  a  special  town 
meeting  held  May  1,  1880,  a  vote  was  passed,  on  motion  of  Mr. 
Mitchell  (J.  M.),  rescinding  the  vote  of  the  town  passed  March  10, 
1874, l  and  abolishing  the  salary  provided  for  the  justice  by  that 
act  of  the  town.'2  Other  votes  passed  at  the  same  meeting  care- 
fully circumscribed  the  powers  of  the  court  in  all  practicable  ways. 
The  grounds  upon  which  the  action  of  the  town  was  ostensibly 
predicated  in  Mr.  Mitchell's  resolution,  which  recommended  Major 
Bellows  for  the  office,  was  that  the  court  was  of  sufficient  impor- 
tance to  demand  the  services  of  an  experienced  and  competent 
lawyer,  and  on  this  test  the  qualifications  of  Major  Bellows  were 
unquestioned.  The  episode  was  a  stirring  one  at  this  time,  and  as 
both  the  gentlemen  named  at  the  time  for  the  office  were  stanch 
Republicans,  the  division  of  the  voters  on  the  subjects  in  contro- 
versy was  not  strictly  on  the  lines  which  divided  the  existing 
political  parties.  One  fact  is  very  manifest,  and  that  is  that  there 
was  earnest  and  deep-seated  opposition  to  the  appointment  of 
Captain  Farr. 

In  the  annals  of  the  town,  extending  from  1850  to  1860,  will  be 
found  a  brief  account  of  the  only  effort  that  has  been  made  to 
secure  for  Littleton  the  dignity  of  being  a  shire  town,  by  an  at- 
tempt to  create  a  new  county  of  which  the  town  was  to  be  the 
capital.  This  failed,  but  the  hope  that  it  might  ultimately  be 
successful  was  not  abandoned  until  the  county  seat  was  removed 
from  Haverhill  Corner  to  Woodsville,  in  1890.3  This  change 
was  so  obviously  for  the  advantage  of  the  people  of  the  county 
that  the  question  of  a  division  is  not  likely  to  be  again  raised  for 
many  years  to  come. 

A  successful  movement  was  started  in  1S!>0  to  have  sessions  of 
the  United  States  District  and  Circuit  Courts  for  the  District 
of  New  Hampshire  held  in  Littleton. 

The   courts  of   the  United    States,  since   the  formation   of  the 

1   Town  Kecords,  vol.  ii.  p.  10.  -  Town  Kecords,  vol.  ii.  p.  401. 

'•'•  The  County  Convention,  by  a  vote  passed  in  ISbJl,  determined  upon  a  removal 
of  tlie  county  courts  and  other  county  business  from  Haverhill  Corner  to  Woodsville, 
both  in  the  town  of  Haverhill.  The  new  county  building  at  Woodsville  was  con- 
structed in  188'J  and  I'.tOO.  The  September  term  of  the  Supreme  Court,  1SOO,  was 
the  first  one  held  at  Woodsville.  Ira  Whitcher  was  the  executive  member  of  the 
committee  which  had  charge  of  the  erection  of  the  court  house  at  Woodsville.  His 
report  is  in  pamphlet  form,  and  gives  a  full  history  of  the  enterprise.  He  encountered 
some  litigation  in  the  business,  which  was  determined  in  his  favor.  See  (Jrafton 
County  v.  Whitcher,  07  X.  II.  582. 


»;04  History  of  Littleton. 

federal  government,  have  taken  a  prominent  and  most  impor- 
tant position  with  reference  to  the  litigation  of  the  entire  country. 
The  volume  of  civil  business  in  certain  districts  is  ordinarily 
small,  as  compared  with  the  number  of  cases  pending  in  the  State 
courts,  inasmuch  as  statutes  limit  the  litigation  which  may  be 
brought  in  the  federal  courts.  Although  the  volume  of  business 
may  be  small,  yet  the  amounts  involved  in  such  litigation  arc  of 
great  magnitude,  and  the  questions  of  law  raised  are  vital  and  of 
far-reaching  consequence.  In  the  judges  of  the  United  States 
courts  \ve  find  men  who  have  attained  eminent  distinction  while 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  the  law,  so  that  their  decisions  com- 
mand universal  respect. 

The  United  States  is  divided  into  nine  circuits,  the  respective 
circuits  being  again  divided  into  districts.  Thus  the  State  of  New 
Hampshire  comprises  the  district  of  New  Hampshire,  which, 
together  with  Maine,  Massachusetts,  and  Rhode  Island,  forms  the 
first  circuit. 

In  the  district  of  New  Hampshire  three  terms  of  the  circuit 
court  are  held  annually  :  at  Portsmouth,  on  the  eighth  day  of 
May  ;  at  Littleton,  on  the  last  Tuesday  in  August  ;  and  at  Concord, 
on  the  eighth  day  of  October.  District  courts  are  held  at  Ports- 
mouth, on  the  third  Tuesdays  of  March  and  September;  at  Little- 
ton, on  the  last  Tuesday  in  August;  and  at  Concord,  on  the  third 
Tuesday  of  June  and  December. 

The  Hon.  Edgar  Aid  rich,  of  Littleton,  is  the  presiding  judge 
for  the  district  of  New  Hampshire.  lie  was  appointed  on  the 
twentieth  day  of  February,  1801. 

The  first  efforts  towards  obtaining  a  session  of  the  United  States 
courts  at  Littleton  were  instituted  by  Mr.  Aldrich,  then  in  practice 
of  the  law  at  Littleton,  to  whom  it  was  manifest  that  the  litiga- 
tion of  the  north  country  demanded  a  session  of  the  courts  at 
some  point  north  of  Concord.  At  his  request  a  special  meeting 
of  the  Hoard  of  Trade  of  Littleton  was  called  for  the  fourth  day  of 
April.  IsOO,  "  <o  see  what  action  the  board  would  take  in  regard 
to  making  an  effort  to  obtain  a  session  of  the  United  States  Circuit 
Court  at  Littleton."  At  that  meeting  it  was  voted,  on  motion  of 
A.  >.  liatchellor,  '•  thai  a  committee  of  three,  of  whom  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  Hoard  .should  be  one,  and  the  other  two  to  be  desig- 
nated by  hi  in,  be  appointed  to  raise  a  sufficient  sum  of  monev  to 
defray  the  expenses  of  a  delegation  to  Washington,  and  that  it  is 
the  sense  of  this  meeting  that  the  lime  is  opportune,  and  that 
Ldirar  Aldrich  and  .lames  R.  Jackson  be  authorized  to  go  to 
\\  ashington  ne.\t  .Monday.  April  7.  to  lake  such  steps  as  are  ncces- 


Courts.  605 

sary  or  expedient  in  their  judgment  for  the  purpose  expressed  in 
the  vote  of  the  Board  of  Trade  looking  toward  the  establishment 
of  a  term  of  the  United  States  Circuit  Court  and  a  public  building 
at  Littleton." 

The  committee  appointed  under  the  preceding  vote  consisted 
of  the  president,  Charles  C.  Smith,  Albert  S.  Batchellor,  and 
Oscar  C.  Hatch.  This  committee  reported  the  following  resolu- 
tion, which  was  adopted  by  the  meeting :  "  Resolved,  that  the 
Board  of  Trade  hereby  appropriate  a  sum  not  exceeding  two 
hundred  dollars  to  be  employed  in  procuring  legislation  for  the 
establishment  of  an  United  States  Circuit  Court  and  government 
building  at  Littleton." 

The  next  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trade  was  held  on  the 
twenty-eighth  day  of  April,  1890,  at  which  time  Edgar  Aid  rich 
reported  that,  in  pursuance  of  the  vote  passed  at  the  preceding 
meeting,  James  R.  Jackson  and  himself  had  been  to  Washington 
and  conferred  with  members  of  Congress,  and  that  in  all  proba- 
bility a  term  of  court  could  be  obtained.  At  this  meeting  Wil- 
liam H.  Mitchell  was  appointed  a  committee  to  confer  with  Harry 
Bingham  in  regard  to  obtaning  assistance  from  the  Democratic 
senators  and  representatives. 

In  April,  1891,  the  Board  of  Trade  again  took  action  in  the 
matter,  and  sent  Daniel  C.  Remich  and  James  R.  Jackson  as 
agents  to  Washington.  They  were  successful  in  securing  the  ap- 
proval of  the  Committee  on  Judiciary  of  the  Senate  and  House  of 
Representatives  of  the  bill  then  pending  for  the  establishment 
of  the  court. 

The  following  resolution  was  adopted  at  a  meeting  of  the  Board 
of  Trade,  February  5,  1892:  "Resolved,  that  the  matter  of  send- 
ing an  agent  to  Washington  to  secure  action  relative  to  the  United 
States  court  bill  be  left  to  the  executive  committee  of  the  Board 
of  Trade  with  full  power  to  send  such  agents  as  the  situation  may 
require." 

No  action  was  taken  by  the  board,  for  the  reason  that  it  was 
learned  a  few  days  after  that  the  bill  had  passed  both  Houses  of 
Congress  and  would  soon  become  a  law.  The  act 1  was  approved 
on  tiie  tenth  day  of  March,  1892. 

From  its  inception  the  measure  had  the  invaluable  assistance  of 
Senators  Chandler  and  Gallinger  and  Representatives  Mclvinney 
and  Daniel. 

1  "  He  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  United  States 
of  America  in  Congress  assembled,  that  hereafter  there  shall  be  held  annually,  on 
the  last  Tuesday  of  August,  a  term  of  the  circuit  and  district  courts  for  the  district 
.of  New  Hampshire,  in  the  town  of  Littleton  in  said  district." 


GOG  Hi4ory  of  Littleton. 

In  accordance  with  this  act  of  Congress  the  first  session  of  the 
United  States  Circuit  Court  was  held  at  Littleton  on  the  nineteenth 
day  of  July,  18'.)-,  by  adjournment  from  the  May  term  held  at  Ports- 
mouth, hi  the  absence  of  a  court  room,  the  hearing  was  held  at 
the  Oak  Hill  House.  The  Hon.  Thomas  L.  Nelson,  District  Judge 
for  the  District  of  Massachusetts,  presided.  The  matter  under 
consideration  was  a  motion  to  remand  to  the  State  courts  of 
New  Hampshire  the  action  of  The  Town  of  Monroe  v.  The  Con- 
necticut River  Lumber  Company  et  cilx.  In  this  action  Bingham, 
Mitchell  it  Batchellor,  and  James  W.  Rcmick  appeared  for  the 
plaintiff;  Drew,  Jordan  <fc  Buckley,  and  Bingham  A:  Bingham,  for 
the  defendants. 

The  first  regular  session  of  the  United  States  courts  was  held  at 
Littleton  on  the  thirtieth  day  of  August,  1892,  in  the  court  quarters 
in  Opera  Block,  which  had  been  leased  on  the  first  day  of  July 
preceding  for  a  term  of  ten  years.  There  were  present  Judges 
Hon.  Thomas  L.  Nelson  and  Hon.  Edgar  Aldrich,  and  also  lion. 
L.  Q.  C.  Lamar,  an  associate  justice  of  the  United  States  Supreme 
Court.  At  this  time  James  W.  Remick,  of  Littleton,  was  District 
Attorney,  Adams  T.  Peirce,  of  Dover,  Marshal,  and  Fremont  K. 
Shurtleff,  of  Concord,  Clerk. 

A  grand  and  petit  jury  were  in  attendance,  and  much  civil  and 
criminal  business  was  disposed  of. 

Since  the  August  term,  181'-,  annual  terms  of  the  Circuit  and 
District  Courts  have  been  hold  at  Littleton,  at  which  many  impor- 
tant civil  cases  have  been  tried, among  them  being  those  of  Crotean 
i'.  Berlin  Mills  (Jo.,  Anderson  r  Berlin  Mills  Co.,  Spaulding  A' 
Sou  i'.  Burgess  Sulphite  Fibre  Co.,  Crvan,  Adnfr,  c.  Hastings 
Lumber  Co.,  (Jarland,  Adm'r,  r.  Hastings  Lumber  Co.  Another 
important  feature  has  been  the  special  term  everv  two  years  for 
the  purpose  oi  naturalization.  On  such  occasions  large  numbers 
Irom  the  on  tiro-  north  country  have  availed  themselves  of  the 
privilege  ol  being  naturalized  in  the  United  States  court. 

The  present  oHieials  of  the  United  States  courts  arc,  besides  tin; 
lion.  Fdgar  Aldrich,  District  Judge,  Charles  J.  Hamblett,  of 
Nashua.  District  Attorney.  Mugone  P.  Nnte,  of  Farmington,  Mar- 
tial, and  Burns  P.  Ilodgman,  formorlv  of  Littleton,  but  now  of 
<  'micord.  Clerk. 

<  Mi  the  first  day  of  July,  ll'Ul,  rooms  for  the  use  of  the  court 
wen;  leased  in  the  National  Bank  Block,  where,  until  a  govern- 
mi-iit  buildinir  is  erected,  the  sessions  of  the  court  will  he  held. 


STATISTICAL    HISTORY. 


TABLE  1. 

DIRECTORS   OF   THE    WHITE   MOUNTAIN    RAILROAD. 

INCORPORATED    1848. 

1849.  Ira    Goodall,    Andrew   S.    Woods,    Bath.     David    G.   Goodall, 

Lisbon.  Ebenezer  Eastman,  Littleton.  Morris  ('lark, 
Whiteiield.  Levi  Sargent,  Manchester.  John  Pierce, 
Bethlehem. 

1850.  Ira    Goodall,    Andrew    S.    Woods,    Ezra    C.    Hutching,    Bath. 

David  G.  Goodall,  Lisbon.  Morris  Clark,  Whitefield. 
Ebenezer  Eastman,  Littleton.  Levi  Sargent,  Manchester. 

1852.  Ira  Goodall,  Bath.  Ebenezer  Eastman;  Morris  Clark;  David 
G.  Goodall;  Samuel  P.  Peavey;  George  B.  Redington ; 
Samuel  lioss. 

1854. !  Ira  Goodall ;  Morris  Clark;  Samuel  Ross;  George  B.  Reding- 
ton; David  G.  Goodall;  Samuel  P.  Peavey. 

TABLE   2. 
BOARD   OF   HEALTH. 

1873.  Charles  M.  Tuttle,  M.D.,  Charles  W.  Raiul,  Esq.,  John  Sargent. 

1874.  Charles    M.    Tuttle,    M.D.,    Frank    T.    Moffett,    M.D.,    John 

Sargent. 

1875.  Charles  M.  Tuttle,    M.D.,  Frank   T.   Moffett,    M.D.,  Henry  L. 

Watson,  M.D. 
1870.      Charles    M.  Tuttle,     M.D.,    Frank    T.    Moffett,    M.D.,    Henry 

L.  Watson,  M.I). 
1877.      Charles   M.  Tuttle,  M.D.,    Frank   T.    Moffett,    M.I).,  Henry.  L. 

Watson,  M.D. 
1S78.      Charles    M.    Tuttle,    M.D.,     C.     W.    Bolles,    Esq..-    Henry     L. 

Watson,  .M.D. 

1  See  Littleton  Centennial,  pp.  202-260.  There  are  no  records  of  this  corporation 
showing  the  directors  until  1804,  when  they  were  identical  with  those  of  the  Boston, 
Concord,  and  Montreal  Kailroad. 

-  The  persons  having  this  prefix  to  their  names  were  the  lawyers  of  the  board. 


008  Jli*t'>ry  of  Littleton. 

1S7'.».     Charles    M.  Tuttle.    M.D.,  William   JI.   Mitchell,  Esq.,  Charles 
C.   Sniitli. 

1550.  Charles    M.  Tuttle,  M.D.,  William    H.    Mitchell.    Esq.,  Charles 

C.  Smith. 

1551.  Charles   M .  Tiittle.  M.D..  Fred  l'».  Wright,  Es(].,  John  Smillie. 
1SSL'.      Charles    M.  Tuttle,    M.D.,   Elbert   C.    Stevens,    Esq.,   Albert    II. 

F>owman. 
ISS.1;.      Charles    .M.  Tnttle.   M.D.,  Elbert   C.   Stevens,  Ksq.,  George  W. 

McGregor.  M.D. 
1884.      Charl.-s    M.  Tuttle,   M.I)..  Elbert   C.  Stevens.  Esq.,  (icorgu   W. 

.Mrdivgnr.    M.D. 
18S.-».     (imr-r    W.    McGregor,    M.I).,    William    M.    Taylor.   Klbert    C. 

Stevens,   Esq. 
ISXC,.      (Icnr^r    \V.    Mctircgnr,    M.I).,    Fred    A.    Robinson.    James    R. 

Jackson,   Ksq. 
1SS7.      Frank     T.    .Mot'tett.    M.D..    James     W.     Remiek,    Esq.,    Zelotlis 

Stevens. 

1SSS.       1'hinras  R.  Coold.  Edward  1).  Lucas,   Milo  C.   Pollard. 
1SS'.».      C,.,, r-e  W.  McGregor,   M.D.,  John   Smillic.  Jame>  W.  Remiek, 

Esq. 

IS'.HI.      P.eiijamin   F.    Pa.^e,    M.D..  Tliaddeus  E.  Sander.   M.I)..   Henry  F. 

(  i  1'eell. 

1SHI.      Gi-iir«re  \V.  MeCregor,  M  .1)..  William  J.  I'.eattie.  M.D..  Andrew 

\V.   Ilingliam. 

IS'.l'J.  (n-urp-  F.  Abbott,  M.D..  Fred  H.  English ,  Then.n  A.  1'arr. 
IS'.).",.  ( ;,,„•-,.  F.  Abbott.  M.D.,  Fred  H.  English.  Thei-on  A.  Farr. 
IS'.M.  tieor-re  F.  Abbott.  M.D..  Fred  H.  Fn-Ii^b.  Thi-roti  A.  1'arr. 
iS'.i:,.  Charles  C.  Smith.  Daniel  C.  Remieh.  Esq.,  Join.  M.  I 'age,  M.I). 
]*'.»;.  Darnel  ('.  Rrmieli.  Churl. -s  C.  Smith.  John  M.  Page,  M.D. 
lS',17.1  Daniel  ('.  Remieh.  lyear;  Charlo  C.  Smit  h.  -  vears :  C'haiincey 

11.   Greene,   ;;  years. 
IS'.tS.       Daniel     ('.    Ri-mieh,    .'1    vears;    Chaiineev    11.    (Jreeiie.     -     vears: 

<  'harles    ( '.    Smit  h.    1    vear. 
iS'.i'.i.      Daniel  C.  Remieh,- 2  years;   George  F.  Abbott,  ^  years;   Chaun- 

eey    1  I  .    (  I  ivelie.     1     \'ear. 
P."1".      Gi-ni-ge   I1'.  Abbott,  1' years;    Charles  C.  Smit  h.  J  year:    Chauneey 

1 1.  <  Jrei'iii'.  :;  years/' 
I'1"].      <Jeorg.- !•'.  Abbott.  1  year;  Chauneey  II.  Greene,  L' years  ;  Charh-s 

('.  Smit  h.' .'!  years ;   John  Smillie,  .">  vear>. 
Ion    L.  Simonds.   1    year;    J.-hn    Smillie.  L'    years:    (Jeorge    F. 

Ab!..,tt.  :;  y.-jir>.  ' 
I'"'-'!.      J"Ini        nilii.-.   1    year;    (Jeorge    |-\   Abbott,  L'  year-:    George  \V. 

Siui:  li.  .'1  \ car>. 


Statistical  History.  609 


TABLE   3. 
LONGEVITY. 

PERSONS    LIVING    OR    DYING    IN    TOWN    NINETY    YEARS    OF    AGE 

OR    MORE. 

ALDRICH,    HANNAH,    b.  Newbury,  Vt.,   Sept.  20,   1803;    d.  Jan.   15. 

1894. 
APPLEBEE,  RUBY,  w.  of  Nathan  C.,  b.  Lisbon,  Aug.  6,  1797;  d.  Nov. 

22,  1887. 

BLANDIN,  LYMAN,   b.  Bethlehem,  Jan.  14,  1794;  d.  Dec.  4,  1887. 
BRONSON,  JOEL,   b.  Landaff,  Nov.  16,  1802;  d.  Aug.  11,  1894. 
BROOKS,  EZRA,  b.  Alstead,  March  15,  1800;  d.  Nov.  8,  1890. 
CUSHMAN,  PARKER,   b.  Charlestovvn,  Jan.  3,  1773;  d.  June  4,  1872. 
DUNBAR,  JACOB    K.,  b.  Danville,   Vt.,  Jan.   25,  1799  ;    d.   April  28, 

1890. 

EASTMAN,  SIMEON,  b.  L.,  April  11,  1798;  d.  Jan.  24,  1889. 
FISK,  ADALINE  M.,  b.  Springfield,  July  6,  1808;  d.  March  25,  1899. 
FISK,  WILLIAM,  b.  Stoddard,  Ap*ril  13,  1779;  d.  Aug.  5,  1879. 
FOSTER,  EZRA,  b.  Andover,  Mass.,  1762;  d.  Feb.  22,  1856. 
FULLER,  THOMAS,  b.  May  13,  1787;  d.  March  11,  1878. 
GILE,  DOLLY,  w.  of  Timothy,  b.  Wentworth,  May  18,  1790;  d.  Dec.  26. 

1886. 

GLEASON,  BETSEY,  b.  L.,  Nov.  23,  1804;  d.  June  23,  1896. 
GODDARD,  RUTH,  \v.  of  Nathaniel,  b.  1772;   d.  Nov.  13,  1872. 
GOODALL,   ELIZABETH,  w.  of  Rev.  David,  b.  Aug.   1752;  d.  Sept.  21, 

1845. 
GOODWIN,   MARTHA,  w.  of  Samuel,  b.  L.,  Dec.  26,  1795;   d.  May  11. 

1887. 

HALL,  BETSEY,  b.  1792  ;  d.  Jan.  26,  1882. 
HOSKINS,  MARY,  w.  of  Nehemiah,  b.  Marlboro,  Mass.,  Aug.  11,  1752: 

d.  Sept.  21,  1845. 
HOSKINS,    SALMON,  b.  Petersham,  Mass.,   Aug.  14,  1790;  d.  Dec.   22, 

1880. 

HUBBARD,  AMOS,  b.  Chesterfield,  Oct.  30,  1780;  d.  Nov.  22,  1872. 
HUSE,  EUNICE,  w.  of  John,  b.  1770;  d.  Feb.  26,  1862. 
HUSE,  JOHN,  b.  Sanbornton,  1774;  d.  Dec.  7,  1864. 
JACKSON,  WILLIAM,  b.   Milford,  Ireland,  Feb.   3,  1807;   d.  March    29. 

1897. 

LEWIS,  MARY,  w.  of  Asa,  b.  1751;  d.  March  6,  1842. 
VOL.  ii.  —  39 


610  History  of  Littleton. 

MAKKLKY.  ELIXAUKTH,  w.  of  Jacob,  b.  England,  Aug.  179G;  d.  Little- 
ton, April.  1898. 

MASOX,  Lois  M..  w.  of  ,  b.  Barre,  Vt.,  ISO.0);  d.  Jan.  28, 

1897. 

MKUKILL.  HAXXAII  .]).,  widow  of  Dea.  Jolin  Merrill,  b.  Havcrhill, 
April  13,  1811;  d.  in  L.,  Sept.  18,  1902. 

RAKISH.  DKSIKK,  widow,  b.  Long  Island  City,  X.  Y.,  Oct.  10,  1803; 
d.  Sept.  22,  189C). 

I'IKI;<  K.  -Joiix,  b.  Gardner,  Mass.,  June  21,  1799;  d.  April  4,  1896. 

ROAVKI.L.  JAMKS  C.,  b.  Chester,  Dec.  17,  1813;  still  living  at  Littleton. 

ROWKLL.  JONATHAN,  b.  Weare,  April,  1771;  d.  Oct.  81,  18(>3. 

STKKKK,  RTSSKLL.  b.  Feb.  T>,  1793;  d.  Oct.  19,  1889. 

TIKFT.   LABAX,  b.  Providence,  11.  L,  Feb.  11,  178C>;  d.  May  18,  1882. 

AN" A i. LAI •!••..  AMOS.  b.  Franconia,  April  28,  1797;   d.  Feb.  IT).  1889. 

AYKLLKK,  ASA  C..  b.  Boston,  Mass.,  July  12,  1800;  d.  June  11,  1895. 

\VHITK.  CAIIOLIXK,  w.  of  Thomas,  b.  Sanbornton,  Aug.  30,  1802;  d. 
Aug.  1S92. 

WIIITIXC.  SOLOMOX,  b.  Manchester,  Nov.  1,  1791;   d.  Aug.  27,  188G. 

WILLIAMS.  SAIJAII,  b.  Sept.  1744;  d.  Dec.  24,  1843. 

WILLIAMSON,  JOHX,  b.  Ard^traw,  (Bounty  Tyrone,  Ireland,  Aug.  1810. 

"\YOOLSON.  HAXXAH,  w.  of  Elijah  &.,  b.  Lisbon,  Jan.  27,1804;  d.  1903. 


TABLE   4. 
TOWN    FIHE  WARDS. 

1829.  l>anc   Abbott,  Truman    Stevens,  George   Little,  Adams  Moore, 

Guy  Ely. 

1830.  Isaac  Abbott,  Guy  Ely,  George  Little,  Truman  Stevens,  Josiah 

Kilburn,  Aaron  Brackett. 

1831.  Isaac   Abbott,  Adams    .Moore,  Aaron  Brackett,  William  .Burns, 

.Josiah  Kilburn,  Truman  Stevens. 

1832.  Isaac    Abbott,    .Josiah    Kilburn,    Truman    Stevens,     Guy    Ely, 

Aaron   Brackett,  Adams   Moore. 

18.'!.'!.  Guy  Fly.  Aaron  Brackett,  Isaac  Abbott,  Josiah  Kilburn,  Ad- 
ams Moore. 

IS.'ll.  Guy  Ely,  Aaron  Brackett,  Isaac  Abbott,  Josiah  Kilburn,  Adams 
Moon:. 

1S.">.~>.  Aaron  Brac.kett.  Henry  A.  Bellows.  Guy  Ely,  Sylvanus  Balch, 
Adams  Moore. 

lS.';i'i.  Henry  A.  Bellows,  Adam>  Moore,  Aaron  Brackett,  Truman 
Stcven>,  Knoc.h  1  la/elt  me. 

1S.'J7.  S\l\anu^  Balch.  Fnocli  Haxcltine,  Aaron  Brackett,  Adams 
Moore,  Henry  A.  I '.el  lows. 


Statistical  History.  Gil 

1838.  Isaac  Abbott,  Jonathan  Lovejoy,  Cyrus  Eastman,  Aaron  Brack- 

ett,  Guy  Ely. 

1839.  Isaac  Abbott,  Cyrus  Eastman,  Jonathan  Lovejoy,  Adams  Moore, 

Aaron  Brackett. 

1840.  Stephen  C.   Gibb,    Jonathan  Lovejoy,    Adams    Moore,  Aaron 

Brackett,  Simeon  B.  Johnson. 

1841.  Willard  Cobleigh,  Francis  Hodgman,   Aaron  Brackett,  Calvin 

F.  Cate,  Otis  Batchelder. 

1842.  Cyrus    Eastman,    Willard    Cobleigh,    Nathan    Cate,   William 

Brackett,  Isaac  Abbott. 

1843.  Calvin    F.  Cate,    Francis    Hodgman,    Otis   Batchelder,    Cyrus 

Eastman,  Adams  Moore. 

1844.  William  Brackett,  Cyrus  Eastman,  Marquis  L.    Goold,  Isaac 

Abbott,  Elijah  S.  Woolson,  G.  W.  Ely. 

1845.  Cyrus  Eastman,  Marquis  L.   Goold,  Truman  Stevens,  Francis 

Hodgman,  Curtis  C.  Bowman,  William  Brackett. 

1846.  Isaac  Abbott,   Francis    Hodgman,    Cyrus   Eastman,  Curtis  C. 

Bowman,  Aaron  Gile. 

1847.  Simeon  B.  Johnson,  Eri  Goin,  Francis  Hodgman,  Marquis  L. 

Goold. 

1848.  Eri  Goin,  Cyrus  Eastman,  Otis  Batchelder,  Francis  Hodgman, 

Marquis  L.  Goold. 

1849.  Cyrus  Eastman,   Salmon  G.  Miner,  Otis  Batchelder,   Marquis 

L.  Goold,  James  H.  Angier. 

1850.  Eri  Goin,  George  B.  Hedington,  Harry  Bingham,  Alonzo  Weeks, 

Franklin  Tilton. 

1851.  | 

1852.  P°  recor(L 

LITTLETON   VILLAGE   PRECINCT. 

1853  to  Aug.  1854.     Edward  0.  Kenney,  John  Sargent,  James  Dow, 

Josiah  Kilburn. 
No  record  from  1855  until  1873. 


TABLE   5. 
FIRE  WARDS,  LITTLETON  VILLAGE   FIRE   PRECINCT. 

1873.  Benjamin  W.  Kilburn,  Ellery  D.  Dunn,  Charles  Nurse,  Joseph 

L.  Whittaker,  Chauncey  II.  Greene. 

1874.  Ellery  D.  Dunn,   Charles  Nurse,  Charles  C.  Smith,  Joseph  L. 

Whittaker,  Chauncey  H.  Greene. 

1875.  Charles  Nurse,   Ellery  D.  Dunn,   Curtis   Gates,   Chauncey   H. 

Greene,  Joseph  L.  Whittaker. 


012  History  of  Littleton. 

187<>.      Ellery    IX    Dunn,    Charles    Xur.se,    Curtis    Gates,    Charles    F. 

Everett,  George  C.  Coburn. 
1877.      Ellery  1).  Dunn,  Chauncey  H.  Greene,  Curtis  Gates,  Charles  F. 

Everett,  Josiuh  M.  Ladd. 
1S78.     Ellery  D.  Dunn,  Chauncey  H.  Greene,  Josiah  M.  Ladd,  Henry 

\\".  Smith,  Curtis  Gates. 
1879.      Ellery  IX  Dunn,  Cliauncey  II.  Greene,  Curtis  Gates, -Henry  W. 

Smith,  Josiah  M.  Ladd. 
1880. l    Harry  A.  Johnson,  William  H.   Mellows,  Frederick  A.  Tilton. 

Josiah  M.  Ladd,  Henry  W.  Smith. 

1881.  Ellery  D.    Dunn,    Elbert  C.    Stevens,    Fred  A.  Tilton,  Charles 

Eaton,  William  H.  Chandler. 

FIHE    WARDS   OF    LITTLETON    FIRE    DISTRICT. 

1882.  Fred  A.    Robinson,2  Noah  W.   Ranlett,    George   L.  Whittaker 

Cyrus  Young.  Joseph  S.  Frye. 
1SS3-8-1.     Fred   A.    Robinson,    Xoah    W.    Ranlett,    Alberto   J.    Cram, 

Cyrus  Young,  Ellery  D.  Dunn. 
188-1-85.      Fred  A.    Robinson,    Xoah    W.    Ranlett,    Alberto  J.   Cram. 

Cyrus  Young,  William  II.  Mitchell. 
1S85-8C).      Fred    A.    Robinson,    Xoah    W.    Ranlett,   Alberto   J.    Cram. 

Cyrus  Young,  William  II.  Mitchell. 
1880-87.     William   II.  Mitchell,  Alberto  J.  Cram,  Fred  A.  Robinson. 

Xoah  W.  Ranlett,  Cyrus  Young. 
1887-88.     Alberto   J.    Cram,   Charles   R,   Coburn,    Gilbert    E.    Lane, 

Harry  Bingham,  -d,  Israel  C.  Richardson. 
1888-8'.).      Alberto  ,J.   Cram,  Charles    R.  Coburn.   Hurry  I'.ingham,  I'd. 

Daniel  C.  Reniich,  Roswell  E.  Wilniot. 
1889-90.      Harry  Bingham,  LM,   Roswell  E.  Wilmot,  Charles  R.  Col.urn. 

John  A.  Fogg,  Alberto  J.  Cram. 
18'.»0-91.      Alberto    J.   Cram.    Charles    R.    Coburn,    Henry    A.   Eaton. 

William  M.  Silsby,  John  A.Fogg. 

1891-92.      Elbridgr    Young.  Charles    R.   Coburn,  John    A.  Fogg.  Wil- 
liam M.  Silsby,  Henry  A.  Eaton. 
18U2-9::.      Elbridge   Young,8  Millard    F.    Young.    Daniel    C.    Kemicb. 

Frank  10.   Howies,  George  W.  McGregor. 

1   Name  changc-d  to  Littleton  Fire  District. 

-  IJesi^ned  ;   Dexter  D.  French  elected  to  fill  vacancy. 

'•'  DecliiH'd  to  serve;   Henry  A.  Katon  elected. 


Statistical  History.  613 


TABLE   6. 
SCHOOL  INSPECTORS. 

1809.  David  Goodall,  William  Burns,  Robert  Charlton. 

1810.  David  Goodall,  William  Burns,  Joseph  E.  Dow. 

1811.  William  Burns,  Joseph  E.  Dow,  David  Goodall. 

1812.  David  Goodall,  William  Burns,  John  Charlton. 

1813.  William  Burns,  Solomon  Goodall,  Elisha  Hinds. 

1814.  Isaac  F.  Williams,  Elisha  Hinds,  Solomon  Goodall. 

1815.  Solomon  Goodall,  John  Charlton,  Isaac  F.  AYilliams. 

1816.  David  Goodall,  Solomon  Goodall,  Job  Pingree. 

1817.  Nathaniel  Rix,  Jr.,  Job  Pingree,  John  Charlton. 

1818.  Solomon  Goodall,  Job  Pingree,  Richard  Peabody. 

1827. l    Drury   Fairbank,    Walter  Charlton,   William   Burns,    Richard 
Peabody,  Guy  C.  Rix. 

SUPERINTENDING   SCHOOL   COMMITTEE. 

1843.  Erasmus  I.  Carpenter,  Adams  Moore. 

1844.  Erasmus  I.  Cai'penter,  William  Burns. 

1845.  Adams  Moore,  Erasmus  I.  Carpenter,  William  Burns. 

1840.  Erasmus  I.  Carpenter,  Thomas  Bickford,  Richard  W.  Peabody. 

1847.  Erasmus  I.  Carpenter,  Adams  Moore,  Richard  W.  Peabody. 

1848.  Erasmus  I.  Carpenter,  Philip  C.  Wilkins,  Adams  Moore. 

1849.  Erasmus  I.  Carpenter,  Charles  W.  Rand,  Richard  W.  Peabody. 

1850.  Erasmus  I.  Carpenter,  Harry  Bingham,  John  M.  Charlton. 

1851.  Sullivan  Holman,  Thomas  Bickford,  John  M.  Charlton. 

1852.  Adams  Moore,  Erasmus  I.  Carpenter,  John  M.  Charlton. 

1853.  Dudley  P.  Leavitt,  Erasmus  I.  Carpenter,  John  Sargent. 

1854.  Erasmus  I.  Carpenter,  John  Sargent,  Adams  Moore. 

1855.  Adams  Moore,  Edmund  Carleton,  John  M.  Charlton. 

1856.  Warren  Mclntire,  Q.  M.  Webb,  John  M.  Charlton. 

1857.  Edward  D.  Rand,  Alexander  Mclntire,  John  M.  Charlton. 

1858.  George  1ST.  Bryant,  Franklin  Tilton,  John  M.  Charlton. 

1859.  James  L.  Harriman,  Warren  Mclntire,  Edward  O.  Kenney. 

1860.  James  L.  Harriman,  Warren  Mclntire,  Edward  (>.  Kenney. 

1861.  James  L.  Harriman,  Warren  Mclntire,  George  S.  Barnes. 

1  No  record  until  1827.  Name  changed  to  Superintending  School  Committee,  Act 
of  July  0,  1827.  Superintending  School  Committee  required  to  be  chosen  (Session 
Laws  of  1827,  p.  '21'.}).  Records  of  1828-29  show  Prudential  School  Committee  chosen 
tor  each  district.  Act  of  January  4,  18JW,  provides  that  towns  may  vote  to  dispense 
with  Superintending  School  Committee  (Session  Laws,  p.  '.tO).  Partially  re-enacted 
December  Session,  1842  (Revised  Statutes,  Chap.  7o,  Sec.  5).  No  records  until  18-1;). 


014  History  of  Littleton. 

18(52.  James  L.  Harriman,  Clinton  Rowell,  Warren  Mclntire. 

18(53.  Warren  Mclntire. 

18<54.  Warren  Melntire. 

ISd.").  Warren  Mclntire. 

180(5.  Dennis  Wheeler. 

18(57.  Dennis  Wheeler. 

18(58.  James  li.  Jackson. 

18(5'.).  James  R.  Jackson. 

1870.  James  R.  Jackson. 

1871.  Dennis  Wheeler. 

1872.  Dennis  Wheeler. 

1873.  Albert  S.  Batchellor 

1874.  Albert  S.  Batchellor. 
187;").  George  W.  Rnland. 
187(5.  Dennis  Wheeler. 

1877.  Frank  C.  Albee. 

1878.  Alexander  Mclntire. 

1879.  William  IT.  Mitchell. 

1880.  William  II.  Mitchell. 

1881.  Francis  H.  Lyford. 

1882.  Francis  H.  Lyford. 

1883.  Francis  IF.  Lyford. 
1881.  George.  M.  Curl. 
1885.  Benjamin  F.  Robinson 

TABLE    7. 
rxrox  SCHOOL  DISTRICT.' 

BOAKD  OK  EDUCATION. 

18(56-07.  George  A.  Bingham.  Franklin  Tilton,  Franklin  J.  Eastman, 
James  R.  Jackson,  George  Farr,  Sujicrintfindinr/  C'<»n- 
inittt'i';  George  A.  Binghani,  Franklin  Tilton,  and 
Franklin  J.  Eastman,  Pruflpntiiil  Committee. 

iSfiS-C/.l.  Rev.  Charles  E.  Milliken,  Pi-t's'idnit  :  James  11.  Jackson, 
K<>rti/.  ;  Henry  L.  Tilton,  7Vtv/.s.  Harry  Bingham, 
George  Farr,  Cyinis  Eastman,  William  J.  J>ello\vs, 
.James  J.  Barrett,  Charles  W.  Rand. 

18W-70.  Rev.  Cliarles  E.  Milliken,  Preniilmt ;  James  R.Jackson, 
Si't-fi/.  ;  Iluiny  L.  Tilton,  Trcux.  Harry  Uingham, 
Geoi-gc  Farr.  Cyrus  Eastman,  William  »L  Bellows, 
.lames  J.  Barrett,  Charles  \Y.  Rand. 

1N70-71.  l.'cv.  Charh-s  E.  Millikcn,  J'l-cs'tili'iit  :  .lames  R.  Jackson, 
Si'i-h/.  :  Ili-nry  L.  Tilton,  7'/v".s'.  Harry  Ringham. 

1  Or^jiiiixci]  mirier  the   Sonu-rswortli   Act,  April,   lSi;0.     Reorganized  under  the 
Concur.!  Act,  April,  IM',S. 


Statistical  History.  015 

Charles   A.    Sinclair,    Cyrus   Eastman,    John    Sargent, 
James  J.  Barrett,   Charles  W.  Rand. 

1871-72.  Rev.  Charles  E.  Milliken,  President;  James  R.  Jackson, 
Sect//.;  Henry  L.  Tilton,  Treas.  Harry  Binghani, 
Charles  A.  Sinclair,  Cyrus  Eastman,  John  Sargent, 
Evarts  W.  Farr,  Rev.  John  Currier. 

1872-73.  Rev.  Charles  E.  Milliken,  President;  James  R.  Jackson,1 
Sect//.  ;  Henry  L.  Tilton,  Trcas.  Harry  Binghani, 
Charles  A.  Sinclair,1  Sylvester  Marsh,  John  Sargent, 
Evarts  W.  Farr,  Rev.  John  Currier. 

1873-74.  Rev.  Charles  E.  Milliken,  President ;  John  M.  Mitchell, 
Sect//.  •  Henry  L.  Tilton,  Treas.  Charles  A.  Farr, 
Henry  H.  Metcalf,  Sylvester  Marsh,  John  Sargent, 
Evarts  W.  Farr,  Albert  S.  Batchellor. 

1874-75.  Rev.  Charles  E.  Milliken,  President;  John  M.  Mitchell, 
Sect}/.  ;  Henry  L.  Tilton,  Trcas.  Hartwell  II.  South- 
worth,  Evarts  W.  Farr,  Sylvester  Marsh,  John  Sargent, 
George  A.  Binghani,  Albert  S.  Batchellor. 

1875-76.  George  A.  Binghani,  President;  John  M.  Mitchell,  Sect;/.; 
John  Farr,  Treas.  Hartwell  H.  Southworth,  Rev.  G. 
W.  R ul and,  Charles  M.  Tuttle,  M.]).,  John  Sargent, 
Alexander  Mclntire,  Albert  S.  Batchellor. 

1876-77.  George  A.  Binghani,  President ;  John  L.  Foster,  Sect//.  : 
John  Farr,  Treas.  Hartwell  H.  Southworth,  Albert  S. 
Batchellor,  Charles  M.  Tuttle,  M.D.,  Rev.  Charles  E. 
Milliken,  Alexander  Mclntire,  Augustus  R.  Burton. 

1877-78.  George  A.  Bingham,  President  ;  Albert  S.  Batchellor, 
Sect)/.  ;  John  Farr,  Treat.  John  M.  Mitchell,  John  L. 
Foster,  Charles  M.  Tuttle,  M.D.,  Rev.  Charles  E.  Milli- 
ken, Alexander  Mclntire,  Augustus  R.  Burton. 

1878-79.  George  A.  Binghani,  President  :  Albert  S.  Batchellor, 
Sect;/.  ;  John  Farr,  Treas.  John  M.  Mitchell,  >Iohn  L. 
Foster,  Rev.  Anson  R.  Graves,  Rev.  Charles  E.  Milli- 
ken, Alexander  Mclntire,  Augustus  R.  Burton. 

1879-80.  George  A.  Bingham,  President  :  Albert  S.  Batchellor, 
Sect//.  :  John  Farr,  Treos.  John  M.  Mitchell,  William 
J.  Bellows,  Rev.  Anson  R.  Graves,  Otis  G.  Hale,  Alex- 
ander Mclntire,  Augustus  R.  Burton. 

1S80— 81.  William  J.  Bellows,  President;  Benjamin  F.  Robinson, 
Sect//.;  George  Farr,  Treus.  "William  H.  Mitchell. 
George  A.  Bingham,  Rev.  Anson  R.  Graves.  Otis  G. 
Hale,  Alexander  Mclntire,  Augustus  R.  Burton. 

1881-82.      William    J.    Bellows,    President;     Benjamin    F.    Robinson. 
See.ii/.  ;    George    Fan-.     Twin.      William    II.    Mitchell. 
George   A.    Bingham,   Tli:iddeus   10.   Sanger.    M.])..  Otis 
G.  Hale,  Alexander  Mclntire.   Augustus   R.  Burton. 
1  Resigned. 


•  lit)  If! *t 'tn/  of  Littleton. 

1SSU-S.').  William  J.  Bellows,  President  ;  Benjamin  F.  Robinson, 
.SVr///.  ;  George  Farr,  Treat.  William  K.  Mitchell, 
George  A.  Bingham,  Thaddeus  E.  Sanger,  M.D., 
Charles  F.  Eastman,  Alexander  Mclntire,  Rev.  Francis 
H.  Lyford. 

1883-84.  William  J.  Bellows,  President;  Benjamin  F.  Robinson, 
Sect  if.  •  George  Farr,  Treats.  William  H.  Mitchell, 
George  A.  Bingham,  Thaddcus  F.  Sanger,  M.I).,  Charles 
F.  Eastman,  Alexander  Mclntire,  Rev.  Francis  H. 
Lyford.1 

1881-85.  William  J.  Bellows,  P resilient;  Benjamin  F.  Robinson. 
Sect  if.  :  George  Farr,  Treas.  William  II.  Mitchell. 
George  A.  Bingham,  Thaddeus  E.  Sanger,  M.I).,  Charles 
F.  Eastman,  Augustus  R.  Burton,  Rev.  J.  Sidney 
Kent. 

1885-86.  William  f).  Bellows,  President  :  Benjamin  F.  Bohinson. 
Sect;/.  :  Charles  F.  Eastman,  Trees.  William  If. 
Mitchell,  George  A.  Bingham,  George  Farr,  Augustus 
R.  Burton,  Thaddeus  E.  Sanger,  M.D.,  Oscar  C.  Hatch. 
1886-87.  William  J.  Bellows,  President;  Benjamin  F.  Robinson. 
Si'Hi/.  :  Charles  F.  Eastman,  Tret  in.  llev.  E.  C.  IIol- 
inan.  Charles  L.  Clay,  Thaddeus  E.  Sanger,  M.D., 
George  Fan1,  Augustus  R.  Burt<m,  Oscar  C.  Hatch. 

1887-88.  William  J.  Bellows,  Prcnnloif  :  William  H.  Mitchell, 
Sref;/.  ;  Charles  F.  Eastman,  Tretm.  Bcv.  E.  C.  Ifol- 
nian.-  Charles  L.  Clay,  Bev.  Granville  C.  Waterman. 
P>enjamin  F.  Robinson,  Benjamin  F.  Page,  M.D.,  Oscar 
C.  llatch. 

1SS8-8'.).  William  H.  Mitchell.  President;  Will  1'.  Bu<-klcy.  Seef//.  ; 
('harles  F.  Fast  man.  Tri'ux.  Henrv  V.  Green,  ('harles 
TJ.  ('lay.  Bev.  Gianville  C.  Waterman.  Uenjamin  V . 
Bobinson,  l>enjamin  1^.  Page.  M.D.,  Frederick-  G. 
Chutter. 

1SS1I  '.HI.  William  II.  Mitchell,  Piwitlt'iit  :  AVill  P.  Buckley.1  Serfy.  : 
('harles  F.  Eastman,  Train.  Henry  F.  Green.  Charles 
L.  ('lav.  Rev.  Cranville  C.  Waterman.  .lames  P. 
•  lacksoii.1  IJenjamin  l'\  Page.  M.D.,  Frederick  G. 
Chut  t  ei1. 

l.s'.MMH.  William  H.  Mitchell.  PrtHtMeiit  :  William  II.  fallows. 
Si-i-ti/.;  Charles  V.  I'astnian.  Tn'im.  Henry  V.  (Ji'ecn, 
Charles  L.  Clay.  Rev.  Granville  C.  Waterman.  ('harle> 
A.  Farr.  Hen  jainin  F.  Page,  M.D..  Frederick  (J. 
<  'hutter. 

ISMI-UL'.  William  H.  Mitchell.  /'/•,•.-•/,/,.„/  :  William  11.  P.ellows, 
Si  '•/,/.  ;  Charh1^  !•'.  I^-i-inian.  '/Vc'/x.  Henrv  I'\  (Jreeii. 


Statistical  History.  G17 

Charles  L.  Clay,  Rev.  Granville  C.  Waterman,  Fred  H. 
English,  Benjamin  F.  Page,  M.I).,  Rev.  L.  D.  Cochrane. 

1892-93.  William  H.  Mitchell,  President;  William  H.  Bellows, 
Secty.  ;  Charles  F.  Eastman,  Treas.  Henry  F.  Green, 
Charles  L.  Clay,  Rev.  Melvin  J.  Allen,  Fred  H.  Eng- 
lish, Benjamin  F.  Page,  M.D.,  Rev.  L.  D.  Cochrane. 

1893-94.  William  H.  Mitchell,  President;  William  H.  Bellows, 
Secty.  ;  Charles  F.  Eastman,  Treas.  Henry  F.  Green, 
Charles  L.  Clay,  Rev.  Melvin  J.  Allen,  Fred  H.  Eng- 
lish, Benjamin  F.  Page,  M.D.,  William  M.  Silsby. 

1894-95.  William  H.  Mitchell,  President;  William  H.  Bellows, 
Secty.  ;  George  C.  Furber,  Treas.  Henry  F.  Green, 
Charles  L.  Clay,  Rev.  Melvin  J.  Allen,1  Fred  H.  Eng- 
lish, Benjamin  F.  Page,  M.D.,  Henry  Merrill. 

1895-96.  William  H.  Mitchell,  President;  William  H.  Bellows, 
Secty.  ;  George  C.  Furber,  Treas.  Charles  L.  Clay,2 
Rev.  Edgar  F.  Davis,8  Fred  H.  English,  Benjamin  F. 
Page,  M.D.,  Henry  Merrill,  Frederick  G.  Chutter. 

1896-97.  William  H.  Mitchell,  President;  William  H.  Bellows, 
Secty. ;  George  C.  Furber,  Treas.  Henry  F.  Green, 
Henry  Merrill,  Frederick  G.  Chutter,  Fred  H.  English, 
George  H.  Tilton,  James  W.  Remick. 

1897-98.  William  H.  Mitchell,  President;  William  H.  Bellows, 
Sect//.;  George  C.  Furber,  Treas.  Henry  Merrill, 
Henry  F.  Green,  Frederick  G.  Chutter,  Fred  H. 
English,  George  H.  Tilton,  James  W.  Remick. 

1898-99.  James  W.  Remick,  President;  George  H.  Tilton,  Sect;/.; 
George  C.  Furber,4  Treas.  Frederick  G.  Chutter, 
Henry  F.  Green,  Fred  II.  English,  Henry  Merrill, 
Millard  F.  Young,  Cortes  F.  Nutting.. 

1899-1900.  James  W.  Remick,  President;  George  H.  Tilton.  Sect;/. 
and  Ti-eas.  Frederick  G.  Chutter,  Fred  H.  English, 
Henry  Merrill,  Millard  F.  Young,  Cortes  F.  Nutting, 
Albert  S.  Batchellor,  George  W.  McGregor,  M.D. 

1900-01.  James  W.  Remick,  President  :  George  IT.  Tilton,  Sect;/,  and 
Treas.  Frederick  G.  Chutter,  Millard  F.  Young, 
Albert  S.  Batchellor,  Cortes  F.  Nutting.  Fred  II. 
English,  George  W.  McGregor,  Charles  F.  Eastman. 

1901-02.  James  W.  Remick,  President  :  George  II.  Tilton,  Secty.  and 
Treas.  Charles  F.  Davis,  Cortes  F.  Nutting,  Fred  II. 
English,  George  W.  McGregor,  Charles  F.  Eastman, 
Frederick  G.  Chutter,  Millard  F.  Young. 

1  Resigned ;  Rev.  Edgar  F.  Davis  appointed  to  fill  vacancy. 

-  Resigned  ;  James  W.  Remick  appointed  to  fill  vacancy. 

;!  Resigned;  George  II.  Tilton  appointed  to  (ill  vacancy. 

4  Resigned  ;  George  W.  McGregor  appointed  to  fill  vacancy. 


018  History  of  Littleton. 

P.IOL'-OS.  James  W.  llcmick,  I'lVititlrnt  :l  George  II.  Tilton,  Si-rfi/. 
end  .7'm/x.  George  W.  McGregor,  Fred  II.  English, 
Charles  F.  Davis,  Charles  F.  Eastman,  Frederick  G. 
Chutter,1  Millard  F.  Young,  Cortes  F.  Nutting.1 

l«)o;;_(>4.  George  W.  Mcllregor,  Pirs'uli'nt  ;  Richard  T.  Eastman, - 
Si'fti/.  ;  George  II.  Tilton,  Tro/s.  Millard  F.  Young, 
Robert  C.  Langford,  Albert  J.  Kichardson.  Charles  F. 
Davis,  Everett  C.  IIo\ve,  Andrew  W.  Bingham. 


TABLE    8. 
MEMBERS   OF  TOWX   SCHOOL   BOARD   OF  EDUCATION.3 

188(>.  Frank  C.  Albeo.  Milo  H.  Harris,  Warren  Mclntire. 

1SS7.  Milo  H.  Harris,  Warren  Mclntire,  Frank  C.  Albee. 

1XS8.  Franklin  If.  Glover,  Frank  C.  Albee,  Sherared  Clay. 

1889.  Frank  C.  Albee,  Slu-rared  Clay,  Franklin  II.  Glover. 

1S90.  Slicrared  Clay,   Frjuiklin  II.  Glover,  Frank  C.  Albce. 

IS'.tl.  Franklin  II.  Glover,    Frank  C.  Altn-e,  Leslie  F.  Bean. 

1SD2.  Frank  C.  Albee,   Leslie  F.  Bean.  George  L.  Flanders. 

1<S(.>.'>.  Leslie  F.  Bean.  George  L.  Flanders,  Madison  Iliggins. 

1894.  (Joorge  L.  Flanders,  Madison  Higgins,   Irvin  W.  Smith 

189.">.  Madison  Iliggins,   Irvin  \\'.  Smith.  George  E.  Walker. 

1X91).  Irvin  AV.  Smith.  George  1'L  Walker.   Marshall  C.  Dodge. 

1X97.  Irvin  W.  Smith,  George  K.  Walker,   Marshall  C.  Dodge. 

1898.  Marshall  C.  Dodge.    Kd\vard  II.  Wells,   MiloC.  Pollard. 

1899.  Mil..  C.  Pollard,  Olin  J.   Mooney,  Jacob  K.  Dunbar. 

1900.  Mil,  C.   Pollard.  Olin  J.  Mooney.  .Jacob  I\.  Dunbar. 

1901.  Frank  I.  Parker,  Olin  .1.   M...mey.  .Iamb  K.   Dunbar. 
1901'.  Olin-.J.  Mooney,    Frank  I.   Parker.  William  K.  P,ron>oii. 


J   Ht'si^ned,  lOD.'l,  and  C'lnirU's  II.  Thorpe  appointed  to  fill  vacancy. 
;;   Union  School  District  and  the  Town  School  District  were  united   by  act  of  the 
General  Court,  February  25,  1'jO.1)  (Session  Laws,  p.  '2o',t). 


Statistical  History. 


619 


TABLE   9. 
LITTLETON    HIGH   AND    GRADED   SCHOOLS    UNION   DISTRICT. 


Date. 

Principal. 

Preceptress. 

18C8 

Kev.  Charles  E.  Harrington,  D.D. 

Martha  E.  Furber 

1869 

Frank  J.  Burnliam,  LL.D. 

Harriet  D.  Meserve 

1870 

John  J.  Ladd,  A.M. 

" 

1871 

" 

" 

1872 

" 

" 

1873 

Frank  D.  Hutchins 

" 

1874 

Frank  P.  Moulton 

" 

1875 

" 

" 

1876 

it 

Clara  E.  Meserve 

1877 

Benjamin  F.  Robinson 

" 

1878 

" 

Caroline  C.  Ross 

1879 

Austin  H.  Kenerson 

" 

1880 

Harry  H.  Mclntire 

Martha  G.  Cofran 

1881 

(  Harrv  H.  Mclntire  1 
]  A.  G.  Miller1 

(  Elizabeth  Cushman 

1882 

Dana  1  .  Dame 

W.  F.  Gibson 

1880 

Isabel  M.  Parks 

1884 

" 

1885 

1 

1886  • 

• 

1887 

' 

1888 

• 

1889 

1890 

' 

1891 

1 

1892 

Charles  A.  Williams 

1 

1893 

" 

' 

1894 

Frank  B.  Pelton 

Flora  S.  Bean 

1895 

" 

Ella  M.  Cook 

1896 

. 

(  Mary  I.  Goodrich 

1897 

" 

'• 

1898 

" 

" 

1899 

« 

j  Susan  Crampton 

1900 

" 

E.  Dorcas  Shelton 

1901 

Edward  S.  Watson 

" 

1902 

" 

" 

1903 

Melville  C.  Smart 

Stella  M.  Osgood 

Resigned. 


2  Resigned  November,  1899. 


I.) 20  History  of  Littleton. 


TABLE   10. 

STl'DEXTS   FROM    LITTLETON   IX   COLLEGES   AXD 
PROFESSIONAL   SCHOOLS. 

DARTMOUTH.1 

Adams.  Almon  E.,  non-grad.  Dart.,  1902;   Columbia,  190o. 

Aldrich.  Ephraim  Fred.,  non-grad.  1900. 

Batchellor,  Albert  S..  grad.  1872. 

Batehellor,  Stillman.  class  of  1905. 

Bickfnrd,  Joseph  M.,  grad.  1855. 

Bingham,  George  II.,  grad.  1887. 

Bond.  Bernard  Q.,  grad.  1901. 

Bouncy,  Benjamin  W.,  grad.  1824. 

Brickett,  Harry,  grad.  1840. 

Buckley,  Will  P.,  grad.  1887. 

Bugbee,  B.  George.  Medical  College,  grad.  1872. 

Burns,  William,  Medical  College,  grad.  180(5. 

Charlton,  Edwin  Azro,  grad.  1854. 

Clay,  Paul  E,,  grad.  1897. 

Cuthvorth,  Frank  E.,  grad.  1901;   C.  E.  Thayer  School,  grad.  1902. 

Cnmntings.  Edward  J.,  class  of  1904. 

Dow,  Dexter  D.,  grad.  1889. 

Dudley,  Charles  II.,  non-grad.  1902 ;  Medical  School  student,  class  1905. 

Eastman,  Bichard  T.,  non-grad.  1903. 

Eaton,  Harry  M.,  grad.  1890. 

Fa rr,  Evarts  W..  non-grad.  18(5.'!. 

Fan-,  George,  entered  from  Amherst  as  Sophomore,  1859;   grad.   18*51'. 

Fa  IT,   Leslie  B.,  grad.  1902;   C.  E.  Thayer  School,  grad.  190.'>. 

Furber.  Charles  II.,  grad.  1902. 

Gile.   Hay  T..  grad.  1877;   Thayer  School,  grad.  1879. 

Ilan-imau,  Henry  D..  X.  II.  C/Ag.,  non-grad.  1892. 

Match,  Edward  J.,  grad.  188(5. 

Match.   Leslie  A.,  non-grad.  1898. 

Mnhlcii.  Charles  A.,  grad.  1895;   after  Freshman  year  from  Hudson. 

Il-.yt.  Archibald  E.,  class  of  1907. 

Jackson,  Andrew.-  grad.   190.'!. 

VSMII.  I  lurry  1'...  class  of  190(5. 

csoii.  Bnb.-rt.  p-rad.  1900. 


Statistical  History.  621 

Lescadre,  Henry,  entered  Medical  School  from  I^eene ;   registers  from 

Littleton,  1883;   grad.  1884. 
Melntire,  Donald  Cahoon,  class  of  1906. 
Mclntire,  Harry  Hibbard,  grad.  1879. 
Milliken,  Charles  D.,  grad.  1887. 
Moore,  James  A.,  N.  H.  C.  Ag.,  non-grad.  1882. 
Parker,  Ezra  B.,  grad.  I860. 
Parker,  Murray  N.,  class  of  1904. 
Powers,  Matthew,  non-grad.  1887. 
Rankin,  Jr.,  Andrew,  non-grad.  183-. 
Ranlett,  Harry  W.,  grad.  1887. 
Richardson,  William  I.,  grad.  1888. 
Roby,  Ephraim  C.,  non-grad.  1839. 
Roby,  Joseph  S.,  non-grad.  1833. 
Rowell,  Clinton,  non-grad.  1805. 
Smith,  Walter  H.,  non-grad.  1888. 

Walker,  George  E.,  X.  H.  C.  Ag.,  grad.  Tufts,  grad.  1888. 
Watson,  Irving  A.,  attended  lectures  Dart.   Med.  School,  1872;  grad. 

Univ.  Vt.  Med.  1871. 
Wilmot,  Ross,  class  of  1905. 

HAKVAKD. 

University. 

Harry  Moy  Hartshorn,  grad.  1888. 1 
Howard  Wright  Parker,  non-grad.  1906. 

Medical  School. 
Frank  Tifft  Moffett,  grad.  1870. 

Law  School. 

George  H.  Bingham,  grad.  1891. 
Robert  Jackson,  non-grad.  1904. 

AMIIERST. 
George  Farr,  non-grad.  class  of  1862. 

KIMBALL  UNION  ACADEMY. 

Nelson  Farr  Cobleigh,  grad.  1864. 

POMONA   COLLEGE,   CLAREMONT,  CALIFORNIA. 
Edward  R.  Milliken,  student,  class  1904. 

TRINITY  COLLEGE. 
Edward  Bruce  Goodrich,  grad.  1902. 

1  Native  of  this  town,  but  not  resident  here  while  in  college. 


Q-2-2  History  of  Littleton, 

WESLEY  AN  UNIVERSITY. 

Nelson  Ebenezer  Cobleigh,  grad.  1843. 
Joseph  Emerson  Robins,  grad.  1868. 

MIDDLEBURY  COLLEGE. 
Margaret  J.  Mathison,  non-grad.  class  1903. 

BOSTON  UNIVERSITY. 

College  of  LU>eral  Arts, 

Grace  A.  Barmun,  grad.  1902. 
Mabel  F.  Barnum,  grad.  1901. 
Martha  Cook  Blodgett,  grad.  1902. 
Clara  L.  Bus\vell,  grad.  1900. 
Alice  Francelia  Dodge,  in  college,  1906. 
Edith  O.  Edmands,  grad.  1902. 
Harold  Alden  Edson,  in  college,  1904. 

Department  <>f  Theology. 
Warren  Applebee,  non-grad.  class  of  187-. 

SfJtnol  of  Lair. 

Ephraiin  Fred  Aldrich,  non-grad.  1904. 
Paul  It.  Clay,  grad.  1900. 
Burns  1'.  Hodgman,  grad.  1898. 
Robert  Jackson,  student,  class  of  1904. 
Frank  P.  Tilton,  grad.  1903. 

WKLLESLEY  COLLEGE. 
Ida  Louise  Farr,  non-grad.  1885. 

TUFTS  COLLEGE. 
Walter  H.  Smith,  non-grad.  1887. 

STEVENS  INSTITUTE  OF  TECHNOLOGY. 

William  Edward  Blodgett,  non-grad.  1902. 
George  G.  Bunker,  grad.  1903. 

XOUTIIWKSTEKX    UNIVERSITY,     EvANSTON,     ILL. 

William  C.  Knapp,  grad.  ISHO. 

CJ.MillETT     I'.ri'.LICAL    INSTITUTE,    EvANSTON,    ILL. 

William  C.  Knapp.  non-grad.   18,")8. 

I'MILLII-S  EXETER  ACADEMY. 
Huurv  Burnham  Mead,  <n-ad.  1861. 


Statistical  History.  C23 

PHILLIPS  ANDOVER  ACADEMY. 
Andrew  Rankin,  Jr.,  probably  1822. 

NEW  HAMPTON  INSTITUTE. 
John  Gile,  Jr.,  grad.  class  of  1835. 

UNION  COLLEGE. 
John  Gile,  Jr.,  grad.  1871. 

MOUNT  HOLYOKE  COLLEGE. 

Flora  S.  Bean,  grad.  1878. 
Jane  E.  Charlton,  grad.  1846. 
Elizabeth  Cobleigh,  grad.  1867. 
Caroline  Farr,  non-grad.  1863. 
Elizabeth  K.  Kimball,  grad.  1847. 
Lucy  E.  Kimball,  non-grad.  1861. 
Caroline  Elizabeth  Page,  non-grad.  1897. 
Florence  Gertrude  Smart,  1906. 

SMITH  COLLEGE. 

Helen  E.  Bingham,  non-grad.  1894. 
Katherine  Bingham,  non-grad.  1895. 
Blanche  Bowman,  grad.  1891. 
Ada  F.  Dow,  grad.  1903. 
Ida  M.  Hurlbutt,  non-grad.  1901. 
Elizabeth  T.  Moffett,  non-grad.  1899. 
Clementine  B.  Porter,  grad.  1901. 

YALE. 
University. 
Henry  Burnham  Mead,  grad.  1866. 

Theological  Seminary. 

Henry  Burnham  Mead,  grad.  1869. 

Charles  Dunklee  Milliken,  non-grad.  class  of  1S9-. 

METHODIST  BIBLICAL  INSTITUTE,   TILTON,  X.  H. 
Charles  W.  Milieu,  grad.  class  of  1867. 

UNION  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY,   NEW  YORK  CITY. 

Nelson  Farr  Cobleigh,  grad.  1871. 

Joseph  E.  Robins,  student  at  large,  1871-72. 


u'24  History  of  Littleton. 

ANDOVER  THEOLOGICAL  SCHOOL. 
Henry  Burnham  Mead,  special  student,  1863  or  1864. 

DREW  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY. 
Harry  Howard  Witham,  grad.  class  of  1890. 

COLORADO  STATE  UNIVERSITY. 
Litw  Department. 

AYilliam  Ivan  Grecnleaf,  non-grad.  class  of  1897. 

MICHIGAN  UNIVERSITY. 

L<nv  Department. 
Joseph  L.  Glover,  grad.  1889. 

GEORGETOWN  UNIVERSITY,  WASHINGTON,   D.   C. 

Law  Department. 
Joseph  M.  Donovan,  grad.  1890. 

UNIVERSITY  OF  VERMONT. 

Academic  Department. 
Madison  A.  Parker,  grad.  1897. 

Jledical  Department. 

Benjamin  F.  Page,  grad.  1867. 
John  M.  Page,  grad.  1893. 
Irving  A.  Watson,  grad.  1871. 

NORFOLK  HOMOEOPATHIC  MEDICAL  COLLEGE. 
Edmund  Carleton,  Jr.,  grad.  1871. 

KADCLIKFE  COLLEGE,  CAMBRIDGE,   MASS. 
Special,   Courses. 

Clara  K.  \Vellman. 
Louise  G,  Wellman. 

P>OWDOI\   MEDICAL  SCHOOL. 
Winifred  O.  P.rown,1  grad.  190'J. 

MEDICAL   SCHOOL,    BALTIMORE,   ]Mn. 

Krne>t  M.  Ch'asliy,  grad.  class  of  1!KM). 

1    Dr.  lirown  \vas  ;il?u  studt-m  in  the  JJutl'alu  Mudical  College. 


Statistical  History.  625 

AMERICAN  SCHOOL  OF  OSTEOPATHY,  KIRKSVILLE,  Mo. 
Margaret  J.  Mathison,  class  of  1902. 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE  COLLEGE  OF  AGRICULTURE  AND  THE 
MECHANIC  ARTS. 

Blodgett,  Herbert  K,  non-grad.  1899. 
Harriman,  Henry  D.,  non-grad.  1892. 
Moore,  James  A.,  non-grad.  1882. 
Walker,  George  E.,  grad.  1888. 


TABLE   11. 

STUDENTS  FROM  LITTLETON  IN  NORMAL  SCHOOLS  AND 
HIGHER  SCHOOLS  OF  MUSIC,  ART,  AND  ORATORY. 

FRAMINGHAM. 
Clara  E.  Wellman,  student  class  of  1904. 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE  STATE  NORMAL  SCHOOL. 

Mary  E.  Stevens,  grad.  1872;  Mary  J.  Wiles,  noii-grad.  class  of  1889; 
Maud  C.  Blake,  grad.  1889;  Louise  C.  Wellman,  grad.  1893; 
Katherine  E.  Donovan,  grad.  1895;  Edna  A.  Allison,  grad.  1890; 
Christabel  Allen,  grad.  1902;  Daisy  L.  Bronson,  grad.  1902;  Bessie 
B.  Kinne,  grad.  1902;  Ellen  M.  Dodge,  grad.  1903. 

LOWELL  NORMAL  INSTITUTE. 

Alda  M.  Armstrong,  grad.  1903. 
Elizabeth  M.  Edson,  grad.  1903. 

BOSTON  COLLEGE  OF  ORATORY. 
Mary  Bugbee,  grad.  188G. 

HIGHER  ART   INSTITUTIONS. 
Normal  Art   School,   Huston. 
Ellen  I.  Sanger,  grad.  1884. 

Host  on  School  of  Dcsiyn. 

Grace  H.  Davis,  grad.  1899. 
VOL.  ii.  —  40 


026  History  of  Littleton. 

SCHOOLS  OF  Music,  BOSTON. 

Conservatory  of  J 

William  A.  Taylor,  1890. 
Anna  E.  Do\v,  non-grad.  1902. 
Ethel  Fuller  Goodenough,  1904. 
Alice  Calhoun,  1905. 

Faelton  School. 

Grace  Maria  Albee,  1900. 
IJertha  I'.atchellor,  190:i. 


TABLE   12. 

SEMINARIES,  ACADEMIES,  COLLEGE  PREPARATORY  SCHOOLS, 
AND  OTHER  SCHOOLS  OF  THE  SECONDARY  CLASS.  GRAD- 
UATES AND  STUDENTS  REGISTERED  AS  OF  LITTLETON 
OR  ACTUAL  RESIDENTS  OF  THE  TOWN. 

ST.  JOIIXSIJUKY,   YT.,  ACADEMY. 

Eleanor  M.  I5o\vinan,  1847.  Jennie  Eastman,  I860. 

Jane  L.  Carter,  1847.  Martha  Ambrose  Eastman,  I860. 

Ainasa  Clark,  1847.  Martha  Ann  Eastman,  I860. 

Lucy  M.  Kenney,  1847.  Stella  L.  Islington,  18(51. 

Marir.  L.  Moore*  1847.  Harry  H.  Mclntire,  1874. 

Juan  H.  Stevens,  1847.  Edward  E.   Hishop,  187(5. 

George  F.  Batchelder,  1818.  Emily  A.  Kilburn,  187(5-78. 

Caroline  A.  Braekett.  1818.  Cornelia  Marsh,  1877. 

Martha  Hale,  1818.  George  H.  I'.ingham,  188-'!. 

Lucy  M.  Kimball,  18-18.  Ivah   Dunklee,  1883. 

Marcus  S.  Kinnev,  1848.  Anna!'].  Mclntire,  188.'!. 

George  K.   I'addleford,  1818.  Ar.lella  A.  Mclntire,   1883. 

Sarah  Kinney,  1819.  Charles  1).  Milliken,  ISS.'J. 

Daniel  Wilkins,   1S.~)().  Isabel  S.  Jledington,  1884. 

William  Mason,  JS.~,L'.  Mary  E.  Frencli,  18S5. 

Harriet.   r.-ab..dy.   IS-"")!'.  Kli/.abeth  A.  Tuttle,    1885. 

Kll.-n  .M.  1'arker,  IS.",;;.  Ada  M.  Uusw.-ll,  1887. 

Jernsha  J'arkf-r.  185.",.  Marion  E.  Buswell,  1888. 

Sarah  A.  lawman,  1S5-1.  1'anl   K.  Clay,   IS1.)!'. 

Charles  K.  Strain,  1S.17.  Clara  L.  JJuswell,  1895. 
I  'hai'les  S.  Sticknev.   1858. 


Statistical  History.  627 

KIMBALL  UNION  ACADEMY,  MERIDEN. 

Alpha  K.  Burnham,  1825-26.  Stella  L.  Redington,  18G5-68. 

Jerusha  G.  Parker,  1856-57.  Elizabeth  Cobleigh,  1866-68. 

Charles  F.  Eastman,  1861-62.  John  F.  Tilton,  1866-68. 

Ezra  A.  Day,  1862-63.  Mary  F.  Redington,  1868. 

Nelson  F.  Cobleigh,  1862-64.  William  H.  Tilton,  1868. 

Charles  A.  Farr,  1864-65.  Frank  H.  Goin,  1868-71. 

GLENWOOD  LADIES  SEMINARY,  BRATTLEBOROUGH,  VT. 
Laura  B.  Eastman,  grad.  1865. 

QUINCY  MANSION  SCHOOL,  QUINCY,  MASS. 

Bertha  Batchellor,  grad.  1903. 
Marguerite  Hatch,  class  of  1904. 

BROOKLINE,  MASS.,  HIGH  SCHOOL. 
Clara  E.  Wellman,  grad.  1901. 

WEST  RANDOLPH,  VT.,  ACADEMY. 

Charles  F.  Eastman,  1855-56.  Frank  Thayer,  1855-56. 

Lucia  W.  Eastman,  1855-56.  Fannie  S.  Woolson,  1855-56. 

THKTFORD,  VT.,   ACADEMY. 

Edmund  Carleton,  Jr.,  1857.  Frank  Thayer,  1857. 

Mary  Carleton,  1857.  Henry  P.  Thayer,  1857. 

Sarah  Carleton,  1857.  Luella  Woolson,  1857. 

Charles  F.  Eastman,  1857.  Evarts  W.  Farr,  1857-58. 

Lucia  W.  Eastman,  1857.  Caroline  Farr,  1857-58. 

Frank  F.  Hodgman,  1857.  George  Farr,  1857-58. 

Edward  H.  Johnson,  1857.  John  Farr,  Jr.,  1857-58. 

William  A.  Morse,  1857.  Mary  E.  Farr,  1857-58. 

Ellen  J.  Russell,  1857.  Melissa  M.  Lovejoy,  1858. 

NEAVIH'RY,  VT.,   SEMINARY. 

Amanda  M.  Carter,  1834-35.  John  M.  Charlton,  1840. 

Edwin  Abbott,  18.35.  Horace  S.  Goss,  1840. 

Hugh  K.  Burt,  1835.  Jean  1'addleford,  1840. 

Charles  W.  Brackett,  1835-36.  Alfred  Rix,  1840. 

Enoch  M.  Pingree,  1836-37.  Gilman  Wheeler,  1840. 

Susan  II.  Ainsworth,  1837.  Melinda  Rankin,  1840-11. 

George  A.  Wheeler,  1837-39.  Klonu  W.  Rjinkin,  1S40-I2. 

William  Wheeler,  1837-40.  Mary  M.  Williams,  IS  10-42. 

Betsey  Farr,  1838.  I'hebe  Pad.lleford,   1840-43. 

Sarah  M.  Wheeler,  1839.  David  IVal.ody,  1841. 

Jane  E.  Charlton,  1840.  Elizabeth  O.  Peabody,  1841. 


0-28 


History  of  Littleton. 


Hannah  G.  Peabody,   18-11. 
]'ersis  ]).  Rankin,  1841-42. 
Adaline  Rouell.  1841   50. 
Susan  A.  Abbott.  1*42. 
John  W.  P.aleh.  1841'. 
Julia  Paddleford.  1842. 
,r.>1ni  Sargent.  1 842-43. 
Charles  Deuey,   1843. 
Levi  15.  Dodgo,  1843. 
George  Gile.  18-13. 
Silas  V.  Morse,  184.' 5. 
D.  G.   Peabody,  1843-47. 
Charles  Ha/eltine,  1844. 
Joseph  M.  Bicktord,  1814-50. 
Marietta  L.   Palmer,  184(1-41). 
Sarah   R.  Patch.  1847. 
.Heury  II.  II (.ward,  1847-50. 
Amasa  K.  Carter,  1849. 
Fllen  S.  Bishop.  1850. 
II.  A.  Bishop.  1850. 
Isaac  Calhoiiu.  .1.850. 
Sarah  M.  Morse.  1850. 
F.  T).   Smith.   1850. 
T.  \V.  Thompson,  1850. 
Jerusha  G.   Parker.  1850-52. 
L..rinda  Appl.-l.i-t-.  1851. 

(  Hive  (', l\vin.  1851-51*. 

JHIIH-S  ]•:.   Henry.  1851-52. 
.Jnlin  Henry,  1851-51'. 
Liu-y  M.  Kenney.  1851-52. 
Cynthia  S.  Xohle.    1851-52. 
Sarah   Keniiev,  1851'. 
Sarah.I.C'allioun.  1852-58. 
Juliette  A  Idrich.    1853. 
Maria  .M .  S.  Ahlrieh,  1853. 
Martha    Hale.  1S53. 
I'.lixa  -I.    Hall.    1 85:;. 
Fayette    Nnl,l«..    1 S53. 

<  'lintoii   llowell,  1853. 
Harriet    F.   Ko\vell,  1853. 

l''ra  nk    A.   Fa-t  man.   1  85  1. 
Sarah    M.    Fa-t  man,    1  ,S5  I. 
I.H/.dla    M.    I'nNvne.    1S5  I. 
.ln-«'pli    \.   Pcrkin-,   Is5|-5l!. 
Harriet   A.    Perkins.    1S51-57. 
Martha   A.   <  i 1\\  in,    1S55. 


Emily  E.  Kimball,  1855. 
Eliza  A.  ^[ooru,  1855. 
Ellen  L.  Perkins,  1855. 
Charles  C.  Moulton,  185G. 
Emma  Uisliop,  1857. 
8oj)liia  A.  l>o\vman,  1857. 
Itufus  Smitli,  1858. 
Frank  L.  Bean,  185(J. 
Warren  Apple-bee,  1861-63. 
Joseph  E.  Hob  ins,  18('>l-('>3. 
Charles  W.  Milieu,  1 8(11-0  I. 
-lames  AY.  Moore,  1861-64. 
A 1  mini  E.  llobins,  1802. 
Fatima  II.  llobins,  1802. 
Marcia  C.  Applehee,  18C)2-03. 
Martha  S.  Wallace,  18152-63. 
Julia  S.   Palmer,  1803. 
II.  J.  All.ee,  1804. 
Albert  S.  r.atehellor.  1864. 
George  K.  liugbee,  1864. 
Anna  Carlton,  1864. 
Sarah  E.  Crouch,  1864. 
Carlie  B.   Little.  1,S(J4. 
Olivia  A.  Little,  1864. 
George  W.  Barrett,   1801-65. 
Fllen  A.  Cleasl.y.  1864-65. 
Emeline  Merrill.  18< 54-65. 
John  A.  Weeks,  1S6MJ5. 
Mary  Parker.   180l-6<5. 
Julia  I'].  Palmer,    186-1-67. 
Arthur  F.  I)o\v,  18(55. 
Comfort    l("arr,  1  8(15. 
James  N.   McCoy,  1865. 
1'^lla  t^uimby,  1805. 
Asa  A.  Wells.  18(55. 
Katie   F.   Palmer,  18(55-08. 
George  F.   Abbott,  18(5(5. 
John   M.  At  wood,   18(5(5. 
Ella  Parker.   180(5. 
Fred   Parker,  186(5. 
Mary  J.    Paddleford.    lSi;r,-<;7, 
Eli/ahrth   M.  Atwood.  18(57. 
Anna  l!.   Bishop.   1807. 
Mary  "H.   I'nderu-ood.   18(57. 
Wiliuir  Fisk  liobins. 


Statistical  History.  629 

ST.  MARY'S  SCHOOL,  CONCORD. 

Florence  May  Aldrich. 
Katherine  Bingham. 

PHILLIPS    AXDOVER    ACADEMY. 

Ephraim  Fred  Aldrich.  Hi  chard  Taft  Eastman. 

XEW  HAMPTON  LITERARY  INSTITUTE. 

Lydia  H.  Gile,  1835.  Alvah  W.  Bean,  1879. 

George  S.  Woolson,  1850.  Charles  F.  Davis,  1880. 

Juliette  Plummer,  18(58.  Herbert  A.  Farr,  1881. 

John  1).  Farmer,  1871.  Wildie  Thayer,  1889. 

Alice  Parker,  1871.  Laura  M.  Bishop,  1890. 

Ellen  M.  Cobb,  1873.  Will  C.  Mori-ill,  1895. 

Harry  H.  Mclntire,  1874.  John  P.  Brown,  1901-1C02. 

Andrew  W.  Bingham,  1878.  Kate  Brown,  1903. 

Charles  F.  Chandler,  1878.  Ella  Shea,  1903. 

XEW  HAMPSHIRE  CONFERENCE  SEMINARY. 

Fannie  S.  Woolson,  1855-56.  Edwin  S.  Kenney,  1868. 

Charles  W.  Batchellor,  1858-59.  Lovina  Taylor,  1869. 

Warren  G.  Applebee,  1860-61.  Wilbur  F.  Robins,  1870. 

Robert  S.  Blanchard,  1866.  Joseph  W.  Presby,  1874. 

Elixabeth  Holmes,  1866.  Moses  W.  Hill,  1887. 

George  R.  Bugbee,  1866-67.  George  W.  Guy,  1889-90. 

Albert  S.  Batchellor,  1866-68.  Edith  0.  Edmunds,  189(5-98. 
Harvey  S.  Brackett,  1868. 

HOLDERNESS    SCHOOL    FOR    BOYS. 

Austin  Frye,  1888.  Walter  H.  Parker,  1889-90. 

George  D.' Stevens,  1888.  Henry  0.  Hatch,  1800-91. 

Leslie  A.  Hatch,  1889-90.  Charles  S.  Kerr,  1894-95. 

ACADEMIC  INSTITUTION,   SPRINGFIELD,   MASS. 
Ida  Taft  Eastman,  1904. 

MOODY  SCHOOL,  EAST  XORTHFIELD.  MASS. 
Gertrude  P.  Sawyer,  1904. 

GRADUATES  OF  LITTLETON  HIGH  SCHOOL. 
1877. 

Alice  T.  Allen,  Alice  H.  Good, .11.  Marion  L.  Gould,  Mary  B.  Wallace. 

Mabel  I.  Weeks,  Littleton. 
Minnie  E.  Presby,  Bethlehem. 
Alice  Warner,  EHie  Warner,  \Yhitelield. 


030  History  of  Littleton. 

1880. 
I'.elle  E.  Abbott,  Mary  Bugbee,  Hattie  E.  Burton,  Cora  W.  Frye,  Mabel 

E.  Hale,  Anna  E.  Mclutire,  Harvey  E.  Mclntire,  Carrie  L.  Tiltun, 

Littleton. 

Annie  H.  Whitmore,  Barrc,  Vt. 
Elixabeth  1*.  Hicks,  Lancaster. 

1883. 

Will.  V.  Buckley,  Julia  A.  Eaton,  Myra  G.  Eaton,  Dulcie  M.   Frye, 

Alice  Miner,  Matthew  Powers,  Harry  AYr.  Kanlett,  Littleton. 
Mabel  Caswell,  AYaterford,  Vt. 

1884. 

W.  A.  Allison,  Mary  French,  Herbert  E.  Kenney,  Edith  Phillips,  Wil- 
liam I.  Richardson,  Ellen  I.  Sanger,  Elizabeth  A.  Tuttle,  Nellie 
M.  Weeks,  Littleton. 

Clara  Jackman,  Woodstock. 

EfHe  M.  Bartlett,  P>etlilelieni. 

188r>. 
('lura  Blodgett,  John  Briggs,  Fred  M.  Bunker,  Littleton. 

188G. 
Blanche  E.  Bowman,  Alice  P.  Eastman,  Harry  M.  Eaton,  Belle  Gates, 

Alice    Xurse,    Eli/abeth   M.    Richardson,    Susan    Russell,    Jennie 

Simonds,    Littleton. 
Eugene  RoNvcll.  Boston,  Mass. 
Elixabeth  Bean.  Emma  Jesseman,  Bethlehem. 

1887. 

(ieorge  French,  Jennie  0.  Richardson,  Littleton. 

.Martha  Hutchins,  ]>ath. 

< 'arrie  Lane.   Lita  AVeston,  AVhiteiield. 

Jennie  Scales.  East  Concord. 

.1888. 

Alfred  \Y.  Cnburn,  Charles    I!.  Cop]-,   I'.ertha,  S.  Co\ven,  Grace   ]<].  Farr. 

Addie   M.   Jones.   Isabel    M.    Kanlett.    Fred   B.    Sawyer.   Arthur  C. 

Strain.   Littleton. 

(Jen.  1.  Anderson.  I'.rrtha  E.  Kowell.  Whitelield.  . 
Asa  C.   Fuller,   Bloomfield,   Vt. 

1889. 

Einina  (i-iriloii.  Abbio  Matthews,  Juta  I'>.  Stoddard,  Arthur  AVhittaker, 
Littl.-tnn. 


Statistical  History.  631 

1890. 

Katherine  Bingham,  Helen  M.  Farr,  Tabor  Gates,  Delia  S.  Phillips, 
Lillian  E.  Sanger,  Littleton. 

1891. 

Mary  N.   Baldwin,  Gertrude  T.  Farr,  Myra  L.  Farr,  William  S.  Ken- 
ney,  John  M.  Page,  Addie  M.  Quimby,  Jane  H.  Tuttle,  Littleton. 


D wight  H.  Parker,  Lyman. 
Harry  A.  Merrill,  Littleton. 


1892. 


1893. 


Eva  H.  Coburn,  Carrie  L.  Hodgman,  Lois  M.  Magoon,  Elizabeth  T. 
Moffett,  Fannie  S.  Palmer,  Lutie  F.  Sanderson,  Littleton. 

1894. 

Grace  0.  Applebee,  Flora  M.  Austin,  William  I.  Greenleaf,  Elizabeth 
C.  Page,  Lida  W.  Sanderson,  Ina  M.  Streeter,  Gara  G.  Thayer, 
Iva  B.  Whitney,  Emily  E.  Woodward,  Littleton. 

1895. 

Grace  M.  Albee,  Wilma  G.  Harris,  Burns  P.  Hodgman,  Josephine  M. 

Martineau,  Fred  E.  Stoddard,  Littleton. 
Lizzie  A.  Hardy,  Carroll. 
Charles  B.  Henry,  Lincoln. 
Ruby  E.  Mclntire,  Bethlehem. 
Harriet  M.  Taylor,  Dalton. 

1896. 

Mabel  F.  Barnum,  Martha  C.  Blodgett,  Winfred  0.  Brown,  Grace  II. 
Davis,  Alice  M.  Dodge,  Robert  Jackson,  Emma  J.  Minard,  Kath- 
erine I.  Sanger,  William  A.  Taylor,  Harry  H.  Witham,  Littleton. 

Henry  C.  Britton,  Dalton. 

1897. 

Grace  A.  Barnum,  Bernard  Q.  Bond,  Clara  A.  Byron,  Frank  E.  Cud- 
worth,  Clara  L.  Davis,  Bessie  M.  Edson,  Myrtie  B.  Greenleaf, 
Cathelina  V.  Hoffman,  Ida  M.  Hurlbutt,  Clementine  B.  Porter, 
Littleton. 

Ruby  E.  Mclntire,1  Bethlehem. 

1  Classical  course. 


632  Ilixtory  of  Littleton. 

1898. 

Almon  E.  Adams.  Christobcl  Allen,  Leslie  B.  Farr,  Charles  H.  Furber, 

Annie  1'.  Gilo.  Littleton. 
Annie  P.  Perkins,  Jackson. 
Bertha  A.  Emerson,  Dalton. 

1899. 

Karl  A.  Bartlett,  AVilliam  E.  Blodgett,  George  C.  Bunker,1  Amy 
Churchill.  Ada  F.  Dow,  Nellie  8.  Heald,  Archibald  K.  Hoyt> 
Andrew  Jackson.1  Bessie  B.  Kinno,  "\Vilmer  J.  Leach,  Margaret 
-I.  Mathison,  Eli/.abeth  L.  Porter,  Littleton. 

Kdward  ][.  Colby,   Whitefield. 

1900. 

Ahla  L.  Armstrong,  Florence  A.  Bartlett,  Alice  M.  Calhonn.  Edward 
»J.  Cummings,1  Anna  E.  Dow,  George  L.  Dow,  Leslie  F.  Eastman, 
Humid  A.  Edson.  Charles  II.  Elliott,  Ethel  B.  Harris,  Lilla  M. 
] Tastings.  Harry  B.  Jackson,1  Murray  X.  Parker,  Helen  L.  Potter, 
Bessie  Kanlet,  Xellie  M.  Strain,  Clara  E.  Wellman,1  Maude  E. 
Young.1  Littleton. 

Adeline  S.  Seymour,  Carroll. 

Katherine  Silsby,  Lnnenburg,  Vt. 

1901. 

Max  H.  Allen,  Helen  M.  Armstrong,  Stillman  Batchellor,  Florence  E. 

Uean,  Carrie  L.  Bellows,  Elsie  M.  Berry,  Ernest,  J .    Colby,  Alice 

F.  Dodge.  Mary    L.   Dow,  Florence  M.  Greenleaf,  Mary  C.   Hunt. 

Kathleen  C.  Knight,   Koy  A.   I'erry,    Isalx-l  E.  Shea,  Eunice   Steg- 

inan.  .Mabel  Stevens,  Boss  II.   \\'ilmot,  Littleton. 
I'lroiia  M.  Silsby,  Luneiiburg.  Vt. 
Hala  F.  Smith.  Sugar  Hill,  X.  H. 
Mli/al>eth  \'l.  Dodge,  Lunenbnrg,  Yt. 

1902. 

Annii-  L.  Brnoks,  Edwin  l-\  Brown,  Myrtie  P>.  Gale.  Ella  II.  Therrio, 
Littleton. 

1903. 

Ida  T.  Ma-tmaii.   Klixa  (i.  Henry.   Kichard   B.    Merrill,  Ida  M.  Mooiicy, 

I. aura   U.   .Murgmi,  Littleton. 
I>ora   L.  Craft.-.   I'.radford,   \'t. 
Thi'inas   I'.   K  in^.  ( 'ari'oll. 

1   Classical  course. 


Statistical  History.  633 

TABLE   13. 
PROVINCE   AND   STATE   MILITIA. 

THE  REGIMENT  WHICH  INCLUDED  THE  NORTHWESTERN  PART  OF 
GRAFTON  COUNTY:  FIELD,  STAFF,  AND  COMPANY  OFFICERS. 

The  Second  Graf  ton  or  Twelfth  Province  Regiment, 
1773,  1774,  1775. 

Colonel,  Hon.  John  Hurd,  Haverhill. 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  Asa  Porter,  Haverhill. 
Major,  William  Simpson,  Orford. 

The  Twelfth  State  (Revolutionary)  Regiment,  1775-1782. 

Colonel,  Israel  Morey,  Orford. 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  Charles  Johnston,  Haverhill. 
First  Major,  Jonathan  Child,  Orford. 
Second  Major,  Jonathan  Hale,  Haverhill. 

Same  Regiment,  1782-1784. 

Colonel,  Charles  Johnston,1  Haverhill. 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  Ebenezer  Green,  Lyme. 
First  Major,  Joshua  Howard,  Haverhill. 
Second  Major,  Edwards  Bucknam,  Lancaster. 

The  Twenty-fifth  Regiment,  1785-1792. 

Colonel,  Joseph  Whipple,  Dartmouth  (Jefferson). 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  Edwards  Bucknam,  Lancaster. 
First  Major,  John  Young,  Lisbon. 
Second  Major,  Asa  Bayley,  Landaff. 

The  Twenty-fourth  Regiment,  1793-1797. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Commandant,'1  Edwards  Bucknam,  Lancaster. 
Major,  First  Hiitfalion,  John  Young,  Lisbon. 
Major,  Second  Battalion,  Jabez  Parsons,  Colebrook. 

1  Colonel  Morey  was  removed  from  his  command  January  12.  1782,  on  account  of 
his  identification  with  the  so-called  Vermont  movement  in  the  Connecticut  Valley. 
At  the  same  time  Lieut. -Col.  Charles  Johnston  was  promoted  to  the  colonelcy. 

2  By  the  Militia  Act  of  December  28,  1792,  regimental  commanders  were  desig- 
nated as  Lieutenant-Colonel  Commandants.     Aids  to  the  Governor  of  the  State  bore 
the  same  rank  and  designation.     This  was  continued  until  the  Act  of  June  28,  1816, 
which  restored  a  Colonel,  one  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  one  Major  as  the  field  officers 
of  a  regiment. 


i>34 


History  of  Littleton. 
TABLE   13  (continued}. 


1798. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Commandant,  Edward  Bucknam,  Lancaster. 
Ma/or,  First  Battalion,  Amos  Wheeler,  Bethlehem. 
Major,  Second  Battalion,  Jabez  Parsons,  Colebrook. 

1799-1800. 

Licutenant-Coloml  Commandant,  Jabez  Parsons,  Colebrook. 
Major,  First  Battalion,  Amos  Wheeler,  Bethlehem. 
Major,  Second  Battalion,  Nathan  Barlow,  Stratford. 

1801-1803. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Commandant,  Nathan  Barlow,  Stratford. 
Major,  First  Battalion,  Richard  C.  Everett,  Lancaster. 
Major,  Second  Battalion,  Ilopestill  Jennison,  Lancaster. 

1801. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Commandant,  Richard  C.  Everett,  Lancaster. 

Major,  First  Battalion,  Stephen  Wilson,  Lancaster. 

Major,  Second  Battalion,  Jeremiah  Eames,  Jr.,  Stewartstown. 


Tit  irty-seco  u  <1  Regiment. l 


Date. 

Colonels. 

Lieutenant-Colonels. 

Majors. 

1805 

Benjamin  Kimball  (5) 

Aaron  Ilibbard  (1) 

Edward  Oakes  (8) 

1800 

" 

" 

" 

1807 

<i 

K 

" 

1808 

" 

" 

" 

1809 

Aaron  Ilibbard  (1) 

Buckminster  Drury  (8) 

James  Hutchins  (1) 

1810 

" 

" 

" 

1811 

" 

" 

" 

1812 

« 

" 

" 

1813 

" 

« 

« 

1814 

Moses  Young  (5) 

Everett  Kimball  (1) 

David  Rankin  (0) 

1815 

" 

" 

" 

1816 

" 

David  Rankin  (0) 

1817 

David  Rankin  (0) 

Moses  Webster  (4) 

Hiram  Young  (5) 

1818 

" 

" 

" 

1819 

" 

" 

" 

1  At  this  da  to  (1805)  Coos  County  was  organized  according  to  the  Act  of  180:; 
establishing  it,  and,  perhaps  with  reference  to  the  new  county  division,  several  towns 
ot  the  Twenty-fourth  Regiment  south  of  the  new  county  line  were  assigned  by  Act 
ot  December  l.'J,  1S01,  to  a  new  regiment,  to  be  numbered  the  thirty-second.  This 
regiment  was  the  one  to  which  the  Littleton  companies  were  attached  during  the 
continuance  of  the  sune  military  sy.-tem  ;  that  is.  from  1804,  a  period  of  about,  fifty 
years.  Towns  included  in  the  Thirty-second  Regiment,  for  the  sake  of  brevity,  are 
designated  by  numbers  ;  thus.  Bath  (1 ),  Bethlehem  ('J),  Lancaster  (3),  Landaff  (4), 
Lisbon  ("}),  Littleton  O'O,  Lyman  (7j,  Eranconia  (*). 


Statistical  History. 
TABLE   13  (continued}. 


635 


Date. 

Colonels. 

Lieutenant-Colonels. 

Majors. 

1820 

David  Rankin  (6) 

Daniel  Clark  (4) 

David  S.  Miles  (7) 

1821 

Daniel  Clark  (4) 

David  S.  Miles  (7) 

Job  Pingree  (0) 

1822 

" 

" 

Tillotson  Wheeler  (6) 

1823 

" 

" 

" 

1824 

Ephraim  Miner  (6) 

John  Aldrich  (5) 

Joel  Briggs  (6) 

1825 

" 

" 

" 

1826 

" 

" 

" 

1827 

Joel  Briggs  (6) 

Otis  Savage  (5) 

William  Svmonds  (5) 

1828 

" 

William  Symonds  (5) 

Alden  MofEett  (6) 

1829 

« 

" 

" 

1830 

it 

Alden  Moffett  (6) 

Benjamin  Paddleford  (7) 

1831 

u 

« 

" 

1832 

Alden  Moffett  (6) 

Benjamin  Paddleford  (7) 

James  II.  Johnson  (1) 

1833 

Benjamin  Paddleford  (7) 

James  PI.  Johnson  (1) 

Ezra  Hale  (2) 

1834 

" 

" 

" 

1835 

James  H.  Johnson  (1) 

David  Clement  (1) 

David  Nelson  (7) 

1836 

David  Clement  (1) 

John  Moulton  (7) 

David  P.  Sanborn  (6) 

1837 

John  Moulton  (7) 

Hiram  Noyes  (5) 

Samuel  F.  Gilman  (2) 

1838 

Samuel  F.  Oilman  (2) 

'Lorenzo  D.  McKean  (5) 

Lewis  B.  Deinick  (8) 

1839 

" 

Sullivan  G.  Hutchins  (1) 

Salmon  H.  Rowell  (G) 

1840 

Sullivan  G.  Hutchins(l) 

Salmon  H.  Rowell  (6) 

William  Mclntire  (5) 

1841 

" 

James  M.  Spooner  (7  ?) 

Orrin  Guernsey  (8) 

1842 

" 

u 

M 

1843 

Orrin  Guernsey  (8) 

Cyrus  Eastman  (6) 

Horace  Richardson  (5) 

1844 

Cyrus  Eastman  (6) 

Horace  Richardson  (5) 

Amos  C.  Noyes  (4) 

1845 

" 

" 

"                , 

1840 

a 

Amos  C.  Noyes  (4) 

Gilman  Wheeler  (6) 

1847 

" 

Gilman  Wheeler  (6) 

William  Palmer  (5) 

1848 

Asahel  Wheeler  (1) 

Otis  A.  Albee  (5) 

Asahel  W'heeler  (1) 

1848 

Edward  0.  Kenney  (2)  j 

Edward  O.  Kenney  (2) 
Thaddeus  B.  Wheeler  (G) 

1849 

Edward  ().  Kenney  (2) 

Thaddeus  B.  Wheeler  (6) 

Ira  M.  Clark  (4) 

1850 

" 

Ira  M.  Clark  (4) 

Isaac  B.  Hoit  (2). 

1851 

Ira  M.  Clark  (4) 

Isaac  B.  Hoit  (2) 

Asa  Hildreth  (5) 

Staff  Officers,  Thirty-second  Regiment. 


Adjutants. 


Quartermasters. 


Paymasters. 


Ephraim  Miner  (0) 


Rufus  Noyes  (4) 
Jonathan  W.  Whitney (1) 

James  II.  Johnson  (1) 


Amasa  Wheelock  (G) 


Anson  Wheeler  (G) 

James  T.  Woodbury  (2) 
Stephen  Underwood  (0) 
Hiram  Clough  (6) 


John  Rankin  (6) 
Rufus  Noyes  (4) 


Royal  Joslyn  (3) 
Jonathan  W.  Whitney(l) 
James  II.  Johnson  (1) 


Avery  S.  Briggs  (G) 


History  of  Littleton. 
TABLE    13   (continued}. 


Adjutant*. 


Quartermasters. 


Paymasters. 


1*31     James  11.  Johnson  (1) 

Humphrey  N.  Gibson  (5) 

1  John  Burt  (G) 
|  David  Clement  (1) 

1832     David  Clement  (7) 

Richard  W.  Peabody  (G) 

18:13 

Isaac  Paddleford  (7) 

1834 

Kbonezer  Carleton,  Jr.(l) 

" 

1835     Kbenezer  Carleton,  Jr.(l) 

Sullivan  G.  Hiitchins  (1) 

" 

183G     Isaac  Paddlerord  (7) 

Edward  D.  Holton  (5) 

18:17     K.I  ward  D.  Holton  (5) 

Charles  Chamberlain  (1) 

Lorenzo  Stevens  (1) 

1837     Sullivan  G.  H  urchins  (1) 

1838 

Kdward  ().  Kenney  (2) 

Albro  L.  Robinson  (2) 

1839  i  David  Clement  (7) 

John  French  (1) 

John  Sutherland  (1) 

1840 

1841 

.  to) 

1842 

Moodv  Chamberlain,  Jr. 

John  Hale  (G) 

1843  :  William  J.  Bellows  (G) 

Ebenezer  W.  Clark  (4) 

Dennis  Coolev  (5) 

1844     Otis  A.  Albee  (5) 

Levi  W.  Cobleigh  (5) 

II.  M.  Bailey  (G) 

1845 

184G 

1847  i 

1848     Ira  M.  Clark  (4) 

Ezra  C.  Knight  (5) 

William  R.  Stafford  (1) 

1849     Horace  llichardson  (5) 

Harry  Bingham  (G) 

Eli  D.  Sawyer  (G) 

1850 

1851 

1852     Martin  V.  B.  Blandin  (2) 

Horace  W.  Wilder  (2) 

1853    James  J.  Barrett  (2) 

1854  :. 

1855    Joseph  K.  Barrett  (2) 

Date.                        Surgeons. 

Surgeons'  Mates. 

Chaplains. 

1816 

David  Sutherland  (1) 

1817 

1818     William  Burns  (G) 

1819 

1*20 

1821 

1822 

1*23 

1*24    John  French  (1) 

William  Merrill  (4) 

1*25 

Moses  Ilibbard  (5) 

182G     Moses  Hibbard  (5) 

1827 

John  C.  Colby  (8) 

1*2*     John  C.  Colby  (8) 

Adams  Moore  (G) 

1829 

1830 

1*31 

1*32 

1*33     Samuel  Iloskins  (7) 

Simeon  D.  Colburn  (1) 

1834 

1*35 

1*3G     Simeon  D.  Colburn  (1) 

Ozias  Ravage  (5) 

1*37 

1*3'.  i     MOM-S  ]•'.  Morrison  (1) 

i*l'»     MOM-  Ilibbard  (5)               John  C.  Colby  (8) 

Statistical  History. 
TABLE   13  (continued). 


637 


Date. 

Surgeons. 

Surgeons'  Mates. 

Chaplains. 

1841 

1842 

John  W.  Barney  (3) 

Charles  M.  Tuttle  (6) 

1843 

" 

" 

Silas  Gaskill  (5) 

1844 

Charles  M.  Tuttle  (6) 

J.  Smith  Ross  (1) 

James  S.  Loveland  (6) 

1845 

Frederick  A.  Hewes  (6) 

1846 

1847 

1848 

George  W.  Cogswell  (4) 

1849 

J.  Smith  Ross  (1) 

Amasa  M.  Ward  (2) 

1850 

1851 

1852 

• 

Officers    of  the    Fifth  Company,  Thirty-second   Regiment,    Residents 

of  Littleton. 


Date. 

Captains. 

Lieutenants. 

Ensigns. 

1814 

Guy  Ely 

1815 

Job  Pingree 

Joel  Wilder,  Jr.1 

1810 

Job  Pingree 

1817 

" 

Simeon  Burt- 

1818 

" 

" 

Timothy  Xurse 

1819 

" 

" 

" 

1820 

" 

" 

" 

1821 

Isaac  Abbott 

Joseph  Pingree 

" 

1822 

" 

" 

Ira  Caswell 

1823 

" 

" 

" 

1824 

" 

" 

" 

1825 

Joseph  Pingree 

Ira  Caswell 

Asa  L.  Thomj)son  3 

1820 

" 

" 

Horace  Cusliman 

1827 

Ira  Caswell 

Horace  Cushman 

Samuel  A.  Fletcher 

Horace  Cushman 

Samuel  A.  Fletcher 

Phinehas  Allen 

1828 

" 

» 

" 

1829 

" 

" 

" 

1830 

" 

" 

" 

1831 

" 

" 

" 

1832 

Samuel  A.  Fletcher 

Phineas  Allen 

Isaac  K.  (  )sgood 

1833 

Phineas  Allen 

Barton  G.  Towne 

" 

1884 

Barton  G.  Towne 

Aaron  G.  Ames 

Luther  B.  Towne 

David  P.  Sanborn 

Elisha  Burnham 

1835 

" 

" 

1830  j  Elisha  Burnham 

Luther  B.  Towne 

Roby  C.  Towne 

1837  j 

" 

" 

183!)     Roby  C.  Towne 

Jotham  S.  Bemis 

John  I).  Clark 

1840  | 

" 

1841     Barnard  II.  Smith 

Isaac  E.  Abbott 

\  ifclwin  Abbott 

\  Horace  Campbell 

1842 

" 

" 

" 

1843 

Elbridge  Campbell 

" 

" 

1  Declined.  -  Resigned  April  24,  1820.  3  Declined  May  20,  182G. 


638 


History  of  Littleton. 
TABLE   13  (continued). 


1844 

Gilnian  Wheeler 

Emerson  R.  Albee  l 

Alfred  Bowman  l 

1845 

" 

Lafayette  Buck  2 

Thaddeus  B.  Wheeler 

184G 

" 

Thaddeus  B.  Wheeler 

1847 

Thaddeus  B.  Wheeler 

George  Gile 

Lafayette  Buck 

1848 

" 

" 

" 

1849 

George  Gile 

Alexander  Mclntire 

Benjamin  F.  Elliott 

1850 

" 

" 

" 

1851 

" 

" 

« 

1852 

Ellery  1).  Dunn 

" 

" 

1853 

Cephas  B.  Towne 

Abijah  Allen 

1  Removed  by  address,  June,  184G.         2  Removed  by  address,  June,  1845. 

Officers  of  the  Eleventh  Company,  Thirty-second  Regiment,  Resident* 

of  Littleton. 


Date. 

Captains. 

Lieutenants. 

Ensigns. 

1815 

Lyman  Hibbard 

John  II.  Fife  (?) 

Benj.  Kellogg 

1816 

" 

" 

' 

1817 

" 

" 

' 

1818 

Joel  Briggs 

Jonathan  Eastman,  Jr. 

' 

1819 

' 

1820 

' 

John  Smith 

1821 

" 

1822 

" 

182o 

" 

1824 

John  Smith 

Simeon  Eastman 

Walter  Bowman,  Jr. 

1825 

Alden  Moffett 

" 

" 

1820 

" 

" 

Samuel  S.  Miller 

1827 

" 

" 

" 

1828 

Simeon  Eastman 

Aniasa  Knapp 

" 

1829 

" 

" 

Truman  Bailej' 

18:)0 

" 

" 

" 

18U1 

Aniasa  Knapp 

John  Carter1 

Allen  Day 

1832 

)| 

Allen  Day 

Joshua  Mason 

18:!4 

Allen  Day 

Joshua  Mason 

Nathan  W.  Millen 

i8;;-j 

Joshua  Mason 

Nathan  W.  Millen 

Philander  Farr 

183U 

" 

" 

" 

18:J7 

Nathan  W.  Millen 

Salmon  II.  Rowell 

" 

18o8 

Salmon  II.  Rowell 

Philander  Farr 

Almon  Morse 

IbUU 

Almon  Morse,  Sept.  17 

Almon  Morse,  March  17 

Wasliington  II.  Carter 

Washington  II.  Carter 

David  A.  Rankin 

1810 

" 

" 

1*41 

« 

« 

1842 

Wasliington  II.  Carter 

18CJ 

Marshall  1).  Cobleigh 

Bradley  Dewev  - 

1844 

" 

" 

Levi  B.  Dodge 

1845 

" 

" 

" 

1840 

Curtis  L.  Albee  - 

•• 

Horace  S.  (Joss  - 

1847 

* 

" 

" 

1848 

Alden  Moffett  :! 

David  Moffett 

Madison  Sanborn 

Orison  W.  ChaiTee 

1   lii-UKjved  l>y  address,  18:]2.  -   Removed  by  address  June,  1818. 

:i   Removi.-il  by  addre.-s  October  19,  Ib48. 


Statistical  History. 
TABLE   13  (continued). 


639 


Officers  of  the  First  Company  Liyht  Infantry,  Thirty-second  Reyiment, 
Residents  of  Littleton. 


Date. 

Captains. 

Lieutenants. 

Ensigns. 

1829 

Roswell  Sartwell 

1839 

Cyrus  Eastman 

Elisha  Burnham 

1840 

« 

1841 

Elisha  Burnham 

1844 

Guy  C.  Rowell 

James  H.  Eames 

1845 

Edward  O.  Kenney  1 

James  J.  Barrett  * 

1848 

Oilman  K.  Morrison  1 

1850 

Oilman  K.  Morrison 

Benjamin  F.  Nurse 

1  Residents  of  Bethlehem,  afterwards  Littleton. 


Officers  of  the  Second  Company,  Light  Infantry,  Thirty-second 
Reyiment,  Residents  of  Littleton. 


Date. 

Captains. 

Lieutenants. 

Ensigns. 

1815 

Elihu  Sargent 

1816 

" 

1817 

Tillotson  Wheeler  1 

Michael  Fitzgerald  - 

1818 

1819 

1820 

John  Burt 

1821 

1822 

1823 

1  Promoted. 


2  Vacated  October  30,  1823. 


Officers  of  fke   Cavalry   Company,  Thirty-second  Reyiment,  Residents 

of  Littleton. 


Date. 

Captains. 

Lieu  tenants. 

Cornet. 

1828 

Aaron  Gile 

1829 

Aaron  Gile 

Silas  Morse 

1830 

" 

" 

1831 

Aaron  Gilo  l 

Silas  Morse  - 

Discharged  April  2,  1834. 


-  Removed  by  address,  1831. 


640 


History  of  Littleton. 

TABLE    13  (continued). 

Art  til  cry   Company,   Thirty-second  Regiment. 


Date,  i                      Captains. 

First  Lioutcuauts. 

Second  Lieutenant. 

1804 

18oG 

Charles  Kellogg 

Charles  Kellogg 

White  ^fountain  Ranyers,  or  First   Company  of  Riflemen. 
ORGANIZED  MAY  26,  1851. 

Captain,  Alexander  Mclntire,  Littleton. 
First  Lieutenant,  William  Durgin. 
Second  Lieutenant,  Benjamin  F.  Elliott. 


Xtuff  Officers  Fourth  Division  Xen>  Hampshire  Militia. 


Date.                   Aide-de-Camp. 

1845     Charles  W.  liand 
William  J.  Bellows 
1854     (ieorge  K.  Paddletbrd 

1 

Officers    of  tic    St\rt/t    l>riga<le,    Second    Dirixion,    Xcn<    Hampshire 

Militia. 


Date.  Brigadier-Generals. 


18-J1     David  Hankin 

18:;»; 

1H.-J!) 
1840 


llrignde  Inspectors. 


Joseph  L.  Gibb 


Brigade  Quartermasters. 


Aaron  Brackett 
Cephas  Hrackett 
Joseph  \j.  (iibb 


Dat«-.  Aide-dc-Cainp. 


II.  Karnes 


Judge  Advocates. 


Calvin  Ainsworth 


Statistical  History. 

TABLE   13  (continued). 

Officers    of   the   Eighth    Brigade,  Fourth   Division   New  Hampshire 

Militia. 


Date. 

Brigadier-Generals. 

Brigade  Inspectors. 

Brigade  Quartermasters. 

1849 
1850 
1851 

Edward  0.  Kenney 

Joseph  L.  Gibb 

William  J.  Bellows 
(i 

Date. 

Aide-de-Camp. 

1844 
1851 

William  J.  Bellows 
Harry  Bingham 

Officers  of  the   Moore   Rifles,    Company   F,    Third   Regiment, 

New  Hampshire  National   Guard. 

ORGANIZED  JUNE  27,  1884.1 


Date  of  Commission. 

Remarks. 

Captains. 
John  T.  Simpson 

June  27,  1884 

Hon.  disch.  Jan.  5,  1888 

first  Lieutenants. 

Benjamin  F.  Robinson 
Frank  C.  Williams 
Henry  E.  Bartlett 

June  27,  1884 
Nov.  23,  1885 
May  12,  1887 

Resigned  Nov.  19,  1885 
Resigned  Sept.  29,  18H> 
Hon.  disch.  Jan.  5,  1888 

Second  lieutenants. 

Charles  II.  Daniels 
Frank  C.  Williams 
Henry  E.  Bartlett 
Elliott  F.  Sawyer 

June  27,  1884 
July  20,  1885 
Nov.  23,  1885 
May  12,  1887 

Resigned  July  7,  1885 
Promoted 

Hon.  disch.  Jan.  5,  1888 

1  Company  disbanded,  1888. 

Military  Aids  to   Gorernors. 

Col.  Joseph  L.  Gibb  of  Carroll,  of  Governor  Martin's  Staff,  and  Col.  Charles  II. 
Greenleaf  of  Franconia,  of  Governor  Prescott's  staff',  were  regarded  in  a  measure 
as  Littleton  men,  although  occupied  largely  in  hotel  enterprises  at  other  places  of 
domicile.  Evarts  W.  Farr  was  tendered  a  staff  appointment  by  one  of  the  Governors, 
but  declined  it,  preferring  to  be  known  in  military  parlance  only  as  "The  Major." 


Date. 


1854 
1800 
1871 
1872 
1899 
1901 


Col.  Francis  A.  Eastman  to  Governor  Baker 
Col.  Henry  W.  Rowell  to  Governor  Goodwin 
Col.  Charles  A.  Sinclair  to  Governor  Weston 
Col.  Henry  L.  Tilton  to  Governor  S^traw 
Col.  Oscar  C.  Hatch  to  Governor  Rollins 
Gen.  William  J.  Beattie  to  Governor  Jordan 


VOL.  II. 41' 


C42  History  of  Littleton. 

TABLE   14. 
LITTLETON    I'lT.LIC   LIBRARY. 

BoAUI)    OF    TRUSTEES. 

ISS'J.  Edgar  Aldricl),  1'i-rm't/i'i/t  ;  James  W.  Kemick,  Si'dij.  •  Man- 
dauc  .V.  Parker,  7'/w/.\'.  William  J.  Bellows,  Eli/a  I. 
Bingham,  Albert  S.  Batchellor,  James  1J.  Jackson,  Anna 
L.  Brackett,  Frank  ('.  Albee. 

IS'.IO.  Edgar  Aldrich,  Prcsldt-nt  :  James  W.  Eemick,  Sfcty.  ;  Man- 
daiii1  A.  Parker,  Trt'toi.  James  II.  Jackson,  Oscar  C.  Hatch, 
Lucius  Waterman,  Eliza  1.  Bingliam,  Anna  L.  Brackett, 
Frank  C.  All.ee. 

1S(.»1.  Edgar  Aldrich,  Prescient  :  Charles  F.  Eastman,  Xrrft/.  •  Man- 
dane  A.  I'arker,  Ti'i'us.  Eli/a  I.  Bingliam,  Frank  C.  Albee. 
Lucius  Waterman,  Dana  V.  Dame,  Anna  L.  Brackett, 
James  H.  Jackson. 

1S<)±  Edgar  Aldrich,  Pi-i'xulait  :  Charles  F.  Eastman,  X>'cf>/.;  ^Ian- 
dam.'  A.  Parker,  Tri'iix.  James  Jv.  Jackson,  Eli/a  L  Bing- 
liam, Anna  L.  Brackett,  Lucius  Waterman,  Frank  C.  Albee. 
Miss  II.  F.  .Merrill.  Librarian. 

IStKj.  Edgar  Aldrich,  I'rrxii/r/tf  ;  James  1\.  Jackson,1  l"u-<>- I'res.  ; 
Charles  F.  Eastman,  Si'cf//.  :  .Mandane  A.  I'arker.  Trras. 
Anna  L.  Brackett.  George  Fan1,  Albert  S.  Batchellor,  Frank 
C.  Albee,  Stella  B.  Farr.  ALiss  ]I.  F.  .Merrill,  LUn-<ii'i<in. 

IS'.ll.  Fdgar  Aldrich,  L'rKxlilent ;  l^rederick  ( \ .  ('butter,  /'/VW/r.v.  .- 
( 'harles  F.  Eastman,  »SVc^//..-  Maiidaiie  A.  J'arker,  7Vc"x. 
Stella  B.  Farr,  Frank  C.  All.ee,  Anna  L.  Brackett,  Flixabeth 
K .  Ki'inich,  Charles  L.  Clav.  Miss  II.  V.  Merrill,  LUn'a r'n/n. 

lS(.».~i.  Edgar  Aldrich.  /'/v.svV// -nt  :  Fredei'ick  Ci.  Chutter.  Yii'e-l'rt'x.  ; 
Charles  ]•'.  J'lastman,  Srrti/,  :  Mandane  A.  I'arker,  Tri'/tx. 
Frank  C.  Albee.  Elizabeth  K.  LVmich,  Stella  B.  Farr.  Al- 
beit S.  Batchellor,  Delia  15.  Mitchell.  Miss  II.  F.  Merrill, 
Lilirii  ritiu. 

iS'.ir,.  Albert  S.  Batchellor,  President;  Frederick  (J.  Chutter,  }"><•<'- 
I'ri's.  :  (ieoi-ge  II..  Tilton,  Scrtt/.  :  jMandane  A.  Parker. 
7Vc«*.  Harry  W.  llanlett,  Delia  B.  Mitchell.  Stella  P.. 
I''arr.  I'".li/abeth  K.  Pemich,  Edgar  Aldrich.  Miss  II.  F. 

MelTll  1.    Litii'd  I'i"  II. 

1S'.)7.  Albert  S.  .Batchellor,  1'i'c.sitli-nt  ;  Frederick  ( i.  Chutter,  }"«.'<>- 
/V/-N.  ;  Gt-orge  II.  Tilton,  Sct-ty.  ;  Mandane  A.  J'arker. 
TiVKS.  Eli/.abelh  K.  Kemicli.  Harry  Wr.  Kanlett.  Delia  B. 
Mitchell.  Julia  A.  Eaton.  llerbert\K..  Ilallett.  3Jiss  II. 
!•'.  Merrill,  L'lln'ii i-'ni n . 


/Statistical  History.  643 

1898.  Albert  S.  Batchellor,  President;  Frederick  G.  Chutter,  TVco 

Pres.  ;  George  II.  Tilton,  Secty.  ;  Mandane  A.  Parker,1 
Treas.  Elizabeth  K.  Remich,  Julia  A.  Eaton,  Delia  B. 
Mitchell,  Harry  W.  Ranlett,  Frank  B.  Pelton.  Miss  H. 
F.  Merrill,  Librarian. 

1899.  Frederick   G.   Chutter,  President ;    Frank  B.   Pelton,  Secty.  ; 

Harry  W.  Kanlett,  Treat.  George  F.  Abbott,  George  H. 
Tilton,  Julia  A.  Eaton,  Mandane  A.  Parker,  Elizabeth  K. 
Remich,  Delia  B.  Mitchell.  Miss  H.F.Merrill,  Librarian. 

1900.  Frederick   G.    Chutter,   President;    Frank   B.  Pelton,    Secty.; 

Harry  V>T.  Ranlett,  Treas.  George  F.  Abbott,  George  H. 
Tilton,  Julia  A.  Eaton,  Mandane  A.  Parker,  Elizabeth  K. 
Kemich,  Delia  B.  Mitchell.  Miss  H.  F.  Merrill,  Librarian. 

1901.  Frederick  G.  Chutter,  President;  Harry  W.  Kanlett,  Secty.  ; 

Charles  F.  Eastman,  Twas.  Delia  B.  Mitchell,  George  II. 
Tilton,  Julia  A.  Eaton,  George  F.  Abbott,  Mandane  A. 
Parker,  Elizabeth  K.  Kemich.  Miss  H.  F.  Merrill, 
Librarian. 

1902.  Frederick  G.  Chutter,  President;    Harry  M.   Morse,    Sect//.; 

Charles  F.  Eastman,  Treas.  Mandane  A.  Parker,  Elizabeth 
K.  Remich,  Julia  A.  Eaton,  Albert  S.  Batchellor,  Delia  B. 
Mitchell,.  George  H.  Tilton.  Miss  H.  F.  Merrill,  Librarian. 
Frederick  G.  Chutter,  President ;  Harry  M.  Morse,  Secty.  : 
Charles  F.  Eastman,  Treas.  Julia  A.  Eaton,  Delia  B. 
Mitchell,  Elizabeth  K.  Remich,  Stella  B.  Farr,  Albert  8. 
Batchellor,  George  H.  Tilton.  Miss  H.  F.  Merrill, 
Librarian. 

1  Resigned  as  Treasurer,  April,  1898  ;  Harry  W.  Ranlett  appointed  to  fill  vacancy. 


644 


History  of  Littleton. 


TABLE   15. 

PRIVATE   CORPORATIONS   IN .  LITTLETON   INCORPORATED 
BY   ACT  OF   GENERAL   COURT. 


Name  of  Corporation. 

Capital  Stock. 

Single 
Shares. 

Date  of 
Incorporation. 

Ferry  over  the  Connecticut  River  .... 
Ferry  over  the  Connecticut  Kiver  .... 
Social  Library  
Littleton  Bridge    .          ........ 

§1,000 

Dec.    6,  1796 
Dec.  24,  1798 
June  12,  1801 
June  16,  1802 

Littleton  Turnpike    .                    

June  13,  1807 

Build  dam  and  erect  mills  on  the  Connecti- 
cut Kiver                 •     • 

June  18,  1814 

Proprietors  of  Glynville  Library     .... 
Fire  Kngine  Company   • 

500 

June  12,  1815 
July     5,  1830 

Littleton  Manufacturing  Company     .     .     . 
Littleton  Slate  Quarry       .     .          .... 

200,000 
50,000 

June  27,  1833 
Julv     2   1863 

Littleton  Woolen  Company    

200,000 

June  28   1865 

Ballon  Minin<r  Company    

June  28   1865 

\  nion  Uall  Company     

30,000 

$100 

July     3,  18Gb' 

White  Mountain   N.   II.   Railroad  and  the 
Coos  Railroad              

July     6  1867 

Burns  Lodge  No.  60,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.     .     . 
Littleton  Savings  Bank      .          

0,000 

July     3,  1807 
July     1   1868 

Littleton  Bridge  and  Ferry  Company     .     . 
Littleton  and  Franconia  Kailroad  Company 
Apthorp  Reservoir  Company     

10,000 
150,000 
80,000 

100 
100 

July     2,  18G8 
July  11,  1871 
July     3,  1879 

Pine  Hill  Hotel  Company                 .          .     . 

100,000 

100 

July  21,  1881 

Littleton  Bank                

100,000 

100 

Aug.    5,  1881 

Ammonoosuc  Electric  Light  Company   . 
Littleton   Water  and  Electric   Light  Corn- 
nan  V 

30,000 
45,000 

Aug.  16,  1881 
June  16,  1887 

Littleton  Street  Railway    .     .         .... 

10,000 

Sept.    8   1887 

Littleton  and  Franconia  Kailroad  Company, 
Charter  revived            

Aii",    7,  1887 

Littleton  Public  Library    
Littleton  and  Franconia  Kailroad  Company, 
amendment  of  Charter   

25,000 

Aug.    7,  1889 
July  18   1889 

Littleton,  Franconia  and  Bethlehem  Flectric 
Railway  Company     

100000 

100 

Feb.  24    1903 

Statistical  History. 


645 


TABLE   16. 
VOLUNTARY  CORPORATIONS  IN  LITTLETON. 


Name  of  Corporation. 

Capital  Stock. 

Single  Shares. 

Date  of 
I  ncorporation. 

New  Hampshire  Scythe  Company    .     . 
Mount  Washington  Hotel  Company 
Littleton  Woolen  Mills          .     .     .  "  .     . 

§20,000 
45,000 
30,000 

$100 
100 
100 

June  15,  1880 
May  6,  1872 
June  7  1873 

The  Gregory  Mining  Company     .     . 
Gardner  Mountain  Copper  Mining  Com- 
pany  . 

200,000 
6,000 

July  1,  1876 
Sept.  14  1877 

Eureka  Glove  Manufacturing  Company 
Union  Land  and  Lumber  Company  .     . 
Opera  Block  Company     

50,000 
250,000 
20,000 

100 
100 
100 

April  13,  1880 
Jan.  7,  1880 
June  7  1881 

Motive  Power  Company  ...          .     . 

6000 

Aug.  24,  1881 

Littleton  Electric  Company       .... 
Jumbo  Patent  Glove  Company     .     . 
Skinner  Cash  Transmitter  Company     . 
Granite  State  Glove  Company      .     . 
The   White    Mountain   Grange    Block 
Company     

10,000 
8,000 
200,000 
25,000 

1200 

100 
5 

April  21,  1882 
Feb.  19,  1883 
Nov.  0,  1884 
Jan.  21,  1884 

May  4,  1885 

The  Littleton  Driving  Park  Association 
Saranac  Glove  Company      

3,000 
125,000 

10 

May  2,  1887 
Dec.  20,  1889 

Kedington  Trout  Pond  Corporation  .     . 
White  Mountain  Co-operative  Creamery 
Association      . 

1,000 
1  000 

106.67 
5 

Nov.  28,  1890 
May  22  1890 

Union  Hall  Company  

10,000 

June  2,  1892 

Littleton  Shoe  Company       

32000 

100 

Aug.  27  1895 

Cohashauke  Club     .          

Feb.  12  1897 

French  Canadian  Union  .               . 

April  10  1895 

Glenwood  Cemetery  Corporation 
Journal  Publishing  Company  .... 
Littleton  Water  and  Light  Company     . 
White  Mountain  Fish  and  Game  League 
Littleton  Golf  Association    

10,000 
80,000 

June  11,  189G 
Nov.  17,  1898 
Jan.  23,  189(5 
Jan.  11,  1899 
July  5,  1901 

TABLE   17. 
DIRECTORS   OF   THE    LITTLETON   NATIONAL   RANK. 

1871.  John  Farr,  President ;  William  B.  Denison,   Casliii'r  :  Henry 

L.  Tilton,  Cyrus  Eastman,  George  B.  Redington,  George  A. 
Bingham,  Charles  W.  Kami,  Elea/er  B.  Parker. 

1872.  John  FSLTT,  President ;  William  B.  Denison,  Cosh  !<')•  ;  Henry 

L.  Tilton,  Cyrus  Eastman,  George  B.  Reclington,  George  A. 
Bingham,  Charles  W.  Rand,  Elea/er  1>.  Parker. 

1873.  John  Farr,    President  ;  Oscar    C.   Hatch,    Cuxhicr  :    Henry  L. 

Tilton,  Cyrus  Eastman,  George   B.  Redington,   George  A. 
Bingham,  Charles  W.  Rand,  Eleaxer  B.  Parker. 


646  History  of  Littleton. 

1871.      John  Farr,    Presnlp.iit  ;  Oscar  C.   Hatch,    Caftliicr  ;    Henry  L 

Tilton,  Cyrus  Eastman,  George  B.  Redington,   George  A. 

Bingham.  Charles  W.  Rand.  Elea/er  B.  Parker. 
187.").      John    Farr,    Pri'sldi'tif  :  Oscar  C.    Hatch,    C<isliirr  ;  Henry   L. 

Tilton.  Cyrus  Eastman.  George  B.  Redington,  George  A. 

Bingham,  Elea/er  B.  Parker,  Xelson  C.  Farr. 

1876.  John   Farr,    Prc>tiiJi'iit  ;  Oscar    C.    Hatch,  dtxkii'r  :  Henry   L. 

Tilton.  Cyrus  Eastman,  George  B.  Redington,  George  A. 
Bingham.  Elea/er  B.  Parker,  Xelson  C.  Farr. 

1877.  John    Farr.    r/-i'si<fntf  :  Oscar    C.   Hatch,    dixliii'i-  :   Henry    L. 

Tilton,  }  irp-Pi'ps.;  Cyrus  Eastman.  George  B.  Redington, 
George  A.  Bingham,  Elea/er  B.  Parker,  Xelson  C.  Farr. 

1878.  John    Farr,    Pri>sid.<'/>f  :   Oscar  C.    Hatch,    ditth !/>>•:    Henry  L. 

Tilton,  Vii'i'-Pri'x. :  Cyrus  Eastman,  George  P».  Redington, 
(ieorge  A.  Bingham,  Elea/er  B.  Parker.  Xelson  C.  Farr. 

1879.  John    Farr.    Pi-ps'til-nt  :  Oscar    C.   Hatch,    Casliifr  :    Henry  L. 

Tilton,  /  tri'-Pri-x.:  Cyrus  Eastman.  George  B.  Redington, 
(Jeorge  A.  Bingham.  Elea/er  B.  Parker,  Xelson  C.  Farr. 

1880.  John    Farr,    Pr<>fti(l<->it  :    Oscar  C.   Hatch,    dtxhi<>r  :    Henry  L. 

Tilton,  Vici'-Pi'Cft.:  Cyrus  Eastman,  George  B.  Redington, 
George  A.  Bingham.  Elea/er  B.  Parker.  Oscar  C.  Hatch. 

1SS1.  John  Farr,  President;  Oscar  C.  Hatch.  CaxJnpr  ;  Henry  L. 
Tilton,  rirt'-J'r*'*.:  Cyrus  Eastman.  George  B.  Redington, 
George  A.  Bingham.  Elea/er  B.  Parker,  Oscar  C.  Hatch. 

1882.  John  Farr.  Pivxitlpnt  ;  Oscar  C.  Hatch.  CrtsJiier  ;  Henry  L. 
Tilton.  77'v -/'/v.s-.;  Cyrus  Eastman.  George  B.  Redington. 
Oeorge  A.  Bingham,  Flea/er  B.  Parker,  Oscar  C.  Hatch. 

18S.">.  John  Farr,  J'rrtitfft'iif  ;  Oscar  C.  Hatch,  disliii'i' ;  Henry  L. 
Tilton,  ]'ii-i'-I',-i-K. :  Cvrus  Fastman.  George  B.  Redington, 
(ieorge  A.  Bingham,  Eleazer  B.  Parker.  Oscar  C.  Hatch. 

1881.  John     Farr,    I'r/'siJ<'//f  :  Oscar    C.   Hatch.    ( V/.v  ///<r:    Henry    L. 

Tilton.  Vici'-Pi'i'tt.;  Cvrus  Kastman.  (ieorge  P>.  Redington, 
(ieorge  A.  Bingham.  Elea/er  B.  Parker.  Oscar  C.  Hatch. 

188.~>.  John  Farr,  Prexitli'iit  :  Oscar  C.  Hatch,  dot ////•/•;  Henry  L. 
Tilton,  I'ii-i'-I'i-i'ft.;  Cyrus  Eastman,  George  B.  Redington, 
George  A.  Bingham,  Oscar  C.  Hatch.  Osmon  Parker. 

188(1.  John  Farr.  /'/vx/V/r;/^  ;  Oscar  < '.  Hatch,  ('nxlii-r:  Henry  I.. 
Tilton.  r/''v-/Vrx.  .•  Cvrus  Fastman.  (ieorge  B.  Redington. 
(ieorge  A.  Bingham,  Oscar  C.  Hatch.  Osnion  Parker. 

1SS7.  John  Fan-.  /'/vx/Vr/,/  ;  Oscar  ( '.  Hatch.  Casliii'i- :  Henry  L. 
Tilton,  /"/>•/•-/';•<  x.:  ('\-rns  l^astman.  (ieorge  B.  Redingtoii- 
Ge<.rge  A.  Bingham,  Oscar  C.  Hatch.  OSIIDII  Parker. 

18S8.  O^-.n-  C.  Hatch.  PrntitJeiif ;  Ruel  AV.  Po..r,  CnsJiici' :  Henry 
I..  Tilton.  l'!i-i'- /',;•*.  :  Cyi-us  I'.astman.  (ieorge  A.  Bing- 
ham. Charles  F.  Fast  man,  John  Farr.  Charles  II.  ( i  reel  i  leaf. 

ISS'.I.  C)scar  C.  Hatch.  /',vx,Vr///  :  Herhert  K.  Hallett.  <V/.x-//  //'/•  : 
Henr\  L.  Tilton.  / '/'•<•-/'/•,>•..•  ('vrus  Fastman,  (ieorge  A. 


Statistical  History.  047 

Bingham,  Charles  F.  Eastman,  John  Farr,  Charles  H. 
Green  leaf. 

1890.  Oscar    C.   Hatch,   President ;    Herbert    K.    Hallett,     Cashier  ; 

Cyrus  Eastman,  Vice-Pres.;  George  A.  Bingliam,  Charles 
F.  Eastman,  John  Farr,  Charles  H.  Greenleaf,  Ira  Parker. 

1891.  Oscar    C.    Hatch,    President;   Herbert    K.   Hallett,    CW/iVr  : 

Cyrus  Eastman,  Vice-Pres,;  George  A.  Bingham,  Charles 
F.  Eastman,  John  Farr,  Charles  H.  Greenleaf,  Ira  Parker. 

1892.  Oscar  C.  Hatch,  President;  Herbert  K.  Hallett,  Cn*Jtii-r  ;  Cyrus 

Eastman,  Vice-Pres.;  George  A.  Bingham,  Charles  F.  East- 
man, Charles  H.  Greenleaf,  Ira  Parker,  George  T.  Cruft. 

1893.  Oscar  C.  Hatch,  President;  Herbert  K.  Hallett,  Cashii-r:  Cyrus 

Eastman,  Vice-Pres.;  George  A.  Bingham,  Charles  F.  East- 
man, Charles  H.  Greenleaf,  Ira  Parker,  George  T.  Cruft. 

1894.  Oscar  C.  Hatch,  President;  Herbert  K.  Hallett,  Cashier:  Cyrus 

Eastman,  Vice-Pres.;  George  A.  Bingham,  Charles  F.  East- 
man, Charles  H.  Greenleaf,  Ira  Parker,  George  T.  Cruft. 

1895.  Oscar    C.    Hatch,    President;    Herbert    K.    Hallett,    Cus/t  !>•>•; 

George  T.  Cruft,  Vice-Pres.;  Charles  F.  Eastman,  Charles 
H.  Greenleaf,  Ira  Parker,  William  II.  Bellows,  James  H. 
Bailey. 

1896.  Oscar    C.   Hatch,    President;    Herbert    K.   Hallett,     C'tshin- ; 

George  T.  Cruft,    Vice-Pres.;  Charles  F.  Eastman,  Charles 
H.  Greenleaf,  Ira  Parker,  William  H.  Bellows,  James  H. 
Bailey. 

1897.  Oscar    C.   Hatch,  President;    Herbert  K.   Hallett,    Cashir,' ; 

George  T:  Cruft,  Vice-Pres.;  Charles  F.  Eastman,  Charles 
H.  Greenleaf,  Ira  Parker,  William  II.  Bellows,  James  H. 
Bailey. 

1898.  Oscar  C.  Hatch,  President;    Henry  E.  Kichardson,   Cashier: 

George  T.  Cruft,  Vice-Pres.;  Charles  F.  Eastman,  Charles 
H.  Greenleaf,  William  II.  Bellows,  James  H.  Bailey,  Henrv 
F.  Green. 

1899.  Oscar  C.   Hatch,   President;  Henry  E.   Richardson,    Cusliier  : 

George  T.  Cruft,    }'iri--Pres.;  Charles  F.  Eastman.  Charles 
H.  Greenleaf,  William  H.  Bellows,  James  H.  Bailey.  Henry 
F.  Green. 
1«)()0-04.      Same  as  1891). 


048 


History  of  Littleton. 


TABLE   18. 

SHOWING    THE    STATISTICAL    RECORD    OF   THE    LITTLETON 
NATIONAL   BANK. 


Year. 

Loans  and  Dis- 
counts. 

Aggregate  Re- 
sources. 

Capital  Stock. 

Surplus  anil 
Profit. 

Deposits. 

Dividends. 

1871 

$2,000.00 

881,822.79 

$75  482.59 

§9,426.00 

$0,245.94 

1872 

45,683.02 

178,096.58 

100,000.00 

1  ,622.00 

10,523.08 

1873 

122,275.77 

334,983.54 

150,000.00 

10,060.77 

37,900.01 

S4.500.00 

1874 

148,7(54.36 

330,030.05 

150,000.00 

10,341.00 

40,001.27 

10,500.00 

1875 

174,818.43 

301,429.25 

150,000.00 

15,430.31 

49,147.50 

12.000.00 

187G 

108,938.01 

309,120.47 

150,000.00 

21,202.05 

55,087.74 

1:1,500.00 

1877 

170,452.20 

358,744.46 

150,000.00 

22,843.07 

45,320.14 

12,000.00 

1878 

101,058.83 

357,455.70 

150,000  00 

25,600.55 

51,505.58 

12,000.00 

1870 

12f',,27l.).85 

383,333.31 

150,000.00 

20.744.41 

71,394.08 

12,000.00 

1880 

1(5(5,7(55.14 

394,582.68 

150,000.00 

30,450.07 

78,050.20 

10,500.00 

1881 

189,801.44 

421,530.08 

150,000.00 

34,513.29 

102,000.18 

12,000.00 

1882 

220,710.35 

400,349.29 

150,000.00 

47,204.40 

118,173.01 

12,000.00 

1883 

188,500.38 

438,347.75 

150,000.00 

40,988  07 

94,685.31 

12,000.00 

1884 

185,854.43 

414,827.17 

150,000  00 

52,177.79 

78,718.74 

12,000.00 

1885 

191,10215 

441,32517 

150,000.00 

52,831.10 

103,798.64 

12.000.00 

188(5 

204,041.45 

452,030.92 

150,00000 

57,128.21 

108,711.44 

12,000.00 

1887 

239,312.35 

433,230.42 

150,000.00 

57,703.25 

135,154.37 

12,000.00 

1888 

289,157.10 

444,355.00 

150,000.00 

7:5,873.80 

100,748.45 

12,000.00 

1889 

282,008.36 

431,530.04 

150,000.00 

70,202.85 

149,014.45 

13,500.00 

181)0 

312,820.89 

440.824.06 

150,000.00 

84,928.00 

161,035.07 

15,000.00 

1891 

310,1(57.02 

40(5,555.15 

150,000.00 

94,329.76 

182,213.00 

15,00000 

1802       264,801.83 

441.710.20 

150,000.00 

05,222.19 

160,553.58 

15,000.00 

IS'.i:1,       'J77.5tJO.38 

482,805.50 

150,000.00 

93,432.40 

172,500.32 

15,000.00 

1*04       'J33.iV2-J.17 

443,570  02 

150.000.00       02,152.40 

149,900.93  ;     15.000.00 

18'.)5       233,851.05 

503,912.5(5 

150.00n.00       OO.OS0.60 

215,390.39       45,000.00 

18".  16       201,071.50 

434,254  74 

150,000.00  !     47,025.30 

191.530.10  j     12.000.0(1 

1S07        178,070.20 

400,312.78 

150,000.00       52.710.19 

145.245.53         O.ooooo 

1S08        100,154.28 

450,700.01 

150,000.00 

55.406.21 

180,715.40 

12,000.00 

1899        180,916.65 

480,138.70 

150,00000     oo.s3i.84 

100,154.45        12,000.00 

1900        1*0,308.32 

495,510.18 

150,000,00      (52,882.93 

201,020.25 

12,750.00 

1901        214,557.05 

590,775.94 

150.00000      72,407.00 

285,039.44 

12,750.00 

1902       236,250.73 

576.  (553.  57 

150,000.00       76,00:!.  48 

283,423.94  ,      1  2.750.00 

l'.M)3       203,79091 

506,508.52 

150,000.00 

75.098.34 

191,557.09        12,750.00 

Statistical  History.  649 

* 

TABLE   19. 
TRUSTEES  OF  THE  LITTLETON  SAVINGS   BANK. 

1871.  John  Farr,  President;1  Cyrus  Eastman,  Vice-Pres.  ;  William 

B.  Denison,  Secty.  and  Treas. ;  George  B.  Kedington, 
George  A.  Bingham,  Eleazer  B.  Parker,  Henry  L.  Tilton, 
Charles  W.  Rand,  Joseph  L.  Whitaker,  Luther  T.  Dow, 
Nelson  C.  Farr. 

1872.  John  Farr,   President  ;    Cyrus   Eastman,  Vice-Pres.  ;  William 

B.  Denison,  Secty.  and  Treas.  ;  George  B.  Redington, 
George  A.  Bingham,  Eleazer  B.  Parker,  Henry  L.  Tilton, 
Charles  W.  Rand,  Joseph  L.  Whittaker,  Luther  T.  Dow, 
Nelson  C.  Farr. 

1873.  John  Farr,  President ;  Cyrus  Eastman,    Vice-Pres.  ;  Oscar  C. 

Hatch,  Secty.  and  Treas.  ;  George  B.  Redington,  George 
A.  Bingham,  Eleazer  B.  Parker,  Henry  L.  Tilton,  Charles 
"W.  Rand,  Joseph  L.  Whittaker,  Luther  T.  Dow,  Nelson  C. 
Farr. 

1874.  John  Farr,  President;  Cyrus  Eastman,   Vice-Pres.  ;   Oscar  C. 

Hatch,  Sect//,  and  Treas.  ;  George  B.  Redington,   George 

A.  Bingham,  Eleazer  B.  Parker,  Henry  L.  Tilton,  Charles 
W.  Rand,  Joseph  L.  Whittaker,   Luther  T.  Dow,  Otis  G. 
Hale,  Nelson  C.  Farr. 

1875.  John  Farr,  President ;  Cyrus  Eastman,  Vice-Pres.  ;    Oscar  C. 

Hatch,  Secty.  and  Treas.  ;  George  B.   Redington,  Eleazer 

B.  Parker,  Henry  L.  Tilton,  Joseph  L.  Whittaker,  Luther 
T.  Dow,  Nelson  C.  Farr,  Otis  G.  Hale,  Oscar  C.  Hatch. 

187(5.  John  Farr,  President;  Cyrus  Eastman,  Vice-Pres.;  Oscar  C. 
Hatch,  Serf  if.  and  Trees.  ;  George  B.  Redington,  Eleazer 
B.  Parker,  Henry  L.  Tilton,  Joseph  L.  Whittaker,  Luther 
T.  Dow,  Nelson  C.  Farr,  Otis  G.  Hale,  Oscar  C.  Hatch. 

1877.  John   Farr,  President  :  Cyrus  Eastman,    Vire-Pres.  :   Oscar  C. 

Hatch,  St'.ctif.  and  Trcns.  ;  George  B.  Redington,  Eleazer 
B.  Parker,  Henry  L.  Tilton,  Luther  T.  Dow,  Nelson  C. 
Farr.  Otis  G.  Hale,  Oscar  C.  Hatch,  Hartwell  H.  South- 
worth. 

1878.  John   Farr,  President  :  Cyrus  Eastman,    Vire-Pres.  '   Oscar  C. 

Hatch,  Sect;/,  and  Trent*.  ;  George  B.  Redington,  Eleazer 
B.  Parker,  Henry  L.  Tilton,  Nelson  C.  Farr,  George  A. 
Bingham,  Otis  G.  Hale,  Oscar  C.  Hatch,  Hartwell  H. 
Southworth. 

1879.  John   Farr,    Pn'sldi'iit  :  Cvrus   Eastman,    [7'v-7V>'s.  :  Oscar  C. 

Hatch,  Si-rty.   a ud  Trent*.  ;  George  B.  Redington,    Eleazer 

1  The  President,  Vice-President,  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Directors  c.r  nfljcio. 


050  History  of  Littleton. 

B.  Parker,  Henry  L.  Tilton,  Nelson  G.  Fan1,  George  A. 
Bingham,  Otis  G.  Hale,  Ilartwell  II.  Southworth. 

1880.  George   A.  Bingham.    President:    Cyrus    Eastman,   I'ifc-Pres.  ; 

Oscar  C.  Hatch,  Si'cf;/.  and  Trent.  :  John  Fari«,  Kleazer  B. 
Parker.  Henry  L.  Tilton,  George  15.  Redington,  Nelson  C. 
Farr.  Otis  G.  Hale.  Ilartwell  II.  Southworth. 

1881.  George  A.  Bingham,  President  :  Henry  L.  Tilton,    I'in'-Pri's.  ; 

Oscar  C.  Hatch.  Seett/.  <tnd  Trent.  ;  John  Farr,  Eleaxer  15. 
Parker,  George  P>.  Redington,  Nelson  C.  Farr,  Otis  G. 
Hale,  Ilartwell  II.  Soutlnvorth.  Augustus  A.  Woolson. 

1882.  George  A.   Bingham,  J^residcnt  :  Henry  L.  Tilton,   Vicc-Pres.  ; 

Oscar  C.  Hatch,  Sect;/,  and  Trens.  ;  Jolin    Farr,  Elea/er  P>. 

Parker,  George  B.  Redington,  Nelson  C.  Farr,  Otis  G.  Hale, 

Hart  well  II.  Southworth,  Augustus  A.  Woolson. 
188.°>.      George  A.  Bingham,  Pi-c^iilcnt  :    Henry  L.  Tilton.    }"«•<'-'!' rex.  ; 

Oscar  ( '.  Hatch,  Sfrti/.  <n«l  Trrux.  :   John  Fan1,    Elea/er    1">. 

Parker,    George    P>.    Redington,    Nelson    C.   Farr,    Otis    (i. 

Hale,  Hartwell  II.  Southworth,  Augustus  A.  AVoolson. 
1884.      George   A.  liingham,  Prcxi<I<-tit  :   Henry  L.  Tilton.    I'ii-e-I-'n'x.  : 

Oscar  C.  Hatch,  Srcft/.  and  Trent.  ;  John  Farr,  Elea/er   P>. 

Parker,  (ieorge  P>.  lledington,  Nelson  0.  Farr.  Hart  well  II. 

Southworth,  Augustus  A.  Woolson,   Charles  !•'.  Eastman. 
188i5.     George  A.  Bingham,  President  :   Henry  L.  Tilton,    /  ici'-Prex.  ; 

Oscar  C.   Hatch,   SeHi/.  anil  jTm/x.  ;  John  Farr,  (ieorge    ]>. 

lu'dington.   Ilartwell    II.  Southwell,  Augustus    A.  Woolson, 

Charles  F.  Eastman,  Ira  Parker,  Osmon  Parker. 
1880.      George  A.  Bingham.  I'reslih'iit  :   Ilenrv  L.  Tilton,    /  /'v-/'/vx.  ; 

Oscar  C.  Hatch.   S<><-1  ij.  n ml   Trent.:  John    Farr.  George   P>. 

Kedington.  Ilartwell  II.  Southworth,  Augustus  A.  Woolson. 

Charles  F.  Eastman,  Ira  Parker.  Osmon  Parker. 

1887.  George    A.  Bingham,  I'retidfi/t  :   Henry  L.  Tilton.    /  ire-Pres.  : 

Oscar  C.  Hatch,  S<'<-t>/.  <md  Tn-nt.  :  John  l"arr,  (ieorge  B. 
Itcdington,  Ilartwell  II.  Southworth.  Augustus  A.  Woolson. 
Charles  F.  Fastman.  Ira  Parker,  (  >smon  Parker. 

1888.  George  A.  liingham,    1'resitli'iif  :    Henry  L.  Tilton.    J  Y''<,-/Vrx.  .• 

Oscar  C1.  Hatch.  ,SVv///.  //////  7'/v/x.  ;  John  Farr.  George  P>. 
iJeclington.  Ilartwell  II.  Southworth.  Augustus  A.  Woolson, 
Charles  F.  Eastman,  Ira  Parker.  Osmon  Parker. 

188!).  George  A.  Bingham.  President:  Henry  L.  Tilton,  (7'r-P/rx.  : 
Oscar  C.  Hatch,  /vv///.  <i,nl  Treat*.;  .John  Farr,  Ilartwell 
II.  Southworth,  Augustus  A.  Woolson,  Charles  F.  Eastman, 
Ira  Parker,  Osmoii  Parker.  George  Farr. 

George  A.  Bingham.  Prevalent  :  Charles  F.  Eastman,  ("/•/•- 
Prt-s.  ;  Oscar  C.  Hatch.  ,SVr/_y.  m/d  Trent.  :  John  l-'arr. 
Ilartwell  II.  .Soutlnvorth,  Ira  Parker,  Osnion  Parker.  Ge-orge 
Farr.  (ieor-^e  T.'Cruft.  John  L.  I-'oster. 


Statistical  History.  651 

1891.  George  A.   Bingham,   President;    Charles  F.    Eastman,    Vice- 

Pres.  :  Oscar  C.  Hatch,  Sect)/,  and  Treas. ;  John  Farr, 
Hartwell  II.  South  worth,  Ira  Parker,  Osmon  Parker,  George 
Farr,  George  T.  Cruft,  Seth  F.  Hoskins. 

1892.  George    A.  Bingham,    President ;    Charles  F.  Eastman,  Vice- 

Pres.  ;  Oscar  C.  Hatch,  Secty.  and  Treas.  •  Hartwell  H. 
Southworth,  Tra  Parker,  Osmon.  Parker,  George  T.  Cruft, 
George  Farr,  Seth  F.  Hoskins,  William  H.  Bellows. 

1893.  George    A.  Bingham,    President ;    Charles  F.  Eastman,   Vice- 

Pres.  ;  Oscar  C.  Hatch,  Secty.  and  Treas.  ;  Hartwell  H. 
Southworth,  Ira  Parker,  Osmon  Parker,  George  T.  Cruft, 
George  Farr,  Seth  F.  Hoskins,  William  H.  Bellows. 

1894.  George    A.  Bingham,    President ;    Charles  F.   Eastman,  Vice- 

Pres.  ;  Oscar  C.  Hatch,  Secty.  and  Treas.;  Hartwell  H. 
Southworth,  Ira  Parker,  Osmon  Parker,  George  T.  Cruft, 
George  Farr,  Seth  F.  Hoskins,  William  II.  Bellows. 

1895.  Charles  F.  Eastman,  President;  Ira  Parker,  Vice-Pres.  ;  Oscai 

C.  Hatch,  Secty.  and  Treas. ;  George  T.  Cruft,  William  H 
Bellows,  Henry  F.  Green,  James  H.  Bailey. 

1896.  Charles  F.  Eastman,  President ;  Ira  Parker,    Vice-Pres.;  Oscar 

C.  Hatch,  Secty.  and  Treas.  ;  George  T.  Cruft,  William  H. 
Bellows,  Henry  F.  Green,  James  H.  Bailey. 

1897.  Charles  F.  Eastman,  President  ;  Ira  Parker,   Vice-Pres. ;  Oscar 

C.  Hatch,  Sect//,  and  Treas.  ;  George  T.  Cruft,  William  H. 
Bellows,  Henry  F.  Green,  James  H.  Bailey. 

1898.  Charles  F.  Eastman,  President;  Oscar  C.   Hatch,  Vice-Pres.: 

Oscar  C.  Hatch,  Treas.  ;  George  T.  Cruft,  Frank  P.  Bond, 
Henry  F.  Green,  James  H.  Bailey,  William  H.  Bellows. 

1899.  Charles  F.  Eastman,  President  :  Oscar  C.  Hatch,  Vice-Pres.  and 

Treas.  ;    William   H.   Bellows,    Sect//.  :    George    T.    Cruft, 
James  II.  Bailey,  Henry  F.  Green,  Frank  P.  Bond. 
1900-04.  Same  as  1899. 


652 


History  of  Littleton. 


TABLE    20. 

SHOWING    THE    STATISTICAL    RECORD    OF    THE    LITTLETON 

SAVINGS   BANK. 


Year. 

ASSETS. 

LIABILITIES. 

Market  Value. 

Value  on  Books. 

Due  Depositors. 

Guaranty 
Fund. 

Surplus. 

1872 
1873 
1874 

1875 
187(5 
1877 
1878 
1879 
1880 
1881 
1882 
1883 
1884 
1885 
1886 
1887 
1888 
1889 
1890 
1891 
1892 
1893 
1894 
1895 
18'JG 
1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
190-2 
1903 

§21,061.47 
78,598.83 
158,907.69 
224,819.65 
250,497.74 
283,435.85 
318,555.59 
260,022.64 
311.294.96 
437,813.55 
562,029.03 
644,179.11 
685,747.93 
702,879.04 
731,667.19 
775,7(14.70 
810,972.18 
891,658.74 
1,020,369.54 
1,094,239.61 
1,157,267.48 
1,261,341.46 
1,266,277.39 
1,184.143.15 
1,146,279.47 
1,144,150.07 
1,137,798.64 
1,176,367.18 
1,269,708.60 
1,380.074.21 
1,422,458.46 
1,526,403.21 

$20,259.67 
75,883.2(5 
154,2(50.85 
218,351.93 
248,299.46 
279,348.12 
311,745.52 
255,8(54.74 
303,2:58.95 
428,624.02 
549,305.62 
623,285.73 
658,793.63 
666,709.86 
693,149.70 
728,737.90 
761.922.07 
832,289.56 
936,505.37 
995.816.69 
1,055,956.97 
1,1(56,967.15 
1,172,955.89 
1,083,420.63 
1,052,668.95 
1,050,857.58 
1,044,969.96 
1,083,575.99 
1,162,395.65 
1,267,329.61* 
1,299,801.96 
1,385,915.90 

"  6250 
250 
2,100 
2,100 
3,800 
4,600 
6,100 
8,000 
10,000 
13,000 
20,000 
22,000 
25,000 
29,000 
35,000 
40,000 
50,000 
55,000 
56,700 
56,700 
56,700 
5(5,700 
56,700 
56,700 
56,700 
5(5,700 
64,000 
70,000 
75,000 

8801.80 
2,715.57 
4,646.84 
(5,717.72 
1,948.28 
1,987.73 
4,710.07 
357.90 
3,456.01 
3,088.93 
4,723.41 
10,893.38 
13,954.30 
16,169.18 
16,517.49 
22,026.80 
20,050.11 
24,369.18 
43,864.17 
48,422.92 
46,310.51 
57,674.31 
50,621.50 
14,022.52 
5(5,910.52 
5tt.592.49 
•56,149.68 
5(5,091.19 
50.612.95 
48,744.61 



81,038,712.87 
1,115,912.94 
1,185,209-31 
1,293,515,29 
1,  -281,831.  72 
1,209,441.48 
1,173,350.97 
1,168,660.07 
1,167,311.64 
1,184,092.18 
1,310,948.60 
1,434.397.21 
1,473,803.40 
1,572,728.24 

i>2,6;>i>.oO 
65,487.34 

Statistical  History. 


653 


TABLE   21. 
OFFICERS  OF  THE  LITTLETON  DRIVING  PARK  ASSOCIATION. 


President. 

Clerk. 

Secretary  and  Treasurer. 

1887 

Edgar  Aldrich 

William  H.  Bellows 

Oscar  C.  Hatch 

1888 

Benjamin  H.  Corning 

" 

Millard  F.  Young 

1889 

William  H.  Mitchell 

George  E.  Lovejoy 

Andrew  W.  Bingham 

1890 

William  A.  Richardson 

Marshall  A.  Eaton 

" 

1891 

" 

Millard  F.  Young 

" 

1892 

Benjamin  H.  Corning 

" 

" 

1893 

" 

" 

" 

1894 

" 

Luther  D.  Hyde 

Fred.  A.  Robinson 

1895 

Frank  C.  Albee 

Millard  F.  Young 

Fred  H.  English 

1896 

Daniel  C.  Remich 

" 

" 

1897 

Fred  H.  English 

" 

Frank  M.  Richardson 

1898 

" 

" 

Harry  M.  Morse 

1899 

Frank  P.  Bond 

Andrew  W.  Bingham 

Fred  H.  English 

1900 

James  II.  Bailey 

Harry  M.  Morse 

" 

1901 

" 

" 

Harry  M.  Morse 

1902 

" 

" 

Fred  H.  English 

1903 

James  A.  Moore 

TABLE   22. 

OFFICERS  OF   THE  WHITE  MOUNTAIN"  CO-OPERATIVE 
CREAMERY   ASSOCIATION. 

ORGANIZED  APRIL,  1890. 


Date. 

President. 

Secretary. 

Treasurer. 

1890 

Isaac  Calhoun 

Leslie  F.  Bean 

Arthur  F.  Dow 

1891 

" 

" 

" 

1892 

« 

« 

" 

1893 

Charles  W.  Bedell 

" 

" 

1894 

" 

Daniel  F.  Johnson 

1895 

" 

John  B.  Merrill 

1890 

" 

Hartwell  11.  Southworth 

1897 

" 

Warren  C.  Burt 

1898 

" 

Hartwell  H.  Southworth 

1899 

ii 

G54 


History  of  Littleton. 


TABLE   23. 

OFFICERS   OF   THE    WHITE    MOUNTAIN    CEMETERY   CORPORATION. 
ORGANIZED  1855.     Ri:v.  ERASMUS  I.  CARPENTER,  Cleric. 


Date. 

President. 

Clerk. 

Treasurer. 

185G 
1857 

Mrs.  II.  S.  Carpenter 
Mrs.  11.  1).  Merrill 

Mrs.  L.  L.  Batchelder 

Mrs.  J.  R.  Brackett 

1858 

" 

< 

1859 

" 

Mrs.  L.  B.  Brackett 

1 

1800 

Mrs.  C.  A.  Tilton 

" 

1 

18(31 

" 

Mrs.  J.  11.  Brackett 

' 

1802 

" 

" 

1 

1803 

Mrs.  Lavinia  Eastman 

" 

1 

1864 

" 

" 

1805 

" 

Mrs.  C.  A.  Tilton 

Mrs.  C.  A.  Tilton 

1800 

" 

" 

" 

1807 

18G8 

., 

Mrs.  M.  A.  Bailey 

Mrs.  M.  A.  Bailey 

1809 

" 

" 

" 

1870 

" 

Mrs.  Jane  M.  Rand 

Mrs.  Jane  M.  Rand 

1871 

" 

1872 

" 

' 

1873 

" 

' 

1874 

" 

• 

1875 

" 

1 

187G 

" 

< 

1877 

" 

' 

18781 

" 

Mrs.  C.  A.  Tilton 

Mrs.  C.  A.  Tilton 

1879 
1880 

Mrs.  L.  W.  Ilodgman 

„ 

< 

1881 

" 

" 

1 

1882 

" 

" 

' 

1883 

" 

" 

1 

1884 

" 

" 

< 

1885 

Mrs.  Jane  M.  Rand 

" 

• 

188G 

" 

Mrs.  C.  A.  Merrill 

< 

1887 

Mrs.  Jennette  E.  Robinson 

" 

1 

1888 

11 

" 

• 

188!) 

" 

Miss  M.  B.  Tilton 

• 

1890 

" 

" 

1 

18U1 

Mrs.  Jane  M.  Rand 

" 

' 

1892 

" 

" 

' 

1893 

Mrs.  ('.  A.  Merrill 

Miss  II.  F.  Merrill 

' 

1894 

" 

• 

IMt.j 

" 

" 

1 

1897 

.« 

« 

1«99 

Mrs.  T.  E.  Sanper 

„ 

George  11.  Tilton 

19(  M) 
19IH 

Myron  II.  Richardson 

Miss  Anna  L.  Brackett 

Allicn  J.  Barrett 

1902 

" 

« 

" 

190.-J 

Miss  II.  F.  Merrill 

Frank  P.  Bond 

1  Name  changed  to  Glenwood  Cemetery. 


Statistical  History. 


655 


TABLE   24. 
OFFICERS   OF   THE   LITTLETON   MUSICAL   ASSOCIATION. 


Date. 

President. 

Recording  Secretary. 

Corresponding  Secretary. 

1869  1 

1870 

William  .J.  Bellows 

Luther  D.  Sanborn 

Frank  G.  Weller 

1871 

John  G.  Sinclair 

•' 

" 

1872 

" 

James  R.  Jackson 

1873 

" 

Frank  G.  Weller 

1874 

« 

" 

1875 

" 

" 

1876 

' 

a 

1877 

1 

" 

1878 

Evarts  W.  Farr 

' 

George  C.  Furber 

1879 

' 

' 

" 

1880 

' 

< 

'•' 

1881 

George  A.  Bingham 

' 

" 

1882 

" 

1 

" 

1883 

Edgar  Aldrich 

" 

" 

1884 

Albert  S.  Batcliellor 

" 

" 

1885 

" 

George  K.  Stocker 

" 

1886 

Benjamin  IT.  Corning 

" 

" 

1887 

William  H.  Mitchell 

George  C.  Furber 

George  K.  Stocker 

1888 

George  Farr 

" 

" 

1889 

" 

" 

Dana  P.  Dame 

1800 

Rev.  Lucius  Waterman 

" 

" 

1891 

Oscar  C.  Hatch 

" 

" 

1892 

" 

" 

" 

1893 

" 

Fred  PI.  English 

Chauncey  C.  Morris 

1894 

Henry  F.  Green 

" 

Fred  H.  English 

1895 

" 

" 

" 

1890 

Franklin  R.  Glover 

Herbert  K.  Hallett 

Herbert  K.  Hallett 

1897 

" 

" 

" 

1898 

"•2 

Herbert  E.  Kenney 

Herbert  E.  Kenney 

189'J 

George  W.  McGregor 

" 

" 

1900 

" 

" 

" 

1'JOl 

Franklin  R.  Glover 

" 

" 

1902 

" 

Charles  F.  Davis 

Charles  F.  Davis 

1903 

« 

1  The  Convention  in  1809  was  managed  by  a  committee  consisting  of  F.  G.  Weller, 
II.  II.  Lovejoy,  C.  E.  Carey,  Ira  Parker,  and  S.  W.  Atwood. 
-  Resigned  April,  1898. 


056 


History  of  Littleton. 


TABLE    24    (continued}. 


Date. 

Treasurer. 

Chairman  Executive 
Committee. 

Conductor. 

18601 

C.  M.  Wyman 

1870 

Francis  F.  Hodgman 

Henry  L.  Tilton 

" 

1871 

" 

" 

" 

1872 

" 

" 

Solon  Wilder 

1873 

" 

" 

" 

1874 

" 

William  H.  Stevens 

" 

1875 

" 

Henry  L.  Tilton 

W.  W.  Davis 

1870 

William  II.  Stevens 

" 

" 

1877 

" 

" 

" 

1878 

William  II.  Bellows 

" 

George  W.  Dudley 

1879 

1 

" 

L.  A.  Torrens 

1880 

' 

" 

Carl  Zerrahn 

1881 

' 

" 

W.  0.  Perkins 

1882 

1 

" 

" 

188;} 

' 

Benjamin  F.  Robinson 

" 

1884 

George  E.  Lovejoy 

" 

II.  II.  Palmer 

1885 

" 

Franklin  K.  Glover 

" 

1880 

" 

" 

1887 

" 

" 

1888 

" 

" 

1889 

M 

Carl  Zerrahn 

1890 

" 

" 

1891 

William  M.  Silsby 

" 

1892 

" 

" 

1893 

" 

" 

1894 

George  II.  Tilton 

Emil  Mollenhauer 

1895 

" 

" 

189(i 

" 

" 

1897 

" 

" 

1898 

'<  '2 

II.  R.  Palmer 

1899 

Frank  L.  Clough 

Moses  F.    larriman 

Henri  G.  Blaisdell 

1900 

" 

" 

1901 

" 

" 

1902 

Irvin  C.  Renfrew 

.1.  Wallace  Goodrich 

1903 

Arthur  M.  Curry 

1  The  Convention  in  1809  was  managed  by  a  committee  consisting  of  F.  G.  WelU-r, 
II.  II.  Lovejoy,  C.  E.  Carey,  Ira  Parker,  and  S.  W.  Atwood. 
-  Resigned  April,  1898. 


Statistical  History. 


657 


TABLE   25. 
OFFICERS  OF   THE   SARAXAC   GLOVE   COMPANY. 


Date. 

President. 

Treasurer. 

Clerk. 

1890 

George  M.  Glazier 

Henry  F.  Green 

Charles  L.  Clay 

1891 

Henry  C.  Libbey 

" 

1892 

Iral 

arker  1 

1893 

1894 

1895 

1896 

Robert  C.  Langford 

1897 

Robert  C.  Langford  l 

1898 

1899 

Henry  F.  Green 

1900 

" 

1901 

" 

1902 

n 

1903 

" 

TABLE   26. 
OFFICERS   OF   THE   LAW    AND   ORDER   LEAGUE. 


Date. 

President. 

Secretary. 

Treasurer. 

1888 
1889 
1890 
189i' 
1894 

Rev.  Perez  M.  Frost 

Rev.  Granville  C.  Waterman 
Rev.  John  JJ.  Merrill 
Charles  L.  Clay 

Charles  A.  Farr 
Henry  0.  Jackson 

Fred  E.  Goodall 
Marshall  1).  Cobleigh 

Isaac  Calhoun 
Chuuncey  C.  Morris 

1  General  Manager 


VOL.  ii.  —  42 


(Jo  8 


History  of  Littleton. 


TABLE   27. 

PHYSICIANS. 

Date  of 

Practice  in 
Littleton. 

Name. 

College. 

Medical  College. 

171  "8,1839 

1806-68 

Calvin  Ainsworth 
William  Hums 

Not  a  graduate 

Not  a  graduate 
Dartmouth,  1826 

1806-09 

1820-63 

Isaac  Moore 
Adams  Moore 

Dartmouth 

Not  a  graduate 
Dartmouth,  1827 

1839-41 
1840-5(5  { 
1862-87  J 

Ezra  C.  Worcester 
Charles  M.  Tuttle 

Not  a  graduate 

1838 
Woodstock,  Vt.,  1840 

1845-55 
1849-50 

1856        ) 
1864-67  j 

John  L.  Marton 
Carleton  C.  Abbey 

Albert  W.  Clarke 

Middlebury,  Vt. 
Not  a  graduate 

Not  a  graduate 
Jefferson,  Philadelphia 

Dartmouth,  1851 

1856 

1857-93 
1857-62 

Martin  L.  Scott 

Ralph  Bugbee 
James  L.  llarriman 

» 

University  of  Vermont, 
Burlington,  1856 
Castleton,  Vt.,  1845 
Bowdoin,  Me  ,  1857 

1858 
1865-91 

Thaddeus  E.  Sanger 
Henry  L.  Watson 

,,                      j       Cleveland,  (  >hio,  1854 
j       I'liiladelphia.  1'a.,  1856 
Vt.  Med.  School,  1838 

1  866-6!  > 
1868-69 
1870 
1871-96 

Adams  B.  Wilson 
Thaddeus  T.  C'ushman 
Leonard  M.  Eudy 
Frank  T.  Moffett 

Wesleyan  University     Dartmouth,  1866 
Not  a  graduate                Bowdoin,  Me  ,  1844 
"                            Not  a  graduate 
Harvard,  1870 

1872 

George  M.  Bugbee 

Dartmouth.  1872 

1875 

William  S.  Crosby                                                          Harvard,  1874 

1879-80 

Edward  J.  Brown 

Dartmouth,  1874              Dartmouth,  1878 

1880 
1880-82 

George  W.  McGregor 
Louis  A.  Genereaux 

Not  a  graduate                                       1878 
Laval  Univ..  Can.,  1880 

1881 

Benjamin  !•'.  1'age 

"                              University  of  Vermont, 

Burlington,  1807 

1888-92 

George  A.  Martin                                                        Ilabnemann   College, 

1889- 

Philadelphia,  188G. 
William  J.  Beattie                                                          Bellovue,     New      York 

Citv,   18S9 

1891              George  F.  Abbott                                                         ,  Dartmouth,  1891 

i'iO~_       (     •^OS(-'I)I1  Edward  Coutu 
1893  John  M.  Page 

1X97-1902     Edwin  K.  Parker 

I 
ls97  '.  William  C.  E.  Nobles 


Three  Rivers  College 
Not  a  graduate 


George  II.  Snow 
L.  P.  Caissac 
I  )avid  K.  Brown 


Laval  University,  Mon- 
treal College  * 

University  of  Vermont, 
Burlington,  1893 

N.  Y.  Horn.  .Med  Col. 
and  Hospital,  1888 

Cleveland  I  niv.,  Medi- 
cine and  Surgery,  '97, 
and  Cleveland'  Ho- 
mii'opathic  Hospital 


University     of     Ver- 
mont, Burlington 


Statistical  History. 


659 


TABLE   28. 

MINISTERS,   CONGREGATIONALISM 
SETTLED   MINISTERS. 


Date  of 
Pastorate. 

Name. 

College. 

Theological  School. 

1820-36 

Drury  Fairbank 

Brown  University 

Not  a  graduate 

1836 

Evarts  Worcester 

Dartmouth 

" 

1837-42 

Isaac  R.  Worcester 

Not  a  graduate 

" 

1842-67 

Erasmus  I.  Carpenter 

Vermont  Univ.,  Burlington 

Andover,  Mass.,  1841 

1860-78 

Charles  E.  Milliken 

Dartmouth 

" 

1880-84 

George  W.  Osgood 

Wesleyan  University 

Bangor,  Me.,  1877 

1885-86 

Edwin  C.  Holman 

Dartmouth 

Andover,  Mass.,  1883 

1887-91 

Frederick  G.  Chutter 

Not  a  graduate 

1887 

1891-94 

Melvin  J.  Allen 

Amherst,  Mass. 

1882 

1894-98 

John  H.  Hoffman  1 

Bates,  Me. 

Bangor,  Me.,  1877 

1898 

William  F.  Cooley  i 

University,  New  York  City 

Union    Theo.    Semi- 

nary, N.  Y.,  1884 

Acting  pastor. 


G60 


History  of  Littleton. 


TABLE   29. 
MINISTERS,    METHODIST. 


Date  of 
Pastornto. 

Name. 

College  or  Seminary. 

Theological  School. 

1850-51 

1852-5:3 

Sullivan  Holman 
Dudley  P.  Leavitt 

Not  a  graduate 
Con.    Sem.,   North- 
field 

Not  a  graduate 
Biblical  Inst.,  Concord 

1854-55 
1856 

Leonard  L.  Eastman 
Josiali  P.  Stinchfield 

Not  a  graduate 

Not  a  graduate 
Biblical  Inst.,  Concord 

1857-58 
185SU50 

George  N.  Bryant 
Lewis  P.  Cushman 

„ 

Not  a  graduate 
Biblical  Inst.,  Concord 

1861-C2 

(  ieorge  S.  Barnes 

1863 
1804 

18G5-6G 
1807-68 

Silas  K.  Quimby 
Hiram  L.  Kelsey 
Truman  Carter 
Alfred  E.  Drew 

Wesleyan  Univ. 
Not  a  graduate 

Not  a  graduate 
Biblical  Inst.,  Concord 

1809 

James  M.  Bean 

" 

" 

1870-71 
1872-7:; 

John  Currier 
George  Beebe 

A 

Not  a  graduate 

1S74-75-7I* 

George  \V.  Huland 

" 

Boston  Theo.  School 

1877-78 

187'.»-80-81 

Nelson  M.  1).  Granger 
George  A.  McLaughlin    Wesleyan   Univer- 

Not  a  graduate 

sity 

1882-80-84 

1  885-81  1-87 

George  M.  Curl 
Martin  V.  B.  Knox 

Baker    University, 
Kansas 

" 

188*-80-'JO 
l8!tl-(.i-J-l»:) 

Perez  M.  Frost 
Roscoe  Sanderson 

Not  a  graduate 

" 

1804-y-6-7 

(  'harles  M.  Howard 

" 

" 

i8'.lS-'.i'.i 

Thomas  \Vhiteside 

Boston   University,   Theological  School, 
College  Liberal        Boston  Univ.,  1MU 

Arts,'  188!) 

1900 

Thomas  E.  Cramer 

Ohio    We  si  cyan 

1804 

I'niversity,    1890 

TABLE   ;JO. 

1'IUKSTS    IX    CIIA1KJK.  EPISCOI'ALIAX. 


James  B.  Goodricli  Trinity,  Conn. 

An-'on  li.  Graves  Hobart,  N.  Y. 
i  ieorge  < '.  Jones 

Henry  M  .  Andrews  Dartmouth 

Janie»S.  Kent  Not  a   graduate 

llenrv  H.  Havnes  Harvard 

Isaac' Peck  Yale 

LnciiH  Waterman  Trinity   , 

Kdgar  I-'.  I  )avis  Bowdoin 

James  M.  (ioodrich  Trinity,  Conn. 


Theological  School. 


Berkley,   Middletown,  Conn.,  l.SC.'.l 
Theological  Seminary,  N.  Y.,  1870 


Berkley,  Middletown.  Conn.,  lS7ti 
Harvard  Theological  School,  1877 
Berkley,  Middletown,  Conn  ,  187'i 

Yale  Divinity  School 
Berkley,   Middletown,  Conn. 


Statistical  History. 


661 


TABLE   31. 
MINISTERS,    UNITARIAN. 


Date  of 
Pastorate. 

Name. 

College. 

Theological  School. 

1829 

Cazncau  Palfrey 

Harvard 

1836 

William  1*.  Huntington 

"       1824 

1838-39 

William  D.  Wilson 

Cambridge,    Mass.,    I)i- 

vinitv  School,  1838 

1887                   James  B.  Morrison 

Not  a  graduate 

Meadville,  Pa.,  1877 

1888-92             Lorenzo  D.  Cochrane 

" 

Not  a  graduate 

1892-93 

Ure  Mitchell 

" 

St.    Lawrence     Univer- 

sity,  Canton,    N.   Y., 

1880 

1894-96 

Leroy  F.  Snapp 

Randolph  Macon, 

Randolph    Macon,  1893 

Ashland,  Va. 

1897-99             William  C.  Litchfield 

Not  a  graduate 

Special  course  with 

Prof.  F.  H.   Hedge, 

Harvard 

1899-1900 

Charles  Graves 

" 

1901-1903 

James  E.  Locke 

TABLE   32. 
MINISTERS,   FREE   BAPTIST. 


Date  of 
Pastorate. 

Name. 

College. 

Theological  School. 

1809-73 
1873-74 

Elijah  Guilford 
Burton  Minard 

Not  a  graduate 

New  Hampton,  1867 
Bates  Theo.  Seminarv, 

1883 

1874-76 

E.  P.  Moulton 

1876-78 
1878-79 
1H79-87 

Ira  Emery 
Burton  Minard 
Francis  II.  Lvford 

" 

Not  a  graduate 
Bates  Theo.  Seminary, 
Not  a  graduate 

1883 

1888-91 

Granville  C.  Waterman 

Bowdoin,  1857 

1891-98  '  John  B.  Merrill 

Not  a  graduate 

" 

1898-'.M) 
1901-02 

>  John  C.  Osgood 

" 

" 

1902 
1903 

Y.  E.  Bragdon 
George  B.  South  wick 

<< 

Bates  Theo.  Seminary 

»JG2 


History  of  Littleton. 


TABLE   33. 
MINISTERS,  BAPTIST. 


Date  of 
Pastorate. 

Name. 

College. 

Theological  School. 

1840 

N.  Bray 

1841 

" 

1842 

William  Lovejoy 

Not  a  graduate 

Not  a  graduate 

1843 

" 

" 

" 

1844 

" 

a 

TABLE    34. 
PRIESTS,   ROMAN   CATHOLIC. 


Name 

College. 

Theological  School  or  Seminary. 

1855-76 

Isadore  Noiseaux 
Francis  H.  Trudel 
Patrick  J.  Finnegan 

St.  Hyacinth,  Quebec 
Not  a  graduate 

St.  Sulpice,  Montreal 
Not  a  graduate 

Louis  M.  Lal'lante 

" 

" 

18SO-87 

Isadore  Noiseaux 

1  888-0:1 
180.'}-98 
1808- 

Dennis  F.  Hurley 
Cyrille  J.  Paradis 
James  11.  Kiley 

St.  Cliarles,  Md. 
Not  a  graduate 
Quebec,  Canada 

Mill  Hill  Sem.,  London 
Laval  I'ni.,  Quebec,  1885 
Seminary,  Quebec 

Date. 


TABLE   35. 
MIX! STEIIS,    A D VENT. 


John  A.  Ma  goon 
Alun/ci  A.  Iloyt 
(ieorgc  M.  Little 
John  Jeffrey 
Herbert  II.  Cliurcliill 


Not  a  graduate 


Theological  Scliool. 


Statistical  History. 


663 


TABLE   36. 
METHODIST  EPISCOPAL   CHURCH. 

LANDAFF   AND    SUCCEEDING   CIRCUITS,    INCLUDING    LITTLETON. 
OFFICIAL   AND   STATISTICAL   TABLE. 


Year. 

Conference. 

District. 

Circuit. 

1800 

New  York 

New  England 

Landaff 

1801 

" 

New  London 

ii 

1802 

' 

Vershire 

" 

1803 

' 

Vermont 

Landaff  and  Wentworth 

1804 

New 

England 

New  Hampshire 

Landaff 

1805 

« 

" 

1806 

Vermont 

« 

1807 

New  Hampshire 

" 

1808 

" 

1809 

« 

1810 

1 

1811 

« 

1812 

« 

1813 

t 

1814 

i 

1815 

< 

1816 

« 

1817 

« 

1818 

« 

1819 

< 

1820 

« 

1821 

' 

1822 

< 

182.3 

Lar 

idaff  and  Orford 

1824 

Lai 

idaff 

1825 

< 

1826 

Danville 

' 

1827 

" 

1 

1828 

" 

Bethlehem 

1829 

K 

" 

1830 

Vermont  and  New 

Plymouth 

" 

Hampshire 

1831 

Vermont  and  New 

" 

a 

Hampshire 

1832 

New  Hampshire 

" 

1833 

" 

1834 

" 

1835 

" 

1836 

« 

1837 

' 

' 

GG4 


History  of  Littleton. 


TABLE    36  (continued). 


Year. 

Conference. 

District. 

Circuit. 

1838 

New  Hampshire. 

Plymouth 

Bethlehem 

1839 

" 

" 

1840 

" 

Bethlehem  and  Jefferson 

1841 

Haverhill 

Hethlehem 

1842 

" 

Bethlehem  and  Whitefield 

1843 

" 

Littleton  and  Whitefield 

1844 

" 

" 

1845 

" 

Littleton  and  Bethlehem 

184(3 

" 

" 

1847 

" 

Bethlehem  and  Whitefield 

1848 

" 

Littleton 

1849 

" 

Littleton  and  Whitefield 

1850 

" 

Littleton  Mission  and  Bethlehem 

1851 

" 

Littleton  Mission 

1852 

" 

" 

1853 

" 

Littleton 

1854 

" 

1855 

.< 

185(3 

Concord 

1857 

" 

1858 

" 

1*59 

" 

Littleton  and  Bethlehem 

1860-1903 

Littleton 

Statistical  History. 


665 


TABLE   37. 
METHODIST  EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.1 

LANDAFF  AND  SUCCEEDING  CIRCUITS  INCLUDING  LITTLETON. 
OFFICIAL  AND  STATISTICAL  TABLE. 


Year. 

Presiding  Elder. 

Preachers  in  Charge. 

Communi- 
cants. 

1800 

John  Brodhead 

Elijah  R.  Sabin 

53 

1801 

« 

(  Elijah  R.  Sabin 
/  Nathan  Felch 

192 

iPhineas  Peck 

1802 

" 

Martin  Ruter 

1G4 

Asa  Kent 

(  T.  Branch 

1803 

Joseph  Crawford 

]  P.  Dustin 

250 

(  S.  Langdon 

1804 

John  Brodhead 

j  Thomas  Skeels 
j  William  Stevens 

136 

1805 

" 

Joel  Winch 

382 

1806 

Elijah  R.  Sabin 

(  Asa  Kent 
(  Isaac  Pease 

290 

1807 

Elijah  Hedding 

Dyer  Burge 

313 

1808 

" 

Zachariah  Gibson 

298 

1809 

Martin  Ruter 

Joseph  Peck 

295 

1810 

" 

(  Joseph  Peck 
j  Asa  Crowell 

274 

1811 

Solomon  Sias 

(  John  W.  Hardy 
(  Joseph  Peck 

404 

1812 

" 

j  Robert  Hayes 
|  James  Jaques 

446 

1813 

,,                                       (  Jacob  Sanborn 
|  Benjamin  Burnham 

393 

(  Isaiah  Emerson 

1814 

'  J.  Payne 

382 

(  D.  Blanchard 

1815 

David  Kilbourn 

j  Jacob  Sanford 
j  John  Lord 

363 

1816 

« 

j  Walter  Sleeper 
j  Hezekiah  Davis 

410 

1817 

" 

Jacob  Sanborn 

421 

1818 

" 

(  Lewis  Bates 

/  Samuel  Xorris 

424 

1819 

Jacob  Sanborn 

(  Lewis  l?ates 
j  Richard  Emery  (sup.) 

440 

1  In  this  table  the  preacher's  name  is  against  the  year  in  which  he  was  appointed 
to  the  circuit  or  station,  and  the  statistics  against  his  name  are  those  reported  at  the 
close  of  the  preceding  year. 


GOG 


History  of  Littleton. 


TABLE    37    (continued}. 


Year. 

Presiding  Elder. 

Preachers  in  Charge. 

Communi- 
cants. 

1820 

Jacob  S;inborn 

(  David  Plumlev 
j  M.  Fifield 

520 

1821 

» 

(  J.  A.  Scarritt 
\  William  McCoy 

033 

(  David  Culver 

1822 

" 

^  Abraham  Merrill 

725 

(  S.  Kelly 

!D.  Young 

1823 

Benjamin  R.  Hoyt 

D.  Culver 

752 

Benjamin  Brown 

1824 

'< 

(  Caleb  Dustin 
j  Daniel  L.  Fletcher 

719 

1825 

« 

|  Haskel  Wbeelock 
j  George  Storrs 

483 

1826 

John  Lord 

Ilaskel  Wheelock 

507 

1827 

x 

(  Isaac  Barker 
(  John  J.  Bliss 

494 

1828 

" 

Joseph  Baker 

630 

1829 

E.  Wells 

(  Moses  G.  Cass 
}  Abel  Heath 

120 

1830 

J.  W.  Hardy 

(  Charles  Cowen 
(  Harry  W.  Latham 

189 

1831 

" 

Jonathan  Hazelton 

220 

1832 

E.  Wells 

(  Ilolman  Drew 
]  Clinton  W.  Lord 

214 

1833 

« 

Holman  Drew 

220 

1834 

" 

F.  T.  Dailey 

19G 

1835 

« 

(  F.  T.  Dailey 
j  One  to  be  supplied 

203 

1836 

Benjamin  R.  Hoyt 

j  Ilolman  Drew 
j  One  to  be  supplied 

191 

1837 

« 

J.  II.  Stevens 

197 

1838 

" 

(  I).  Wilcox 
j  One  to  be  supplied 

200 

1839 

" 

E.  Pettingill 

229 

1840 

Cliarles  D.  Gaboon 

SAinos  Kidder 
S.  Adams 

200 

1841 

" 

Amos  Kidder 

212 

1842 

" 

Otis  Dunbar 

235 

1843 

« 

(  James  S.  Loveland 

330 

j  One  to  be  supplied 

1844                Justin  Spaulding 

{James  S.  Loveland 
F.  A.  Ilewes 

140 

1845                Russell  II.  Spaulding 

J.  (i.  Johnson 

288 

1840 

Silas  Wiggins 

148 

1847                Justin  Spaulding 

To  be  supplied 

138 

1848 

Charles  Cowing  (sup.) 

250 

1849 

" 

40 

1850                Reuben  Dearborn 

Sullivan  Ilolman 

149 

1851 

« 

100 

1852                 William  1).  Cass 

Dudley  P.  Li-avitt 

88 

1853 

" 

91 

1851 

Lamed  L.  Eastman 

93 

1855 

" 

104 

1850                 Lewis  Howard 

Josiah  P.  Stinchfk'ld 

111 

Statistical  History. 


667 


TABLE   37    (continued). 


Year. 

Presiding  Elders. 

Preachers  In  Charge. 

Communi- 
cants. 

1857 

Lewis  Howard 

George  N.  Bryant 

148 

1858 

« 

" 

110 

1859 

" 

Lewis  P.  Cushman 

121 

1860 

James  Pike 

«< 

119 

1861 

" 

George  S.  Barnes 

132 

1862 

ii 

•  " 

140 

1863 

Elisha  Adams 

Silas  E.  Quimby 

123 

1864 

ii 

Hiram  L.  Kelsey 

129 

1865 

" 

Truman  Carter 

131 

1866 

<< 

Alfred  E.  Drew 

140 

1867 

Lorenzo  D.  Barrows 

« 

150 

1868 

ii 

ii 

170 

1869 

" 

James  M.  Bean 

154 

1870 

Silas  G.  Kellogg 

John  Currier 

149 

1871 

" 

" 

150 

1872 

ii 

George  Beebe 

140 

1873 

" 

" 

140 

1874 

Theodore  L.  Flood 

George  W.  Ruland 

160 

1875 

James  Pike 

ii 

120 

1876 

" 

ii 

145 

1877 

John  W.  Adams 

N.  M.  D.  Granger 

120 

1878 

" 

" 

118 

1879 

ii 

G.  A.  McLaughlin 

124 

1880 

« 

" 

127 

1881 

M.  T.  Cilley 

" 

153 

1882 

" 

G.  M.  Curl 

168 

1883 

" 

'« 

176 

1884 

<i 

" 

176 

1885 

George  W.  Norris 

M.  V.  B.  Knox 

176 

1886 

" 

" 

206 

1887 

" 

« 

229 

1888 

" 

P.  M.  Frost 

248 

1889 

" 

" 

241 

1890 

S.  C.  Keeler 

" 

237 

1891 

" 

Roscoe  Sanderson 

231 

1892 

" 

« 

225 

1893 

" 

" 

220 

1894 

11 

C.  M.  Howard 

218 

1895 

" 

" 

185 

1896 

G.  M.  Curl 

" 

197 

1897 

0.  S.  Raketel 

" 

190 

1898 

" 

Thomas  Whiteside 

193 

1899 

" 

" 

203 

1900 

" 

T.  E.  Cramer 

222 

1901 

" 

" 

232 

1902 

" 

'< 

236 

1903 

G.  M.  Curl 

240 

GG8 


History  of  Littleton. 


TABLE   38. 

CONGREGATIONAL    CIIUUCII. 
OFFICIAL   AXD    STATISTICAL. 


Date. 

Pastors. 

Baptisms. 

Additions. 

Communicants. 

Sunday-school 
Attendance. 

> 

K 

Children. 

Adults. 

H 

Profession. 

Letter. 

_« 
o 

"3 

Female. 

"3 

o 

H 

1821 

Drury  Fairbank 

20 

25 

45 

1822 

" 

5 

22     28 

60 

1823 

•  ' 

2 

2M     2!) 

52 

1824 

" 

22 

2!) 

51 

1825 

" 

22 

28 

50 

182(5 

" 

22 

'28 

50 

1827 

" 

4 

21 

32 

53 

1828 

4 

20 

M8 

58 

1820 

" 

0 

22 

38 

60 

1830 

" 

2 

21 

40 

61 

1831 

" 

.'J 

22 

46 

G8 

1832 

" 

33 

35 

61 

96 

1833 

" 

8 

1 

9 

1 

2 

3 

57 

60 

07 

1834 

" 

2 

1 

3 

1 

2 

3 

55 

I'M 

100 

1835 

" 

5 

5 

10 

7 

7 

70 

10:5 

1830 

Evarts  Worcester 

5 

1 

6 

2 

1 

M    ;i 

69 

100 

§48.00 

1837 

Isaac  11.  Worcester 

:i 

69 

100 

1838 

'• 

4 

2 

(i 

5 

7 

12     M     72 

lot; 

1839 

7 

2 

!) 

5 

1 

i;    50 

74 

no 

1840 

" 

G 

5 

11     14 

4 

18     ^4 

69 

1UM 

1841 

» 

2 

1 

M    41     si 

125 

1842 

" 

11 

5 

10      7 

(j     13    33     77 

110 

1843 

E.  Irving  Carpenter 

8 

7    i  .">     8 

4     12    M8    'jo     128 

1844 

" 

2 

i 

3      2 

2  i    4    .'!7     87     124 

1845 

" 

M 

1 

i       2 

2       4     30     80     122 

1840 

" 

7 

C) 

'.) 

4 

1       5    Mi;  ,  85     121 

1817 

" 

1 

1 

:;      :;    :  i;    M;     122 

1848 

" 

4 

4 

•> 

2  :M    M;    nit 

184'.) 

2 

2 

,  :-J     85     117 

1850 

" 

:2     85  j  117 

1851 

" 

2 

10     12     1-1 

14    :i;     93     121) 

1  852 
1853 

i< 

1 

- 

" 

1 

:;       .)    .  ii     :«)      i.r_' 

2     ::    MM    '.'7    IMO 

1854 

" 

3 

o 

G 

0 

MM     '.Hi      12!) 

1855 

" 

M2     %      12S 

125.00 

1850 

" 

M2      !>(!      12S 

125.00 

1857 

John  Newton  1'utnani 

M2     '.»(>      12S 

120.00 

suppl}' 

Statistical  History. 


669 


TABLE   38   (continued). 


Date. 

Pastors. 

Baptisms. 

Additions. 

Communicants. 

Sunday-school 
Attendance. 

1 

c 

1 

c 

Children. 

Adults. 

a 
g 

Profession. 

JS 
3 

3 
£ 

9 

"3 

Female. 

5 
'o 

1858 

Carey  Russell 

4 

4 

9 

1 

10 

35 

103 

138 

1859 

" 

1 

1 

1 

1 

2 

30 

75 

105 

1860 

Charles  E.  Milliken 

27 

73 

100 

1861 

" 

1 

1 

2 

7 

7 

14 

34 

103 

137 

1862 

" 

3 

3 

34 

92 

126 

190 

1863 

" 

1 

1 

2 

2 

4 

33 

94 

127 

200 

1864 

" 

2 

6 

8 

10 

6 

16 

33 

109 

142 

200 

1865 

" 

2 

7 

9 

8 

8 

16 

35 

113 

148 

160 

S269.00 

1866 

"             • 

3 

3 

3 

1 

4 

33  i  109 

142 

159 

319.25 

1867 

" 

7 

7 

1 

1 

.2 

34 

101 

135 

160 

300.00 

1868 

' 

3 

3 

3 

1 

4 

34 

99 

133 

160 

458.00 

1869 

' 

1 

1 

2 

33 

96 

129 

140 

302.00 

1870 

1 

14 

14 

25 

11     36 

38 

121    15!) 

148 

499.00 

1871 

' 

1 

10 

11 

11 

11 

40 

125    165 

165 

556.00 

1872 

' 

2  j    2 

41 

121     162 

162        335.«.i(.) 

1873 

< 

7 

7 

12 

2 

14 

48 

1  2--> 

173     165 

302.50 

1874 

" 

7 

7 

48 

125    173     165 

300.00 

1875 

" 

4. 

4 

5 

2 

7    50 

125    175     150 

356.40 

1876 

" 

3 

3 

4 

5 

9    50 

131    181     175 

354.48 

1877 

" 

1 

2 

3 

2 

1 

3    50 

132    182 

175 

25400 

1878 

6 

6 

6 

3      9    50 

131    181 

180      1382.001 

1879      Willis  A.  Hadley 

2 

2 

2 

3 

5 

52 

129    181 

160  1     320.23 

1880      Charles  Milieu 

50 

128    178 

140       209.22 

1881      George  W.  Osgood 

48 

119 

167     150       116.13 

1882 

23 

23 

24 

8 

32 

60 

137 

197     200       137.26 

1883 

2 

2 

4 

4 

8 

63 

141 

204     150       244.67 

1884     George  W.Osgood  and 

C.W.Wallace,  D.I). 

2 

2 

10 

2 

12 

61 

147    208     150        195.07 

1885      Edwin  C.  Holman 

1 

1 

1 

1     60 

140    200     160       215.76 

1886 

4     14     IS 

21       4  !  25    63 

158    221     2UO       2U6.S-6 

1887      Frederick  G.  Chutter 

6      6 

14 

3  '  17    63 

162    225     175        125.82 

1888 

" 

3      3 

4              4    <52 

153  ;  215     200        153.58 

1889 

" 

7      7 

5 

1       6  161 

153  :  214     145     '   156.00 

1890 

1 

1      2 

2 

3      6    57 

153    210     140        178.95 

1891      Melvin  J.  Allen 

7 

8     15 

11 

3     14    60 

147    207  :   120        107.68 

1892  ' 

1 

1 

57 

137  '  194     140        893.00 

1893 

5    22     27 

29 

7    36  :  68 

157  >  225     150      1631.00 

1894      John  II.  Hoffman 

10  !    7     17 

7      5     12    »i5 

155    220     175       965.00 

1895 

6      6 

6       713    65 

166    231     175       930.10 

1896 

5    19    24 

20      4    24    02 

165    227     130      1405.00 

1897  . 

5             5    13      «,i    22    r>6 

171    237     100      1452.00 

1898      Win.  Forbes  Cooley 

224 

2,6      8  ,  66 

171    237     125      1053.00 

1899 

3    35    38    Go      7    67    80 

214    294     125       733.00 

1900 

3  !    0      3      1      5      6    79 

214  •  293     110      1020.00 

1901 

4      2:6      0      5      5    78 

205    283     122        946.00 

1902 

2:6      8      2      8     10    73- 

204    277     127      2893.00 

1  Includes  $1000  given  by  a  member  to  the  Church  in  Bethlehem. 


070 


History  of  Littleton. 


TABLE   39. 

FREE   BAPTIST   CHURCH. 
OFFICIAL  AND  STATISTICAL. 


Year. 

Pastors. 

Adm. 
by 
Baptism. 

Adm. 
by 
Letter. 

Resident 
Mem- 
bers. 

Non-Res. 
Mem- 
bers. 

Whole 
Number. 

Sunday- 
school 
Scholars. 

1870 

Elijah  Guilford 

29 

29 

69 

1871 

" 

7 

16 

60 

50 

110 

1872 

" 

14 

6 

05 

3 

68 

116 

1873 

" 

1 

2 

65 

6 

71 

120 

1874 

" 

04 

7 

71 

160 

1875 

E.  P.  Moulton 

19 

8 

79 

15 

94 

165 

1876 

" 

2 

79 

16 

95 

170 

1877 

Ira  Emery 

8 

2 

83 

16 

99 

175 

1878 

" 

3 

83 

17 

100 

100 

1879 

" 

2 

80 

20 

100 

100 

1880 

Burton  Minard 

1 

2 

72 

25 

97 

100 

1881 

Francis  II.  Lyford 

2 

66 

25 

91 

125 

1882 

' 

6 

60 

30 

90 

130 

1883 

< 

5 

68 

25 

93 

125 

1884 

< 

14 

4 

72 

35 

107 

125 

1885 

' 

4 

75 

35 

110 

125 

1886 

• 

1 

77 

32 

109 

115 

1887 

Granville  C.  Waterman 

66 

33 

99 

112 

1888 

" 

4 

69 

28 

97 

105 

1889 

" 

2 

67 

27 

94 

135 

1890 

" 

4 

67 

30 

97 

140 

1891 

John  B.  Merrill 

1 

6 

68 

34 

102 

140 

18'J2 

" 

3 

3 

69 

35 

104 

80 

1893 

" 

65 

35 

100 

103 

1894 

" 

53 

40 

93 

75 

1895 

" 

7 

5 

50 

52 

102 

IdO 

1890 

" 

7 

2 

58 

49 

107 

80 

1897 

" 

7 

58 

64 

112 

90 

1898 

John  C.  Osgood 

1 

6 

62 

47 

109 

75 

1899 

" 

14 

4 

69 

5° 

122 

110 

1900 

" 

7 

1 

69 

58 

127 

105 

1901 

" 

1 

70 

58 

129 

105 

1902 

V.  E.  Bragdon 

2 

72 

58 

132 

105 

1903 

George  B.  Southwick 

2 

74 

58 

134 

112 

Statistical  History. 


671 


TABLE  40. 

ANNUAL   REPORT   OF   ALL   SAINTS   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH.1 
OFFICIAL  AND  STATISTICAL. 


Baptisms. 

Communicants. 

Sunday- 
schools. 

Year. 

Rectors. 

2 

te 

-3 

•a 

_ 

a 

00 

S 

ii 

•a 

=  1 

|J 

1 

a 

"5 

1 

<c 
§ 

fa 

•o 

ll 

E  1 

o 

° 

< 

H 

ZfS 

"" 

C.J5 

OH 

£ 

1872 

3 

7 

10 

4 

1873 

3 

1874 

10 

3 

1875 

10 

3 

10 

10 

1870 

Rev.  James  B.  Goodrich 

12 

5 

17 

6 

10 

15 

3 

25 

1877 

Rev.  Anson  R.  Graves  in  charge 

7 

1 

8 

6 

15 

11 

26 

6 

43 

1878 

" 

11 

4 

15 

5 

26 

10 

36 

5 

50 

1879 

" 

4 

3 

7 

3 

36 

2 

38 

5 

65 

1880 

" 

3 

9 

12 

4 

38 

36 

5 

60 

1881 

Rev.  Henry  M.  Andrews 

30 

2 

38 

5 

48 

1882 

Rev.  James  S.  Kent 

38 

1883 

" 

5 

5 

2 

38 

35 

11 

30 

1884 

" 

1 

16 

17 

3 

35 

3 

38 

5 

35 

1885 

Rev.  Henry  H.  Haynes 

4 

4 

38 

30 

5 

20 

1886 

4 

6 

10 

6 

30 

6 

36 

1887 

Rev.  Isaac  Peck  in  charge 

6 

3 

9 

5 

36 

/» 

42 

5 

26 

1888 

Rev.  Lucius  Waterman  in  charge 

8 

8 

1 

42 

42 

5 

35 

1889 

«                            « 

1 

1 

2 

4 

42 

42 

4 

35 

1890 

"                            " 

6 

6 

5 

42 

C 

47 

4 

30 

1891 

•'                            " 

3 

3 

6 

3 

47 

4 

51 

4 

10 

1892 

«                                              u 

3 

2 

6 

1 

51 

2 

53 

4 

12 

1893 

Rev.  William  Lloyd  Himes  in  charge 

as  General  Missionary 

5 

1 

6 

3 

53 

(j 

59 

3 

17 

1894 

Rev.  William  L.  Himes  in  charge  ; 

Rev.  Edgar  F.  Davis  officiating 

4 

4 

3 

59       2 

61 

6 

30 

1895 

Rev.  Edgar  F.  Davis  in  charge 

18 

2 

20 

10 

61      21 

82 

5 

40 

1896 

"                          " 

6 

2 

8 

19 

82      33 

115 

6 

49 

1897 

"                          " 

14 

4 

18 

7 

115         - 

115 

6 

50 

1898 

"                          " 

2 

4 

6 

7 

115      16 

131 

5 

50 

1899 

Rev.  James  B.  Goodrich3 

2 

4 

6 

8 

131 

100 

tJ 

40 

1900 

" 

7 

2 

9 

6 

100       3 

103 

6 

45 

1901 

" 

9 

1 

10 

4 

103  !       2 

103 

6 

46 

1902 

" 

6 

1 

7 

3 

103       2 

105 

0 

40 

1903 

Rev.  John  Gregson,  priest  in  charge 

1  1859,  the  first  record  in  Diocesan  Reports  of  services,  Rev.  J.  II.  Eames  offici- 
ating; 1871,  the  second  record,  Rt.  Rev.  William  W.  Niles  officiating  in  the  Methodist 
place  of  worship;  1873,  the  records  show  that  services  were  held  every  Sunday  even- 
ing throughout  the  months  of  July  and  August,  names  of  those  officiating  not  given . 

2  Loss  and  gain  equal.  , 

3  This  is  only  an  approximate  report,  as  all  the  facts  could  not  he  obtained. 


072 


History  of  Littleton. 


TABLE   41. 

OFFICERS    OF    THE    YOUNG    MEN'S    CHRISTIAN   ASSOCIATION. 
ORGANIZED  DKCKMHER,  1873. 


Date. 

President. 

Secretary. 

Treasurer. 

1874 

John  F.  Tilton 

Warren  W.  Lovejoy 

Warren  W.  Lovejoy 

1875 

Charles  1).  Tarbell 

John  F.  Tilton 

Amos  II.  Mills 

1870 

" 

Charles  11.  Knight 

Warren  W.  Lovejoy 

1877 

Thomas  Carletou 

John  1  .  Tilton 

Noah  \V.  Ranlett 

1878 

" 

1 

1879 

William  II.  Whiting 

' 

Carlos  1'.  Day 

1880 

" 

' 

Moses  N.  llarriman 

1881 

Edwin  C.  Langford 

' 

William  J.  Moore 

1*82 

Edwin  C.  Langford 

' 

Samuel  C.  Sawyer 

1883 

Samuel  C.  Sawyer 

' 

Henry  II.  I'orter 

1884 

" 

1 

William  J.  Moore 

1885 

William  J.  Moore 

Clarence  W.  Williams 

Samuel  C.  Sawyer 

1880 

Robert  Langford 

Warren  W.  Lovejoy 

Noah  \V.  Hanlott 

1887 

" 

Will  F.  Andrus 

Harry  B.  Klkins 

1888 

Warren  W.  Lovejoy 

Samuel  C.  Sawyer 

" 

188U 

" 

" 

" 

18'.  10 

Samuel  C.  Sawyer 

Warren  W.  Lovejoy 

Carl  S.  Magoon 

1891 

'• 

Carl  S.  Magoon 

Harry  B.  Klkins 

1802 

Warren  W.  Lovejoy 

Marshall  I).  Cobleigh 

18'J.4J 

Baxter  H.  Carbee 

John  F.  Tilton 

" 

18!  14 

" 

" 

18',)5 

Augustus  R.  Burton 

" 

" 

18% 

Harry  B.  Klkins 

" 

II.  Kugenc  Snow 

18!»7 

Samuel  C.  Sawyer 

" 

Augustus  K.  Burton 

18!  18 

Austin  If.  Smith 

" 

" 

18!H) 

" 

'< 

John  F.  Tilton 

I'lUO 

Samuel  C.  Sawyer 

11 

Harry  B.  Klkins 

1'JOl 

" 

" 

" 

l'J02 

" 

" 

" 

1<JO:J 

John  F.  Tilton 

Statistical  History. 


673 


TABLE    42. 
OFFICERS   WOMAN'S   CHRISTIAN   TEMPERANCE    UNION. 

ORGANIZED  JULY  27,  1881. 


Year. 

President. 

Treasurer. 

Secretary. 

1881 

Mrs.  Ellen  B.  Farr 

Julia  Allen 

Helen  Osgood 

1882 

Mrs.  George  W.  (  )sgood 

" 

" 

1883 

" 

Mrs.  Samuel  C.  Sawyer 

Mrs.  A.  S.  Carleton 

1884 

Mrs.  Jennette  E.  Robinson 

" 

Mrs.  Allen  J.  Church 

1885 

Mrs.  J.  H.  Knox 

« 

Mrs.  Jane  M.  Hand 

1886 

Mrs.  Henry  F.  Green 

Mrs.  Frank  B.  1'hillips 

1887 

"                                                       " 

'• 

1888 

Mrs.  G.  C.  Waterman             Mrs.  Samuel  C.  Sawyer 

Mrs.  Allen  J.  Church 

1889 

" 

" 

Mrs.  Charles  D.  Tarbell 

) 

" 

Mrs.  L.  Baker 

1890 

\  Mrs.  Solon  L.  Simonds 

" 

1891 

Mrs.  Samuel  C.  Sawyer 

Mrs.  L.  M.  Buswell 

Mrs.  Chas.  W.  Bracket! 

1892 

" 

" 

Mary  Metcalf 

1893 

" 

" 

" 

1894 

" 

" 

Mrs.  L.  J.  Austin 

1895 

Mrs.  Solon  L.  Simonds 

Mrs.  Mabel  Libbey 

Mrs.  Aaron  Eastman 

1896 

" 

" 

" 

1897 

Mrs.  Mary  S.  Heald 

" 

" 

1898 

Mrs.  L.  J.  Austin 

Mrs.  Mary  Lawson 

Mrs.  Alzina  Currier 

1899 

Mrs.  J.  C.  Osgood 

Mrs.  Alzina  Currier 

Mrs.  S.  C.  Sawyer 

1900 

" 

Mrs.  D.  C.  Phillips 

" 

1901 

Mrs.  Solon  L.  Simonds 

" 

Mrs.  F.  B.  Phillips 

1902 

Mrs.  Albert  Nute 

VOL.  ii.  —  43 


074 


History  of  Littleton. 


TABLE   43. 

OFFICERS   OF   THE   SOCIETY   OF   CHRISTIAN    ENDEAVOR. 
ORGANIZKD  JAN.  2,  1891. 


Year. 

President. 

Treasurer. 

Secretary. 

1801 

Irvin  C.  Renfrew 

Clara  L.  Blodgett 

Clara  L.  Blodgett 

Jan..  18'.i2 
Julv,  1892 

Minnie  B.  Tilton 

i, 

Sarah  Bell  Blodgett 

Jan.,  1893 
Julv,  189:) 
Jan.,   1894 

Irvin  C.  Renfrew 
.Marshall  1).  Cobleigh 
Charles  A.  Williams 

Alice  J.  Cobleigh 
Sarah  Bell  Blodgett 

Mary  C.  French 
C.  Elizabeth  Page 

July,  1894 
Jan.,  1895 

.Marshall  1).  Cobleigh 
" 

Chauncey  C.  Morris 

Katherine  F.  Sanger 

July,  189.') 
Jan.,  189G 
July,  189G 

Kllen  I.  Sanger 
Chauncey  C.  Morris 

Herbert  Blodgett 

Grace  Barnuiu 
Myrtle  Powers 
diaries  11.  Furber 

Jan".,  1^97 

" 

Mrs.  Blanche  Renfrew 

Martha  C.  Bloduett 

July,  1897 
Jan.,   1898 

Herbert  R.  Blodgett 
John  C.  Marriner 

Lou  Phillips                      John  (\  Marriner 
Mrs.  K.  K.  Parker           Elizabeth  L.  Towne 

Julv,  1898 
Jan.,   1K)9 

S.  Lilla  Bishop 
John  F.  Tilton 

Susan  L.  Kenney                           " 
Katherinc  F.  Sanger     ;  Mrs.  Blanche  F.  Renfrew 

Julv,  1899 

Marshall  1).  Cobleigh 

«, 

Jan.,  19(M) 

I.  B.  Andrew 

Jennie  Davis 

Mrs.  Mary  Lynch 

Julv,  1900 

.Mrs.  L.  E.  Green 

" 

John  C.  Marriner 

Jan".,   1901 
July.  1901 
Jan.,  1902 

Myron  H.  Richardson 
Mrs.  L.  K.  Green 

" 

Bessie  Ranlett 
Grace  llarrirnan 
Mrs.  Ethel  Miller 

July,  1902 
Jan".   190:! 

Mrs.  Ida  M.  Frye 

" 

Mrs.  Martha  S.  Barmim 

Julv,  1908 

Mrs.  Alice  G.  \Vebster    Susan  L.  Kenney 

" 

Statistical  History. 


675 


TABLE   44. 

OFFICERS    OF    THE    EPWORTH    LEAGUE. 
FEB.  1891. 


Date. 

President. 

Secretary. 

Treasurer. 

Feb.,  1891 

Charles  H.  Stoddarcl 

Wilfred  0.  Smith 

Ethel  Aldrich 

July,  1891 

Wilfred  U.  Smith 

Stella  Farr 

Flora  M.  Austin 

Jan.,    1892 

" 

George  Guy 

" 

July,  1892 

" 

Grace  O.  Applebee 

" 

Jan.,   1893 

Stephen  Mann 

" 

Wilfred  0.  Smith 

July,  1893 

" 

Lida  Sanderson 

Hattie  Eastman 

Jan.,    1894 

Wilfred  0.  Smith 

Edith  Watson 

Mabel  Bean 

July,  1894 

" 

Minnie  Whipple 

" 

Jan.,   1895 

Elmer  L.  Winslow 

Mrs.  Minnie  Winslow 

" 

June,  1895 

Mrs.  Jennie  Bedell 

Bessie  F.  Downer 

Winfred  Cleasby 

Jan.,    1896 

" 

" 

" 

June,  18'.'<6 

" 

" 

" 

Jan.,  1897 

" 

Eben  W.  Cole 

Mrs.  Stella  Greene 

June,  1897 

Eben  W.  Cole 

Harry  Witham 

" 

Jan.,   1898 

" 

Mabel  Bean 

B.  R.  Carbee 

June,  1898 

Alice  Eastman 

Mrs.  Agnes  Kitchen 

Mrs.  Arthur  Buftington 

Jan.,   1899 

" 

" 

" 

July,  1899 

Eben  W.  Cole 

Mrs.  Mabel  Cole 

Mrs.  Herbert  West 

Jan.,   1900 

E.  C.  Langford 

Charles  Gregory 

Daniel  Cole 

July,  1900 

G.  C.  Cass 

Hubert  C.  Langford 

Mrs.  Charles  Bruno 

Jan.,   1901 

Alice  Eastman 

" 

" 

July,  1901 

" 

Katherine  Knight 

" 

Jan.,   1902 

A.  W.  Buffington 

Mrs.  A.  W.  Buffington 

" 

July,  1902 

J.  A.  Winters 

Harriet  Cross 

" 

Jan.,    1903 

George  A.  Veazie 

•' 

Ethel  Harris 

July,  1903 

Maud  Hampson 

W.  S.  Cross 

TABLE   45. 

OFFICERS   OF  ALL   SAINTS   GUILD,  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 
ORGANIZED  FEBRUARY,  1896. 


1896 

Mrs.  Elmira  S.  Davis 

Mrs.  Delia  B.  Mitchell 

Mrs.  Nellie  M.  Merrill 

1897 

1898 
1899 

Mrs.  Mary  Bowman 
Anna  I'rackett 

(  Lorena  S.  Lovejoy 
Mrs.  Belle  Hatch 
Mrs.  Jennie  Unthank 

Mabel  I.  Weeks 

1000 
1901 

Mrs.  Cora  Tilton 
Mrs.  Eliza  Huron 

Mrs.  T.  J.  Walker 
Mrs.  Ella  L.  A.  Parker 

Mrs.  Nellie  Quimby 

l')02 

" 

Mrs.  Frances  Nurse 

•' 

VJ03 

Mrs.  G.  J.  Patch 

GTG 


History  of  Littleton. 


TABLE   46. 
MINISTERS,  NATIVES   OF   LITTLETON. 


Denomi- 
nation. 

Name. 

College. 

Theological  School. 

Presb. 

Andrew  Rankin 
John  Gile 

Not  a  graduate 
Union,    Schenectady, 
N.  Y. 

Not  a  graduate 

Meth. 

Lindsay  Wallace 
William  C.  Knapp 

Not  a  graduate 
Northwestern      Univ., 
Evanston,  III. 

" 

Cong. 
Meth. 
Cong. 
Mtth. 

Charles  W.  Millen 
Nelson  Farr  Cobleigh 
Warren  Applebee 
Charles  D.  Milliken 
Truman  Carter 
Alba  B.  Carter 

Not  a  graduate 
Amherst,  Mass. 
Not  a  graduate 
Dartmouth 
Not  a  graduate 

Biblical  Inst.  Concord,  18(57 
Not  a  graduate 
Boston  University,  1878 
Yale  Theological  Seminary 
Not  a  graduate 

( 

Joseph  W.  1'resby 
Joseph  K.  Kobins 
Nelson  K.  Cobleiu'h 

Wesleyan  University 

Univ. 
Cong. 
Unit, 

Enoch  M.  Pingree 
Henry  B.  Mead 
John  A.  Bellows 

Not  a  graduate 
Aniherst 
Dartmouth 

Statistical  History. 


677 


TABLE   47. 


MASONIC. 


MORXING  DAWN  LODGE  No.   48,  WATERFOKD,  Vi. 
Officers  1818  to  1828. 


Year. 

W.  Master. 

Sr.   Warden. 

Jr.  Warden. 

1818 
1819 
1820 

Amaziah  Jacobs 
Nathaniel  Rix,  Jr.1 

Harvey  Ilolbrook 
Isaac  Farringtou 

Hubbard  Quimby 
Daniel  Pike,  2d. 

1821 

" 

Daniel  Pike,  2d. 

Samuel  Kidder 

1822 

Samuel  Kidder 

Amasa  Wheelock  l 

Ilezekiah  Cole 

1823 
1824 
1825 

Ilezekiah  Cole 
Daniel  Pike,  2d. 

Brigham  Pike 
Nathaniel  Rix,  Jr. 

Joseph  Pingree  l 
William  Burns  ' 

1826 

" 

" 

" 

1827 

Thomas  Hall 

Samuel  M.  Cobb 

Simeon  B.  Johnson  l 

1828 

Moses  F.  Morrison 

Denison  Pike 

HubbardQuimby 

Year. 

Treasurer. 

Secretary. 

Sr.  Deacon. 

1818 

1819 

1820 
1821 
1822 

Nathan  Pike 
Alpheus  Nichols 

Nathaniel  Rix,  Jr.1 
Thomas  McDole 
Jonah  Carpenter 

Richard  F.  Rowell 

Isaac  Farrington 
Brigham  Pike 

Loren  Chase 

1823 

Laban  Tifft  * 

" 

Denison  Pike 

1824 

" 

" 

Daniel  S.  Miles 

1825 
1826 

Abial  Richardson 

William  Brackett  * 
Moses  F.  Morrison 

William  Melindy 
Denison  Pike 

1827 

Walter  Charlton  l 

" 

Nathan  Pike,  Jr. 

1828 

James  Joslyn 

Samuel  M.  Cobb 

" 

Year. 

Jim.  Deacon. 

Sr.  Steward. 

Jr.  Steward. 

1818 
1819 

Daniel  Pike,  2d. 
Anson  Wheeler  : 

Brigham  Pike 
Samuel  Kidder 

Anson  Wheeler1 
Merrill  Williams  1 

1820 

" 

" 

Thomas  McDole 

1821 

Ilezekiah  Cole 

Samuel  M.  Cobb 

Loren  Chase 

1822 
1823 
1824 

Samuel  M.  Cobb 
Joseph  Pingree1 
Denison  Pike 

Moses  Pike 
John  Barron 
Moses  Pike 

Joseph  Pingree  1 
Sewell  Brackett1 
Asa  Robins,  Jr.1 

1825 

James  Morse 

Horace  Buck 

Nathan  Pike,  Jr. 

1820 

Sewell  Bracken1 

William  Buck 

Walter  Charlton  : 

1827 

Clement  Gould  ' 

Horace  Buck 

Royal  Ross 

1828 

Horace  Buck  : 

Royal  Ross 

Jonathan  Cummings 

Tylers. 

1818 

Luther 

Kidder 

1822 

David 

Webster 

182G 

Stephen 

S  tee  re  1 

1819 

' 

1823 

Daniel 

S.  Miles 

1827 

Ilubban 

1  (Juimbv 

1820 

Daniel 

S.  Miles 

1H24 

David 

Webster  1 

1828 

William 

Ilovev 

1821 

Laban 

Tifft  * 

1825 

Moses 

Pike 

1  Resident  of  Littleton. 


G"O 
IO 


History  of  Littleton. 


TABLE   48. 

MASONIC    (continued). 
OFFICERS  Buuxs  LODGE  Xo.  6G. 

Chartered  June  8,  .1.'.  D:.  1859,  A:.  L:.  5859. 


Dato. 

Worshipful  Master. 

Senior  Warden. 

Junior  Warden. 

IS.  VI 

I'hilip  II.  Paddleford 

Horace  F.  Chambcrlin 

James  J.  Barrett 

IN  '.n 

Horace  E.  Cliamberlin 

Marshal  Sanders 

" 

IN',  I 

Marshal  Sanders 

James  J.  Barrett 

James  I\.  Jackson 

1H!'2 

" 

George  C.  Wilkins 

James  L.  Ilarriman 

1st;:! 

Philip  II.  Paddleford 

Chauncey  II.  Greene 

Albert  H.  Quimbv 

18<ll 

Chauncey  II.  Greene 

Albert  H.  Quimby 

Henry  W.  Smith" 

1st',:. 

Henry  W.  Smith 

" 

James  H.  Jackson 

18(>t) 

Chauncey  II.  Greene 

James  R.  Jackson 

George  Farr 

lS(i7 

" 

George  Farr 

William  II.  Chandler 

18dS 

" 

William  II.  Chandler 

Aaron  D.  Fisher 

18(1!) 

" 

John  A.  Ilarriman 

George  Abbott 

1870 

" 

William  A.  Haskins 

Ellcry  D.  Dunn 

1871 

William  A.  Haskins 

Aaron  1).  Fisher 

Thaddeus  E.  Sander 

1*72 

Thaddeus  E.  Sander 

Charles  E.  Baker 

187:; 

" 

" 

" 

1874 

" 

Fvarts  W.  Farr 

Charles  F.  Everett 

1S75 

" 

Ilartwell  II.  Southworth 

Oilman  K.  Morrison 

187(1 

" 

Curtis  Gates 

" 

1S77 

" 

Aaron  D.  Fisher 

Marshall  C.  Dodiie 

1S7S 

" 

Elbridge  Flint 

George  F.  Abbott 

1879 

" 

" 

Henry  J.  Fisher 

1SKO 

" 

Charles  C.  Smith 

Charles  E.  Baker 

1SS1 

" 

Flbert  C.  Stevens 

Albert  S.  Batchellor 

1SH2 

Elbert  C.  Stevens 

Albert  S.  Ratchellor 

Henry  J.  Fisher 

1880 

Albert  S.  Batehellor 

John  F.  Tilton 

Samuel  F.  Simpson 

1SS4 

John  F.  Tilton 

Huel  W.  Poor 

Millard  F.  Young 

1S85 

Kuel  W.  Poor 

Millard  F.  Young 

Charles  F.  Bingham 

188(1 

" 

" 

1SS7 

Millanl  F.  Young 

Charles  F.  Uingharn 

George  K.  Stocker 

isss 

ii 

" 

Gilbert  E.  Lane 

iss'i 

Charles  F.  Bingham 

Gilbert  E.  Lane 

George  Farr 

IS'.H) 

" 

Thaddeus  K.  Sanger 

Charles  F.  Eastman 

1891 

Thailileus  F..  Sander 

(  'harles  F.  Eastman 

Solon  L.  Simonds 

IS'li* 

Charles  F.  Fastinan 

Solon  L.  Simonds 

Herbert  K.  Hallett 

IS',).1] 

" 

" 

is  U 

Solon  L.  Simonds 

Herbert  K.  Hallett 

Wilbur  F.  Robins 

1  s  i.-, 

" 

" 

" 

is  if, 

Herbert  K.  Hallett 

Wilbur  F.  Robins 

Alfred  W.  Coburn 

is  »7 

" 

" 

is  is 

Wilbur  F.  Robins 

Alfred  W.  Coburn 

William  M.  Silsby 

189!) 

" 

" 

" 

1  <  K  Ml 

" 

" 

" 

r.'Oi 

Alfred  W.  Cobiirn 

William  M.  Silsby 

\Villiam  A.  Beebe 

F.'H-J 

" 

" 

" 

I'.lfCi 

William  M.  Silsby 

William  A.  Beebe 

John  M.  Page 

Statistical  History. 


679 


TABLE   48    (continued). 


Date. 

Treasurer. 

Secretary. 

Chaplain. 

1859 

Joseph  L.  Gibb 

Aaron  Bracket  t 

Rev.  Lewis  P.  Cushman 

1860 

" 

" 

1861 

Alonzo  Weeks 

Horace  E.  Chamberlin 

18(52 

" 

Josiah  Kilburn 

1863 

" 

« 

1864 

" 

" 

1865 

" 

« 

186(5 

" 

Nelson  C.  Farr 

1867 

" 

« 

1868 

' 

Luther  D.  Sanborn 

" 

1869 

• 

" 

" 

1870 

1 

" 

" 

1871 

' 

George  W.  Barrett 

" 

1872 

1 

' 

" 

187:) 

' 

< 

" 

1874 

" 

< 

« 

1875 

" 

< 

< 

1876 

' 

John  l.Tilton 

1877 

1 

< 

1878 

" 

' 

1879 

" 

" 

1880 

Henry  W.  Smith 

« 

1881 

George  W.  Barrett 

Slierared  Clay 

1882 

Charles  E.  Baker 

William  A.  Crane 

1883 

" 

1884 

" 

1885 

" 

1886 

" 

1887 

" 

1888 

" 

1889 

" 

1890 

" 

1891 

Fred  II.  English 

Kev.  Lucius  Waterman,  D.D 

1892 

William  H.  Blake 

" 

John  B.  Merrill 

1893 

" 

" 

" 

1894 

Charles  F.  Eastman 

" 

" 

1895 

" 

John  F.  Tiltou 

18% 

" 

•' 

1897 

" 

" 

1898 

Chauncey  II.  Greene 

" 

1899 

" 

" 

1900 

" 

" 

1901 

Edwin  II.  Gould 

" 

1902 

Chauncey  II.  Greene 

" 

1903 

Date. 

Senior  Deacon. 

.Junior  Deacon. 

Tyler. 

18-39 

Marshal  Sanders 

George  C.  Wilkins 

James  T.  Palmer 

I860 

Henry  W.  Kowell 

Ai  Fitzgerald 

Henry  Thomas 

1861 

" 

Henry  W.  Smith 

1802 

Henry  W.  Smith 

Kalph  Btigbee,  Jr. 

David  P.  Sanborn 

1863  i 

1864  Ai  Fitzirerald 

1865  Charles  F.  Everett 


Lorenzo  C.  Keniu-y 
Charles  F.  Everett" 
William  II.  Chandler  ,  Lovell  Tavlor 


I!  80 


History  of  Littleton. 


TABLE   48   (continued). 


Date. 

Senior  Deacon. 

Junior  Deacon. 

Tyler. 

1866 
18G7 

1868 

Charles  F.  Everett 
Ai  Fitzgerald 
John  A.  Harriman 

William  II.  Chandler 
Aaron  D.  Fisher 
William  Harriman 

Lovell  Taylor 
William  Harriman 
True  M.  Stevens 

1809 

Aaron  D.  Fisher 

Ellery  D.  Dunn 

Luther  C1.  Wilkins 

1870 

" 

George  W.  Barrett 

Nathan  Hums 

1871 

Charles  E.  Baker 

Oilman  K.  Morrison 

' 

1872 
1873 

Oilman  K.  Morrison 

Lafayette  Noble 

, 

1874 

Hartwell  II.  Southworth 

Curtis  Gates 

1 

1875 
1876 

Marshall  C.  Dodge 

George  F.  Abbott 

' 

1877 

George  F.  Abbott 

Lovell  Taylor 

' 

1878 

Lovell  Taylor 

Henry  J.  Fisher 

' 

1870 

Arthur  F.  Dow 

James  II.  Smalley 

i 

1880 

Ai  Fit/herald 

" 

1 

1881 

John  F.  Tilton 

" 

1 

1882 

" 

Daniel  F.  Huse 

' 

1S83 
1884 
1885 
1886 

Kucl  Wr.  Poor 
Charles  F.  Bingham 
George  K.  Stocker 

(Charles  F.  Bingham 
Joseph  E.  Harris 
George  E.  Lovejoy 

; 

1887 

Arthur  F.  Dow 

Luther  D.  Hyde 

1 

1888 

" 

" 

1 

1889 
1800 

Solon  L.  Simonds 

Fred  II.  English 

„ 

1801 

Herbert  K.  Hallett 

Edward  L.  Bryant 

" 

1802 

Dexter  D.  Dow 

Wilbur  F.  Robins 

'« 

I8'.i3 

" 

" 

" 

1804 
1805 
1801) 
IS'tT 

Alfred  M".  Coburn 
William  M.  Silsby 

William  M.  Silsby 
William  A.  Beebe 

Benjamin  F.  Heath 
John  A.  Miller 

1808 

William  A.  Beebe 

John  M.  Page 

" 

I'.tnO 

.. 

" 

.. 

I'.'lll 
1002 

John  M.  Page 

Horace  K.  Miller 

Victor  B.  Morgan 

1003 

Horace  K.  Miller 

Frederic  E.  Green 

Charles  11.  Strain 

TAIJL.E    -19. 

MASONIC     (<;,»t',nn,<l). 
TiKPHKSKXTATIYKS    TO    THK    ^\I .    \Y.     GlIAM)    LfMHlK. 


1  S.V.I.     AYilliaiii   Hums. 
iSf.M-C.l.        n.-m-y  W.     I  {..\V<-1 

Isr.L'.     II,, run-  K.  Cliainlicrlii 

isi;:;.   <;,.,„•-!•  ('.  Wilkins. 
ISCI.    ,7ain«-s  .1.   r.iirn-tt. 


isr,,"i.  Henry  A\\   K'owcll. 

iSC.r;.  ,I:un«-s  J.  I!;irrctt. 

1S07.  -laincs  It.  Jacks,, n. 

1S<IS.  Henry  W.  Smith. 

1SC.O.  Cliar'lcs  C.   Sinitli. 


Statistical  History. 


681 


1870.  George  Farr.  1887. 

1871.  Chauncey  H.  Greene.  1888. 

1872.  Henry  W.  Smith.  1889. 

1873.  Curtis  Gates.  1890. 

1874.  Henry  W.  Smith.  1891. 

1875.  George  F.  Abbott.  1892. 

1876.  Elbridge  Flint.  1893. 

1877.  Alexander  Mclntire.  1894. 
1878-79.    Chauncey  H.  Greene.       1895. 

1880.  Gilman  K.  Morrison.  1896. 

1881.  Elbridge  Flint.  1897. 

1882.  William  A.  Haskins.  1898. 

1883.  Elbert  C.  Stevens.  1900. 

1884.  Albert  S.  Batchellor.  1901. 

1885.  John  F.  Tilton.  1902. 

1886.  George  S.  Whittaker.  1903. 


Ruel  W.  Poor. 
George  Farr. 
Millard  F.  Young. 
George  W.  McGregor. 
Charles  F.  Bingham. 
Thaddeus  E.  Sanger. 
Dexter   D.  Dow. 
Charles  F.  Eastman. 
Hartwell  H.  Southworth. 
Solon  L.  Simonds. 
Oscar  C.  Hatch. 
Gilman  K.  Morrison. 
John  F.  Tilton. 
Wilbur  F.  Robins. 
William  A.  Crane. 
Alfred  W.  Coburn. 


TABLE   50. 

MASONIC    (continued). 

FKANKLIX  CHAPTER  E.  A.  M.  No.  5.     EXALTATIONS  FROM 
LITTLETOX. 

Michael  Fitzgerald,  July  24,  1824. 
Philip  Henry  Paddleford,  Nov.  28,  1859. 
James  Johnson  Barrett,  Nov.  29,  1859. 
Horace  Elliott  Chamberlin.  Nov.  29,  1859. 
Lewis  Putnam  Cushman  (Lisbon),  Nov.  29,  1859. 
Joseph  Lane  Gibb,  Dec.  (5,  I860. 
Cephas  Brackett,  Dec.  6,  1860. 
Thaddeus  Thompson  Cushman,  May  28,  1863. 
.    Benjamin  Franklin  Wells  (Lisbon).  Jan.  28,  1864. 
Lorenzo  Cushman  Ken  my,  March  15.  18(54. 
Charles  Calvin  Smith  (Gorhani),  Oct.  15,  1864. 
Truman  Carter  (Jefferson).  Feb.  1(5.   1805. 
Samuel  Berkley  Page  (Warren),  April  20,  18(55. 
Hiram  Laomini  Kelsoa  (Plymouth),  Aug.  17,  1865. 
George  Washington  Eastman.  Dec.  14.  18(55. 
Chauncey  Hastings  Greene,  May  10,  186(5. 
Warren  C.  Applebee  (Jefferson),  May  10,  18(56. 
Charles  Stephen  Haxeltine,  May  10.  186(5. 
Nelson  Cobleigh  Parr.  Sept.  19.  18(57. 
Cecrge  Abbott,  Sept.  19,  18(57. 


082  Hixtory  »f  Littleton. 

Aaron  IW  Fisher,"  Sept.  19,  18G7. 

William  Henry  Chandler.  Feb.  13,  18G8. 

Henry  Woodard  Smith.   Feb.  13,  18(58. 

Charles  Henrv  Applebee,  Feb.  13,  18(58. 

Simeon  Lovejoy  Burt  (Franconia),  Sept  17,  18(58. 

William  Arthur  Haskins,  Dec.  23,  18(58. 

Edward  Foster  Mann,  Dec.  -3,   18G8. 

John  Gardner  Ramsdell  (Bethlehem),  Dec.  23,  1808. 

Trenaeus  Newcomb  Kneeland,  May  (5,  1809. 

John  Koss  Cogswell  (Franconia),  June  o.  18(59. 

•  John  Xorris  Oakes  (Franconia),  June  3,  18(59. 

Ellery  Davis  Dunn,   April  IT),  1870. 

Silas 'Hall  Xnte,  April  25,  1870. 

William  Wellington  Judd,  May  2(5,  1870. 

Burton  Minard,  March  (5,  1873. 

George  Warren  Barrett,  March  (5,  1873. 

Curtis  Gates,  ]\Farcb  (5,  187,'!. 

John  Anderson  Miller,  May  1,  1873. 

Sebastian  Smith  Lovejoy,  May  1,  1873. 

Orren  M^elvin  Hines  (Meredith),  May  1,  1873. 

Comfort  Day  Farr.  Sept.  21,  187-t. 

Jol in  Franklin  Tilton,  Sept.  21,  1874. 

William  Line  (Signal  Service).  Xov.  6,  1874. 

George  Frank  Abbott,  Jan.  28,  1875. 

George  Washington  Richardson.  March  30,  187(5. 

Harry  A.  Johnson,  April  13.  187(5. 

Addison  Streeter.  Oct.  2(5,  1870. 

Thomas  Marshall  Fletcher  (  Dethlehem ),  Xov.  1.  1871 

Frank  Tifft  Moffett.  April  25,  1878. 

Alfred  Church  Haskins.  April  25,  1878. 

Benjamin  Franklin  Robinson,  Xov.  (5,  1879. 

Ai  Fit/gerald,  Dec.  4.  1879. 

Albert  Stillman  I'.atchellor.  April  29.   1880. 

Thaddeus  Ezra  Sanger.   Aug.  22.   1SS1. 

William  Augustus  'M.-tlu-wson.  Feb.  9,  1SS2. 

AVilliani  Frank  Parker.  Feb.  K5.  1SS2. 

Henrv   Francis  (Jreen.  Feb.   1(5.  1SS2. 

Klbridge  Flint,  Feb.  1(5,  1S82. 

Daniel  Francis  Iluse.  ^lay  11.   1882. 

Tra  Parker,   Dec.  5.  1S82.' 

Chester  Phelps  ('base.  Dec.  5,  1882. 

Oscar  Cutlar  Hatch.  Dec.  5,  1SS2. 

diaries  I'astman  P.aker.  Marcli  1.  1883. 

Arthur  Flanders  D»\v,  March   1.   IS*.*}. 

Ira  Franci>  I'ennock.   Marcli  1,  1883. 

Ruel  Whitcomb  1W,  Sept.  27,  18S3. 


Statistical  History.  683 

James  Sidney  Kent,  Sept.  27,  1883. 

Gilbert  Ebenezer  Lane,  Oct.  9,  1884. 

George  Kendall  Stocker,  Oct.  9,  1884. 

Charles  Hope  Leach,  May  7,  1885. 

James  Heniy  Smalley,  May  7,  1885. 

Isaac  Richardson  (Lisbon),  May  7,  1885. 

Wilbur  Fisk  Robins,  Nov.  17,  1887. 

Henry  A.  Hildreth  (Bethlehem),  Feb.  2,  1888. 

Henry  Prentiss  Smith  (Bethlehem),  Feb.  2,  1888. 

Charles  Franklin  Eastman,  April  20,  1889. 

Sherared  Clay,  April  20,  1889. 

Walter  Herbert  Smith,  Feb.  13,  1890. 

William  Isaac  Richardson,  Feb.  13,  1890. 

Fred  Hnbbard  English,  Oct.  9,  1890. 

John  Daniel  Frazier  Hilliker,  Oct.  9,  1890. 

Lucius  Waterman,  March  12,  1891. 

Allien  J.  Barrett,  March  12,  1891. 

William  Henry  Mitchell,  April  30,  1891. 

Edward  Le  Roy  Bryant,  June  11,  1891. 

Charles  Flynn  Bingham,  Nov.  30,  1891. 

Herbert  Kimball  Hallett,  July  14,  1892. 

William  M.  Silsby,  July  14,  1892. 

Herbert  Eastman  Kenney,  July  14,  1892. 

Harry  Mitchell  Eaton,  Sept.  29,  1892. 

Dexter  Douglass  Dow  (Haverhill),  Sept.  29,  1892. 

Alfred  Wyman  Coburn,  Sept.  29,  1892. 

Franklin  Pierce  Bond,  Oct.  21),  1892. 

Henry  Allston  Eaton,  Oct.  2(J,  1892. 

William  Henry  Bellows,  June  22,  1.893. 

Fred  Mason  Bunker,  June  22,  1893. 

M}rron  Henry  Richardson,  June  22,  1893. 

William  Austin  Beebe,  July  (5,  1893. 

Solon  Loyra  Simonds,  July  (5,  1893. 

Harry  Fulton  Howe,  Msirch  8.  1894. 

George  AYarren  McGregor,  Feb.  25,  1895. 

Warren  AVoodbury  McGregor  (Bethlehem),  April  24.  1895. 

AA^alter  H.  Clark  (Bethlehem),  June  4,  189G. 

Edwin  Henry  Gould,   Hoc.  9.  18%. 

Cortes  Fernando  Xutting,  Dec.  9,  189(1. 

Charles  Francis  Eaton,  Dec.  9,  1890. 

Israel  Clark  Richardson.  March  4.   1S97. 

Charles  Marshall  Cudworth,  March  4,  1S97. 

Robert  C.  LangfWd,  Jan.  I,0.,  1S9S. 

Frank  M.  Richardson,  Xov.  10.  1898. 

Victor  B.  Morgan,  June  29,  1899. 

Hiram  AV.  Gardner,  June  29,  1899. 


684  History  of  Littleton. 

Herbert  D.  Stevens,  April  19,  1900. 

Horace  K.  Miller,  May  31,  1900. 

Oscar  T.  Mannke,  May  31,  1900. 

Edward  E.  Bishop  (Bethlehem),  June  7,  1900. 

Frank  H.  Abbott  (Bethlehem),  June  7,  1900. 

Leonard  M.  Knight  (Bethlehem),  June  7,  1900. 

Henry  A.  Jack-man,  Sept.  20,  1900. 

Frank  L.  Clough,  Sept.  20.  1900. 

Josiah  A.  French,  Sept.  20,  1900. 

Frank  B.  Pelton,  Oct.  IS,  1900. 

William  C.  Spencer,  Feb.  28,  1901. 

John  M.  Tillotson,  Feb.  28,  1901. 

Edward  M.  Fisher.  March  14,  1901 . 

John  M.  Page,  March  14,  1901. 

Frederick  E.  Green,  Jan.  30,  1902. 

Harry  S.  Baldwin,  April  18,  1902. 

Richard  T.  Eastman,  May  15,  1902. 

Walter  E.  Johnson,  Sept.  29,  1902. 

Arthur  W.  Davis,  Sept,  29,  1902. 

Harry  S.  Pratt  (Bethlehem),  Xov.  20,  1902. 

George  L.  Johnson,  June  18,  1903. 

George  C.  Cass,  Aug.  13,  1903. 

Hiram  E.  Currier,  Aug.  13,  1903. 


Statistical  History. 


685 


TABLE   51. 

MASONIC   (continued). 

OFFICERS  OF  OMEGA  COUNCIL  R.-.  &  S.\  MASTBKS. 
Chartered  May  15,  A.  D.  1870;  A.\  Dep.  3876. 


Date. 

T.\  I.-.  Master. 

Deputy  Master. 

P.-.  €.'.  of  \Vork. 

1876 

Williams  A.  Ilaskins 

Samuel  B.  Page 

Benjamin  F.  Wells 

1877 

" 

" 

" 

1878 

Chauncey  H.  Greene 

Benjamin  F.  Wells 

Benjamin  Morrill 

1879 

" 

" 

" 

1880 

" 

«' 

" 

1881  1 

Elliott  B.  Hodge 

John  F.  Maynard 

Alvin  Burleigh 

1882 

" 

" 

" 

1883 

John  F.  Maynard 

Joseph  P.  Huckins 

Royal  A.  Chase 

1884 

" 

" 

" 

1885 

Joseph  P.  Iluckins 

Royal  A.  Chase 

Edward  W.  White 

188(5 

Elliott  B.  Hodge 

Horace  F.  Wyatt 

George  H.  Adams 

1887 

Horace  F.  VVyatt 

Joseph  P.  Iluckins 

1888 

" 

Fred  W.  George 

1 

1889 

Elliott  B.  Hodge 

Royal  A.  Chase 

' 

1890 

" 

Joseph  P.  Iluckins 

1 

1891 

Fred  H.  George 

Hiram  B.  Farnham 

1 

1892 

Elliott  B.  Hodge 

Chas.  V.  Tompkinson 

1 

1893 

Benjamin  F.  St.  Clair 

Joseph  P.  Huckins 

' 

1894 

" 

John  F.  Maynard 

' 

1895 

" 

Frank  W.  Russell 

' 

1896 

" 

" 

1 

1897 

Frank  W.  Russell 

Joseph  P.  Huckins 

1 

1898 

" 

" 

1 

1899 

" 

" 

1 

1900 

" 

« 

J.  Frank  Gould 

1901 

" 

" 

" 

1902 

J.  Frank  Gould 

George  B.  Blood 

Charles  E.  Barker 

1903 

Date. 

Treasurer. 

Recorder. 

C.'.  of  (.iimnl. 

1876 

Nelson  C.  Farr 

George  W.  Barrett 

Benjamin  Morrill 

1877 

" 

" 

" 

1878 

" 

" 

George  F.  Abbott 

1879 

" 

" 

William  II.  Chandler 

1880 

" 

" 

1881 

Hiram  Clark 

John  U.  Farnham 

Joseph  P.  Iluckins 

1882 

" 

" 

1883 

Marcus.L.  Emmons 

" 

Kihvard  W.  White 

1884 

" 

Frank  II.  Rollins 

" 

1885 

« 

•< 

1880 

William  R.  Kimball 

Enos  Iluckins 

Joseph  P.  Iluckins 

1887 

" 

Benjamin  F.  St.  Clair 

Fred  W.  George 

1888 

" 

" 

Hiram  H.  Farnham 

1889 

" 

Horace  F.  Wyatt 

Enos  Huckins 

1890 

John  F.  .Maynard 

Frank  W.  Russell 

1  Kemoved  to  Plymouth,  February,  1881. 


086 


History  of  Littleton. 


TABLE   51    (continued'). 


Date. 

Treasurer. 

Recorder. 

€.'.  of  Guard. 

1891 

William  R.  Kimball 

Charles  J.  Gould 

Frank  W.  Russell 

1892 
1893 
1804 
1895 

1890 

Joseph  P.  Iluckins 
Rodney  K.  Smythe 

William  J.  Randolph 
David  11.  Hallenbeck 

Fred  N.  George 
Frank  W.  Russell 
Harry  Mason 
George  W.  Goss 

1897 

' 

J.  Frank  Gould 

1898 

• 

" 

1899 

1900 

< 

George  W.  Goss 

1901 

1 

" 

1902  1 

1 

Chester  P.  Brown 

1903 

1  Hiram  Council,  R.  A.  M.,  was  established  at  Lisbon  in  1902.     Thereupon  Omega 
Council  ceased  to  have  jurisdiction  at  Littleton. 


Statistical  History. 


687 


TABLE   52. 
MASONIC   (continued). 

OFFICERS  OF  SAINT  GERARD  COMMANDERY  KNIGHTS  TEMPLAR. 
Chartered  Sept.  29,  A.  D.  18G8,  A.:  0.-.  750. 


Date. 

E.-.  Commander. 

Generalissimo. 

Capt.  General. 

18681 
1869 

Chauncey  H.  Greene 

James  J.  Barrett 

Lorenzo  C.  Kenney 

1870 

« 

" 

1871 

" 

William  A.  Haskins 

1872 

Ellery  I).  Dunn 

" 

1873 
1874 

William  A   Haskins 

« 

Charles  H.  Applebee 

1875 

' 

" 

1876 

" 

1877 

1 

" 

1878 

1 

" 

1879 

1 

'• 

1880 
1881 

1882 

Chauncey  H.  Greene 
Aaron  1).  Fisher 

' 

Benjamin  F.  Wells 

1883 

" 

Charles  C.  Smith 

Thaddeus  E.  Sanger 

1884 
1885 

Thaddeus  E.  Sanger 

,< 

Charles  H.  Applebee 

1886 

1887 
1888 

Charles  C.  Smith 
Charles  H.  Applebee 

Charles  H.  Applebee 
Oscar  C.  Hatch 

Oscar  C.  Hatch 
George  S.  Whittaker 
Thomas  M.  Fletcher 

1889 
1890 

Oscar  C.  Hatch 

Thomas  M.  Fletcher 

Millard  F.  Young 

1891 

1892 

Thomas  M.  Fletcher 

Millard  F.  Young 

Chester  P.  Chase 

1893 
1894 
1895 
1896 

Millard  F.  Young 
Chester  F.  Chase 
Charles  F.  Eastman 

Chester  P.  Chase 
Charles  F.  Eastman 
Charles  L.  Clay 
Charles  F.  Bingham 

Charles  F.  Eastman 
Charles  L.  Clay 
Charles  F.  Bingham 
Fred  H.  English 

1897 
1898 

Charles  F.  Bingham 

Fred  H.  English 

Wilbur  F.  Robins 

1899 
1900 

Fred  H.  English 

Wilbur  F.  Robins 

William  A.  Beebe 

1901 
1902 
1903 

Wilbur  F.  Robins 
William  A.  Beebe 

William  A.  Beebe 
William  M.  Silsby 

Herbert  E.  Kenney 
William  M.  Silsby 
Frank  M.  Richardson 

Date. 

Prelate. 

Treasurer. 

Recorder. 

1868 
1869 

Philip  II.  Faddleford 

Cephas  Bracket! 

Nelson  C.  Farr 

1870 

« 

" 

1 

1871 

" 

" 

1 

1872 
1873 

Andrew  J.  Edgerly 
Philip  II.  Paddleford 

" 

< 

1  Under  Dispensation  from  Aug.  25,  18G8.  until  Jan.    15.   1869,  when  the  Com- 
mandery  was  duly  instituted  under  the  charter. 


688 


History  of  Littleton. 


TABLE   52    (continued). 


Date. 

Prelate. 

Treasurer. 

Recorder. 

1874 
1875 

Philip  II.  Paddleford 

Cephas  Brackett 

Nelson  C.  Farr 

1876 
1877 

Chauncey  II.  Greene 

1878 

" 

1879 

" 

1880 
1881 

Benjan 

John  J 

lin  F.  Robinson 
Tilton 

1882 

1883 

1884 
1885 
1880 

Chauncey  II.  Greene 
Benjamin  F.  Wells 

Millard  F.  Young 

1887 
1888 

Charle 

L.  Clay 

" 

Chauncey  II.  Greene 

1889 

< 

" 

Charles  F.  Eastman 

1890 
1891 
1892 

Chaun 
Kev.  I 

ey  II.  Greene 
ucius  Waterman 

• 

James  II.  Bailey 

1893 
1894 

Charle 
John  J 

L.  Clay 
Tilton 

. 

William  M.  Silsby 
William  H.  Bellows 

1895 

" 

1890 

< 

* 

1897 

< 

Chauncey  H.  Greene 

1898 

1 

" 

1899 

1 

" 

1900 

" 

" 

1901 

" 

" 

1902 

" 

" 

1'JUo 

Charles  F.  Eastman 

Date. 

Sr.  Warden. 

Jr.  U'arden. 

St.  Bearer. 

1868 

Charles  C.  Smith 

Thaddeus  T.  Cushman      William  II.  Cliandler 

Ib09 

" 

" 

1870 

" 

•' 

1871 
1872 
1873 

Andrew  J.  Edgerly 
Charles  II.  Applebee 
Curtis  Gates 

1874 

1 

' 

1875 

• 

' 

1870 

' 

' 

1877 

' 

' 

1878 

< 

1879 

< 

" 

1880 
1881 
1  882 
188:] 
1884 

Charles  II.  Applebee 
Oscar  C.  Hatch 

Charles  II.  Applebee 
George  S.  Whittaker 

George  W.  Barrett 
George  W.  Richardson 
George  Abbott 

1  880 

« 

•< 

" 

1880 

1887 

George  S.  Whittaker 
Thomas  M.  Fletclier 

Thomas  M.  Fletcher 
Ira  Parker 

„ 

1888 

Millanl  F.  Young                 Chester  1'.  Chase 

Gilbert  !•',.  Lane 

1889 


Chester  1'.  Chase 


Gilbert  E.  Lan 


Henry  1).  Bishop 


Statistical  History. 


689 


TABLE   52    (continued}. 


Sr.  Warden. 


Jr.  Warden. 


St.  Bearer. 


Chester  P.  Chase 
Charles  L.  Clay 
Charles  F.  Eastman 
Charles  F.  Bingham 

Fred  II.  English 
Wilbur  F.  Robins 
William  M.  Silsby 
William  A.  Beebe 
Herbert  E.  Kenney 

William  M.  Silsby 
Frank  M.  Richardson 
John  C.  Eastman 


Gilbert  E.  Lane 
Curtis  A.  Wells 
Charles  II.  Applebee 
Fred  II.  English 

Wilbur  F.  Robins 
Fred  M.  Bunker 
William  A.  Beebe 
Herbert  E.  Kenney 
William  M.  Silsby 

Frank  M.  Richardson 
John  C.  Eastman 
Hiram  \V.  Gardner 


Henry  D.  Bishop 


Ssv.  Bearer. 


Capt.  of  Guard. 


George  Abbott 


Henry  F.  Green 
Oscar  C.  Hatch 
Ira  Parker 


Chester  P.  Chase 
Arthur  F.  Dow 
Henry  F.  Green 

George  F.  Savage 
Fred  II.  English 
Henry  A.  Eaton 

Fred  M.  Bunker 
William  M.  Silsby 
Alfred  W.  Coburn 

Charles  M.  Cudworth 
Lawrence  K.  Ford 
Horace  K.  Miller 


Aaron  1).  Fisher 


Thaddeus  E.  Sanger 
Henry  F.  Green 

Thomas  M.  Fletcher 
Chester  P.  Chase 
George  K.  Stocker 
Ruel  W.  Poor 
Charles  II.  Applebee 
Charles  F.  Eastman 

Charles  F.  Bingham 
Wilbur  F.  Robins 

William  M.  Silsby 
William  A.  Beebe 
Herbert  E.  Kenney 
Charles  C.  Smith 
Cortes  F.  Nutting 

John  C.  Eastman 
Hiram  W.  Gardner 
Edward  M.  Fisher 


Samuel  P.  Ford 
George  W.  Eastman 

Samuel  P.  Ford 
Frank  S.  Sleeper 
Samuel  P.  Ford 
Silas  II.  Nute 
Benjamin  F.  Wells 
John  A.  Miller 
John  F.  Tilton 


Hurry  A.  Johnson 

James  E.  Vial 
Ira  Parker 
Thomas  M.  Fletcher 
Chester  P.  Chase 
Charles  E.  Baker 


Wilbur  F.  Robins 
Herbert  E.  Kenney 

William  A.  Beebe 
Alfred  W.  Coburn 
Solon  L.  Simonds 
.John  A.  Miller 
Robert  C.  Langford 

Joseph  D.  Campbell 
Charles  F.  Davis 
Richard  T.  Eastman 


G90 


History  of  Littleton. 


TABLE   53. 

MASONIC   (continued). 

OFFICERS  OF  WASHINGTON  COUNCIL,  PRINCES  OF  JERUSALEM. 
A.1.  A.*.  S.'.  RITE.     VALLEY  OF  LITTLETON. 

Chartered  Xejtt.  19,  1895. 


Date. 

M  •   E  •.  Gr.  Master. 

Dep.  Or.  Master. 

M.-.  E.-.  Sr.  Gr.  Warden. 

1  894-95  J 

Thomas  M.  Fletcher,  33° 

Oscar  C.  Hatch,  33° 

Charles  F.  Eastman,  32° 

189(3 

Oscar  C.  Hatch,  33° 

Charles  F.  Eastman,  32° 

William  H.  Bellows,  32° 

1897 

' 

1898 

' 

1899 

' 

1900 

1901 

1 

1902 

1 

1903 

Charles  F.  Eastman 

William  II.  Bellows 

Fred  II.  English 

Date. 

M.-.  E.-.  Jr.  Or.  Warden. 

Or.  Treasurer. 

Or.  Secretary. 

1894-95 

William  II.  Bellows 

Charles  C.  Smith,  32° 

Fred  H.  English,  32° 

1896 

Fred  II.  English 

' 

James  H.  Bailey,  32° 

1897 

' 

1898 

' 

1899 

' 

1900 

' 

1901 

' 

1902 

James  H.  Bailey 

Hiram  W.  Gardner 

1903 

Richard  T.  Eastman,  32° 

Under  Dispensation  until  date  of  Charter. 


Statistical  History. 


691 


TABLE   54. 

MASONIC    (continued). 

OFFICERS  OF  LITTLETON  CHAPTER  OF  ROSE  CROIX. 
A.-.  A.-.  S.\  RITE.     VALLEY  OF  LITTLETON. 

Chartered  Sept.  19,  1895. 


Date. 

M.'.  W.-.  and  P.".  Master. 

M.-.  E.-.  Sr.  Warden. 

M.-.  E.-.  Jr.  Warden. 

1  894-95  J 
1896 
1897 

Chauncey  H.  Greene,  32° 
Thomas  M.  Fletcher,  33° 

Charles  L.  Clay,  32° 
Chauncey  H.Greene,  32° 

Herbert  E.  Kenney,  32° 
Millard  F.  Young,  32° 

1898 

" 

" 

1899 

" 

" 

1900 

" 

" 

1901 
1902 

Millard  F.  Young,  32° 

William  W.  Oliver,  32° 

1903 

Millard  F.  Young,  32° 

William  W.  Oliver,  32° 

John  C.  Eastman,  32° 

Date. 

M.-.  E.-.  Gr.  Orator. 

R.  •.  and  P.'.  K.-.  Treasurer. 

R  •.  and  P.'.  K.'.  Secretary. 

1894-95 
1896 
1897 

Thomas  M.  Fletcher 
Henry  A.  Ilildreth,  32° 

Charles  C.  Smith,  32° 

Fred  H.  English,  32° 
James  H.  Bailey,  32° 

1898 

" 

1 

" 

1899 

J.  S.  Brown,  32° 

' 

" 

1900 

" 

' 

" 

1901 
1902 

John  F.  Tilton,  32° 

(  Charles  C.  Smith  - 
(  James  H.  Bailey 

Hiram  W.  Gardner,  32° 

1903 

1  Under  Dispensation  until  date  of  Charter. 
*  Died  May  11,  1901. 


G92  History  of  Littleton. 


TABLE   55. 

RESIDENTS   OF   LITTLETON    WHO   HAVE   OCCUPIED   OFFICIAL 

POSITIONS   IN   THE   VARIOUS   MASONIC   GRAND 

BODIES   IN   NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 

M.  AY.,   GK.  LODGE. 

1'hilip  II.  I'addleford,  R.  W.  D.  D.,  Gr.  blaster,  1860-62. 
Henry  W.  Smith.  R.  W.  D.  I).,   Lecturer,  1809. 
Cbauncey  II.  Greene,  R.  W.  1).  I).,  Gr.  Lecturer,  1870-71. 

It.  W.  D.  D.,  Gr.  Master,  1871-72. 

Gr.  Representative  of  the  Gr.  Lodge  of  Texas  since  1879. 

Committee  on  Foreign  Correspondence,  1872. 
William  A.  Haskins,  W.,  Gr.  Steward.  1872-75. 
Evarts  AY.  Farr,  It.  W.  D.  D.,  Gr.  Lecturer,  1874-75. 

Gr.  Representative  to  the  Gr.  Lodge  of  Wyoming  Territory,  1880. 
Albert  S.  Batchellor,  It.  W.  1).  D.,  Gr.  Muster,  1885. 

Gr.  Representative  of  the  Gr.  Lodge  of  Minnesota  since  1896. 

Committee  on  Foreign  Correspondence,  1884-89. 

Committee  on  Jurisprudence  since  1889. 
Ruel  W.  Poor,  R.  W.  D.  I).,  Gr.  Master,  1888. 
Millard  F.  Young.  R.  AY.  D.  D.,  Gr.  Lecturer,  1890. 

!•{.  \Y.  D.  I).,  Gr.  .Master,  1891. 

AY.,  (Jr.  Steward.  1892-95. 

Charles  F.  JJingham,  R.  AY.  IX  1).,  Gr.  Master,  1892. 
Charles  F.  Fastman.  R.  AY.  I).  D.,  Gr.  Lecturer,  1894. 

R.  W.  D.  L>.,  Gr.  Master,  181)5. 
Wilbur  F.   Robins,  R.  AY.  D.  I)..  Gr.  Lecturer,  1900. 

R.  \Y.  I).  D.,  Gr.  Master,  1902. 

GRAXD  ROYAL  AK<  H  ('HAI>TI:R. 
Chauncey  II.  Greene,  Gr.  Steward,  1871. 

GKANJJ  Corxcn,  R.  &   S.   MASTKKS. 

Chaunccv  II.  Greene.  Gr.  Steward.   1S78. 
Gr.  Conductor,  1879. 

(Jr.   Representative   of  the  Gr.   Council  of   Alabama,  1880-80  and 
since  1892. 


Statistical  History.  693 


R.    E.,    GR.    COMMAXDERY    KNIGHTS    TEMPLAR. 

Chauncey  H.  Greene,  Em.  Gr.  S\vord  Bearer,  1868-70. 

Em.  Gr.  Jun.  Warden,  1871. 

Em.  Gr.  Sen.  Warden,  1872. 

Em.  Gr.  Capt.  Gen.,  1873-74. 

Em.  Gr.  Generalissimo,  1875. 

V.  Em.  D.  Gr.  Commander,  1876. 

R.  E.  Gr.  Commander,  1877. 

Representative  of  the  Gr.  Commandery  of  Georgia  since  1879. 
Thaddeus  E.  Sanger,  Gr.  Capt.  of  Guard,  1884. 

Em.  Gr.  Jun.  Warden,  1885. 

Em.  Gr.  Standard  Bearer,  1S86. 

Em.  Gr.  Sen.  Warden,  1887. 
'Em.  Gr.  Capt.  General,  1888. 

Em.  Gr.  Generalissimo,  1889. 

V.  Em.  D.  Gr.  Commander,  1890-91. 

R.  E.  Gr.  Commander,  1892. 

Albert  S.  Batcliellor,  Committee  on  Foreign  Correspondence,  1890-93. 
Thomas  M.  Fletcher,  Gr.  Capt.  of  the  Guard,  1893. 

E.  Gr.  Sword  Bearer,  1894. 

E.  Gr.  Standard  Bearer,  1895. 

Gr.  Representative  of  the  Gr.  Commandery  of  Maine  since  1894. 

E.  Gr.  Jr.  Warden,  1896. 

E.  Gr.  Sr.  Warden,  1897. 

E.  Gr.  Capt.  General,  1898. 

E.  Gr.  Generalissimo,  1899-1900. 

V.  E.  Deputy  Grand  Commander,  1901-02. 

R.  E.  Grand  Commander,  1903. 
Charles  F.  Eastman,  Representative  to  the  Gr.  Commandery  of  Florida 

since  1895. 

Wilbur  F.  Robins,  Representative  to  the  Gr.  Commandery  of  Arkansas 
since  1902. 

TABLE   5G. 

OFFICERS   OF   MOUNT    EUSTIS   CHAPTER   ORDER   OF 
EASTERN   STAR. 

ClIAKTKRED    (  >CT.    1(3,    1901. 


Worthy  Matron. 

Secretary. 

Treasurer. 

1901-2 
1902-3 

Jennie  1).  Henry 
Delia  N.  Gardner 

Bella  A.  Stevens 
Nellie  K.  Kieliardson 

Mary  E.  Simomls 

I 

694 


History  of  Littleton. 


TABLE   57. 

OFFICERS  OF   AMMOXOOSUC   LODGE   NO.   24.   I.   O.  O.   F. 
INSTITUTED  OCT.  24,  1848. 


Date. 

Noble-Grand. 

Vice-Grand. 

Secretary. 

1848 

James  H.  Angier 

David  P.  Sanborn 

Marquis  L.  Goold 

1849 

David  P.  Sanborn 

Otis  Batchelder 

" 

Jan..  1850 

Otis  Batchelcier 

Ebenezer  Eastman 

Adams  Moore 

Julv.  1850 

Marquis  L.  Gookl 

Adams  Moore 

Francis  Ilodgman 

Jan.,  1851 

Adams  Moore 

Francis  Hodgman 

William  C.  Woolson 

Julv,  1851 

Francis  Hodgman 

Charles  W.  Bracket! 

(ieorge  S.  Woolson 

Jan.,  1852 

Charles  W.  Brackett' 

Joseph  L.  Gibb 

Charles  E.  Blake 

July,  1852 

Joseph  L.  Gibb 

Charles  E.  Blake 

James  II.  Angier 

Jan.,  1853 

James  H.  Angier 

Benjamin  W.  Kilburn 

George  S.  Woolson 

Julv,  1858 

Benjamin  W.  Kilburn 

Edward  O.  Kenney 

Marquis  L.  Goold 

Jan.,  1854 

Edward  O.  Kenney 

George  S.  Woolson 

" 

July,  1854 

George  S.  Woolson 

Robert  II.  Nelson 

" 

Jan.,  1855 

Aaron  B.  Miner 

Josiah  Kilburn 

it 

Julv,  1855 

Josiah  Kilburn 

George  F.  Batchelder 

n 

Jan",  1850 

George  F.  Batehelder 

George  Abbott 

" 

Julv,  1850 

George  Abbott 

Albert  H.  Quimby 

" 

Jan.,  1857 

Albert  II.  Quimby 

James  J.  Barrett 

" 

July,  1857 

James  J.  Barrett 

Calvin  J.  Wallace 

" 

Jan.,  1858 

Calvin  J.  Wallace 

Ai  Fitzgerald 

" 

July,  1858 

Ai  Fitzgerald 

Alonzo  Weeks 

" 

Jan.,  1859 

Alonzo  Weeks 

Chester  M.  Goodwin 

" 

July,  1859 

Chester  M.  Goodwin 

Roby  C.  Towne 

Edward  O.  Kenney 

Date. 

Treasurer. 

Conductor. 

Warden. 

1848 

Ebenezer  Eastman 

Otis  Batchelder 

1849 

Alonzo  \Veeks 

Jan.,  1850 

it 

Julv',  1850 

" 

Benjamin  W.  Kilburn 

Aaron  B.  Miner 

Jan.,  1851 

Noah  W.  lianlett 

" 

Charles  W.  Brackett 

July,  1851 

James  J.  Barrett 

Otis  Batchelder 

Jan",  1852 

David  P.  Sanborn 

Aaron  B.  Miner 

" 

July,  1852 

Calvin  J.  Wallace 

•' 

" 

Jan.,  1858 

" 

" 

" 

July,  185:} 

" 

" 

" 

Jan.,  1854 

Samuel  T.  Morse 

Charles  W.  Bracket! 

Aaron  !>.  Miner 

July,  1854 

Josejih  Shute 

Noah  W.  Raidett 

(ieorge  Abbott 

Jan.,   1S55 

Francis  Hodgman 

George  F.  Batchelder 

July,  1855 

" 

Charles  W.  Brackett 

l' 

Jan.,  185() 

" 

James  J.  Barrett 

Aaron  B.  Miner 

Julv,  1S5C) 

" 

Calvin  J.  Wallace 

Noah  W.  Ranlett 

Jan.,  1857 

" 

Charles  W.  Brackett 

Ai  Fit/gerald 

Jnlv,  1*57 

i. 

Jan.,  1S5K 

„ 

Julv'.  1X5S 

" 

Abijah  Allen.  Jr. 

Charles  W.  Brackett 

Jan'.,  1X5!) 

" 

Charles  W.  Brackett 

James  J.  Barrett 

Julv.  1  ,*.-)<> 

James  J.  Barrett 

Albert  !I.  Quimby 

Charles  W.  Mrackett 

Statistical  History. 

TABLE   58. 
OFFICERS. OF    LAFAYETTE   LODGE   No.    11,    I.  O.  O.  F. 

INSTITUTED  OCT.  4,  1876. 


695 


Date. 

Noble  Grand. 

Vice-Grand. 

Secretary. 

1876 

William  A.  Richardson 

Horace  Gates 

Clmuncey  II.  Greene 

Jan.,  1877 

" 

" 

" 

July,  1877 

Horace  Gates 

Francis  II.  Smith 

Dennis  O.  Wallace 

Jan.,  1878 

Cliauncey  H   Greene 

Henry  J.  Fisher 

" 

July,  1878 

Henry  J.  Fisher 

Dennis  O.  Wallace 

Joseph  E.  Burns 

Jan.,  1879 

" 

" 

" 

July,  1879 

Dennis  O.  Wallace 

Frank  B.  Phillips 

Henry  M.  Giffin 

Jan.,  1880 

Frank  15.  Phillips 

James  E.  Vial 

" 

Julv,  1880 

James  E.  Vial 

Joe  E.  Burns 

" 

Jan.,  1881 

Joseph  E.  Burns 

Henry  M.  Giffin 

Henry  J.  Fisher 

July,  1881 

August  Huron 

Charles  F.  Harris 

Moses  F.  Ilarriman 

Jan.,  1882 

Charles  F.  Harris 

Moses  F.  Harriman 

Horace  J.  Kenney 

July,  1882 

Moses  F.  Harriman 

Buel  Daniels 

Robert  M.  Dow 

Jan.,  1883 

Buel  Daniels 

Robert  M.  Dow 

Ludwig  G.  Herrmann 

July,  1883 

Hubert  M.  Dow 

Horace  J.  Kenney 

" 

Jan.,  1884 

Horace  J.  Kenney 

Ludwig  G.  Herrmann 

Moses  F.  Harriman 

July,  1884 

Jay  O.  Galer 

Porter  B.  Watson 

Hiram  E.  Currier 

Jan.,  1885 

Porter  B.  Watson 

Hiram  E.  Currier 

Henry  J.  Fisher 

July,  1885 

X.  F.  Miles 

Charles  E.  Swasey 

" 

Jim.,  1886 

Charles  E.  Swasey 

Sherared  Clay 

" 

Julv,  1886 

Sherared  Clay 

Thomas  II.  Pearsons 

" 

Jan.,  1887 

Thomas  H.  Pearsons 

S.  Everett  Richardson 

" 

July,  1887 

S.  Everett  Richardson 

Percival  S.  Graham 

' 

Jan.,  1888 

Percival  S.  Graham 

Fred  A.  Russell 

< 

July,  1888 

Fred  A.  Russell 

Frank  L.  Dimick 

1 

Jan.,  1889 

George  Farr 

Frank  H.  Gilman 

' 

July,  1889 

Frank  H.  Gilman 

Orrin  W.  Ilunkins 

' 

Jan.,  1890 

Orrin  W.  Ilunkins 

Benjamin  F.  Heath 

' 

July,  1890 

Benjamin  F.  Heath 

Spencer  A.  Vandecar 

' 

Jan.,  1891 

Spencer  A.  Vandecar 

Elberto  E.  Phillips 

' 

July,  1891 

August  Huron 

Stephen  F.  Farnsworth 

' 

Jan.,  1892 

Stephen  F.  Farnsworth 

Chester  II.  Wallace 

1 

July,  1892 

Chester  H.  Wallace 

Charles  H.  Hodge 

" 

Jan.,   1893 

Charles  II.  Hodge 

Elmer  E.  Crane 

" 

July,  1893 

Elmer  E.  Crane 

Wilford  M.  Kenney 

" 

Jan.,  1894 

Wili'ord  M.  Kenney 

John  T.  Lytle 

" 

July,  1894 

John  T.  Lytle 

II.  W.  West 

" 

Jan.,  1895 

H.  W.  West 

Cyprian  Trombley 

August  Huron 

July,  1895 

Cyprian  Trombley 

Hiram  E.  Currier 

" 

Jan.,  1896 

Hiram  E.  Currier 

Walter  E.  Chandler 

" 

July,  1896 

Walter  E.  Chandler 

John  Woodward 

" 

Jan.,  1897 

Hiram  E.  Currier   . 

Hernice  II.  Pennock 

'• 

Julv,  1897 

Bernice  II.  1'ennock 

John  Woodward 

" 

Jaii.,  1898 

John  Woodward 

Austin  D.  Harris 

'• 

Julv,  1898 

Freelan  W.  Gray 

" 

" 

Jan.,  1899 

Pereival  S.  Graham 

Ai  Brooks 

" 

July,  1899 

Ai  Brooks 

Ilervev  W.  Maxime 

" 

Jan.,  1900 

Hervey  Maxime 

Edward  II.  Wells 

" 

Julv,  1900 

Edward  II.  Wells 

Leslie  F.  Bean 

" 

Jan.,  1901 

Leslie  F.  Bean 

Edgar  0.  Fogg 

" 

Julv,  1901 

Edgar  O.  Fogg 

Charles  W.  Andrus 

" 

Jan.,  1902 

Charles  W.  Andrus 

Jessie  C.  Iliggins 

" 

July,  1902 

Jessie  C.  Iliggins 

William  W.  Brown 

" 

Jan.,  1903 

William  W.  Brown 

Wilbur  W.  Cragie 

Wilford  M.  Kenney 

July,  1903 

Wilbur  W.  Cragie 

Charles  Elliott 

S.  Everett  Richardson 

G96 


History  of  Littleton. 


TABLE   58    (continued). 


Date. 

Treasurer. 

Conductor. 

Warden. 

1870 

George  W.  Barrett 

Henry  J.  Fisher 

Jan.,  1877 

Dennis  O.  Wallace 

" 

Jnlv,  1877 

John  Smillie                        Joseph  E.  Burns 

Iliram  E.  Currier 

Jan.,  1878 

Porter  B.  Watson 

" 

" 

July,  1878 

" 

August  Huron 

Frank  B.  Phillips 

J;m.,  1870 

" 

Frank  B.  Phillips              Hiram  E.  Currier 

Julv,  1879 

" 

Joseph  E.  Burns             !   George  H.  Ordway 

Jan.,   1880 

" 

N.  F.  Miles                          Andrew  J.  Weeks 

Julv.  1880 

" 

Henrv  J.  Fisher 

George  II.  Ordway 

Jan.,  1881 

" 

N.  F.  Miles 

Samuel  F.  Thompson 

Julv,  1881 

" 

"                                    Hiram  E.  Currier 

Jan.,  1882 

" 

Dennis  O.  Wallace          N.  F.  Miles 

Julv,  1882 

" 

"                            Jav  O.  (ialer 

Jan'.,  188:5 

"                                             "                                     " 

Julv,  1883 

Henrv  J.  Fisher 

Jan.,  1881 

i  N.  F.  Miles 

Julv,  1884 

Robert  M.  Dow 

Jan.,  188") 

Frank  L.  Dimick              Charles  E.  Swasey 

July,  188.3 

1   Horace  J.  Kermey 

Frank  L.  Dimick 

Jan.,  188(5 

Charles  F.  Harris               Frank  B.  Phillips 

S.  Everett  Richardson 

Julv,  188(5 

Porter  B.  Watson              John  Ready 

" 

Jau".,  1887 

Charles  F.  Harris 

Hiram  E.  Currier 

Julv,  1887 

" 

" 

Fred  A.  Russell 

Jan.,   1888 

" 

» 

Andrew  J.  Clogston 

Julv,  1888 

" 

John  E.  Weeks 

" 

Jan.,  1889 

"                                          " 

" 

July,  1889 

" 

"                                               " 

Jan.,  1890 

" 

Charles  H.  Hodge 

Julv,  1890 

" 

"                                Hiram  E.  Currier 

Jan.,  1891 

" 

Fred  A.  Russell                 Andrew  J.  Clogston 

July,  1891 

" 

Thomas  II.  Pearsons       Charles  II.  Hodge 

Jan.,  1892 

" 

Walter  A.  Rainey             Andrew  J.  Clogston 

Julv,  1892 

" 

Noble  Paterson 

Jan.,  189=1 

" 

Noel  D.  Thomas               Noble  Paterson 

-lulv,  189:: 

" 

John  Woodward                August  Huron 

Jan.,  1894 

" 

Frank  L.  Clough 

Julv,  1894 

Orrin  W.  Hunkins 

Austin  D.  Harris              Cyprian  Trombley 

Jan.,   189;", 

" 

Freelan  W.  Gray              Austin  D.  Harris 

Julv,  189") 

" 

Henry  P.  Delano 

Noble  Paterson 

Jan.,  180(5 

" 

Austin  D.  Harris 

Charles  H.  Hodge 

Julv,  ISOC, 

" 

Walter  A.  Rainey 

Herbert  W.  West 

Jan.,  1897 

" 

" 

" 

Julv,  1897 

" 

" 

George  N.  Twombly 

Jan.,  1898 

" 

" 

Elliot  F.  Sawyer 

Julv,  1*98 

" 

" 

Ai  Brooks 

Jan..   1MI9 

" 

Herbert  W.  West 

I  Icrvey  W.  Maxime 

Julv,  ISO'.t 

"                                           " 

Walter  A    Rainey 

Jan.,   19(10 

Edward  Pyer 

Julv.  1900 

"                                       " 

" 

Jan..   I'.iOl 

" 

Charles  W.  Andrus 

Edward  M.  Pver 

Julv,  1901 

" 

Wilbur  W.  Cragie 

Edward  H.  Wells 

Jan".,  19!C_> 

" 

A.  T.  Brooks                   j   Carl  T.  Currier 

Julv,  1902 

George  W.  Van  Ness 

Walter  A.  Rainey 

Jan'..   190.", 

Cyprian  Tronihlev 

A.  T.  Brooks 

Carl  T.  (  'urrier 

Julv.  190:J      Edward  H.  Wells 

Edward  Pyer                      I'hilip  NYssor 

Statistical  History. 


697 


TABLE   59. 

OFFICERS   OF    LITTLETON   ENCAMPMENT  No.  26,  I.  O.  O.  F. 
INSTITUTED  APKIL  3,  1879. 


Date. 

Chief  Patriarch. 

High  Priest. 

Senior  Warden. 

Apr.,  1879 

Cliauncev  II.  Greene 

George  T.  Cruft 

E.  B.  Ilamblin 

Julv,  1879 

George  f  .  Cruft 

James  E.  Vial 

Hiram  E.  Currier 

Jan.,  1880 

" 

" 

Henry  J.  Fisher 

July,  1880 

James  E.  Vial 

Henry  J.  Fisher 

Dennis  O.  Wallace 

Jan.,  1881 

Henry  J.  Fisher 

James  E.  Vial 

" 

July,  1881 

Dennis  O.  Wallace 

Frank  B.  Phillips 

Joseph  E.  Burns 

Jan.,  1882 

Frank  B.  Phillips 

James  E.  Vial 

Buel  Daniels 

July,  1882 

Buel  Daniels 

Dennis  0.  Wallace 

August  Huron 

Jan.,  1888 

August  Huron 

Jay  O.  Galer 

July,  1883 

Jay  0.  Galer 

Charles  F.  Harris 

Jan.,  1884 

" 

'• 

July,  1884 

Hiram  E.  Currier 

Benjamin  F.  Heath 

Jan.,  1885 

Benjamin  F.  Heath 

Charles  H.  Stone 

July,  1885 

Charles  H.  Stone 

Jay  0.  Galer 

Charles  Morse 

Jan.,  188(5 

Charles  F.  Harris 

Frank  L.  Dimick 

July,  1880 

" 

Thomas  II.  Pearsons 

Jan.,  1887 

Percival  S.  Graham 

S.  Everett  Richardson 

July,  1887 

" 

Fred  A.  Russell 

Jan.,  1888 

Fred  A.  Russell 

Orrin  W.  Hunkins 

July,  1888 

Orrin  W.  Hunkins 

Frank  L.  Dimick 

Jan.,  1880 

Frank  II.  Oilman 

John  E.  Weeks 

Julv,  1889 

John  E.  Weeks 

Andrew  J.  Weeks 

Jan.,  1890 

Andrew  J.  Weeks 

Walter  A.  Rainey 

July,  1890 

August  Huron 

Spencer  A.  Vandecar 

Jan.,  1891 

Thomas  H.  Pearsons 

11 

July,  1891 

Spencer  A.  Vandecar 

August  Huron 

Jan.,  1892 

Walter  A.  Kainey 

Benjamin  F.  Heath 

July,  1892 

" 

Frank  H.  Oilman 

Jan.,  189:3 

Frank  II.  Oilman 

John  B.  Merrill 

Charles  II.  Hodge 

July,  1893 

Charles  H.  Hodge 

" 

Noel  D.  Thomas 

Jan.,  181)4 

Noel  D.  Thomas 

Frank  II.  Oilman 

Elliott  F.  Sawver 

July,  1894 

Elliott  F.  Sawver 

" 

John  B.  Merrill 

Jan.,  1895 

John  H.  Merrill 

" 

Hiram  E.  Currier 

Julv,  1895 

Hiram  E.  Currier 

August  Huron 

Noble  Patterson 

Jan'.,  1896 

Jay  O.  Galer 

" 

Elliott  F.  Sawyer 

July,  189(5 

Austin  D.  Harris 

Charles  II.  Hodge 

Walter  E.  Chandler 

Jan.,  1897 

Walter  E.  Chandler 

August  Huron 

Elbridge  Flint 

July,  1897 

Elbridge  Flint 

' 

Charles  II.  Hoyt 

Jan.,  1898 

Austin  D.  Harris 

" 

July,  1898 

" 

' 

George  II.  Van  Ness 

Jan.,  1899 

George  II.  Van  Ness 

' 

Hiram  E.  Currier 

Julv,  1899 

John  E.  Bisson 

1 

" 

Jan".,  1900 

" 

' 

Ilervey  W.  Maxime 

July,  1900 

Leslie  F.  Bean 

1 

" 

Jan.,  1901 

Horvey  W.  Maxime 

' 

William  Connor 

July,  1901 

William  Connor 

Charles  W.  Andrus 

Jan.,  1002 

Charles  W.  Andrus 

Alva  Brooks 

Julv,  1902 

Alva  Brooks 

' 

Edgar  O.  Fogg 

Jan.,  1903 

Edgar  0.  Fogg 

George  II.  Van  Ness 

Cvprian  Trombley 

July,  1903 

Cyprian  Trombley 

Edward  II.  Wells" 

698 


History  of  Littleton. 


TABLE   59   (continued). 


Date. 

Scribe. 

Treasurer. 

Junior  Warden. 

Apr,  1879 
July,  1879 
Jan.,  1880 

George  W.  Barrett 

Elbriclge  Flint 

Henry  J.  Fisher 
Dennis  ().  Wallace 

July,  1880 
Jan.,  1881 
July,  1881 
Jan.,  1882 

« 

« 

Frank  B.  Phillips 
Joseph  E.  Burns 
Buel  Daniels 
N.  F.  Miles 

July,  1882 
Jan.,  1883 

,« 

" 

John  E.  Prescott 
Charles  F.  Harris 

July,  1883 
Jan.,  1884 

Buel  Daniels 

Henry  J.  Fisher 

Benjamin  F.  death 

July,  1884 
Jan.,  1885 
July,  1885 
Jan.,  1886 

August  Huron 

" 

Charles  H.  Stone 
Charles  Morse 
Frank  L.  Dimick 
Thomas  II.  Pearsons 

July,  188G 
Jan.,  1887 

" 

«, 

Sherared  Clay 
Fred  A.  Russell 

July,  1887 
Jan.,  1888 

Robert  M.  Dow 

tl 

Spencer  A.  Vandeear 

July,  1888 
Jan.,  1889 

1'ercival  S.  Graham 

„ 

Frank  II.  Oilman 
Andrew  J.  Weeks 

Julv,  1889 

ii 

" 

Orrin  W.  Hunkins 

Jan.,  1890 
July,  1890 
Jan.,  1891 
July,  1891 
Jan.,  1S92 

« 

« 

August  Huron 
Fred  A.  Russell 
Elbridge  Flint 
Thomas  II.  Pearsons 
Frank  II.  Oilman 

July,  1892 
Jan.,  1893 

" 

,, 

Charles  II.  Hodge 
Noel  1).  Thomas 

July,  1893 
Jan.,  1894 

* 

" 

Elliott  F.  Sawyer 
John  B.  Merrill 

July,  1894 
Jan.,  1895 

' 

" 

Charles  II.  I  lodge 
Noble  Patterson 

July,  1895 
Jan.,  1896 

c 

Orrin  W.  Hunkins 

Austin  I).  Harris 
Frank  II.  Oilman 

July,  1890 
Jan  ,  1897 

( 

, 

Thomas  II.  Pearsons 

July,  1897 
Jan.,  1898 
July,  1898 
Jan.,  1899 

« 

' 

Frank  II.  Oilman 
George  II.  Van  Ness 

John  E.  Bisson 

July,  1899 
Jan.,  1900 

< 

' 

Fred  A.  Russell 
Herbert  W.  West 

July,  1900 

' 

' 

George  W.  Connor 

Jan".,  1901 

1 

' 

Charles  W.  Andrus 

Julv,  1901 

' 

Alva  Brooks 

Jan.,  1902 

' 

' 

Carl  T.  Currier 

July,  1902 
Jan.,  1003 

' 

i 

Cvprian  Tromblcy 
Edward  II.  Wells" 

July,  1903 

" 

John  K.  Beers 

Statistical  History. 


699 


TABLE   60. 

OFFICERS  OF  THE  GRAND  CANTON  ALBIN  No.  4,  PATRIARCHS 
MILITANT,   LITTLETON   COMPONENT   No.  14,  I.  O.  O.  F. 

INSTITUTED  OCTOBER  1887. 


Date. 

Captain. 

Lieutenant. 

Ensign. 

Oft.,  1887,    ) 

to 

William  A.  Richardson 

Henry  J.  Fisher 

Fred  A.  Russell 

April,  1889) 

1889-90 

Henry  J  Fisher 

Fred  A.  Russell 

Spencer  A.  Vandecar 

1890-91 

Fred  A.  Ilussell 

Spencer  A.  Vandecar 

Orin  W.  Hunkins 

1891-92 

Spencer  A.  Vandecar 

Orrin  W.  Hunkins 

Benjamin  F.  Heath 

1892-93 

Orrin  W.  flunking 

Benjamin  F.  Heath 

August  Huron 

1893-94 

Henry  J.  Fisher 

" 

Spencer  A.  Vandecar 

1894-95 

Orrin  W.  Hunkins 

Henry  J.  Fisher 

Noble  Paterson 

1895-96 

" 

Benjamin  F.  Heath 

" 

1896  &  1897 

" 

" 

" 

1898-99 

Henry  J.  Fisher 

Orrin  W.  Hunkins 

Benjamin  F.  Heath 

August  Huron  Major  3  Batt.  1  Regt.,  P.  M.  from  1889  to  1893. 
William  A.  Richardson  Major  from  1893  to  1890. 


TABLE   61. 

OFFICERS   OF    HELEN    L.   FISHER   REBEKAH    DEGREE   LODGE 
No.  54,  I.  O.  O.  F. 

INSTITUTED  JUNE  7,  1893. 


Date. 

N'oble  Grand. 

Vice-Grand. 

Secretary. 

1893         Jav  O.  Galer 

Lillian  M.  Hunkins           Jennie  A.  Galer 

1894 
1895 

Lillian  M.  Hunkins 
Marv  E.  Flint 

Ellen  M.  Clough 
Jennie  A.  Galer 

Frank  L.  Clougli 
Blanche  Kennev 

1890 

Jennie  A.  Galer 

Lahama  J.  Morrill 

1897 

Lahama  J.  Morrill 

Alzina  A.  Currier 

1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 

Alzina  A.  Currier 
Eliza  Huron 
Mrs.  M    Hodge 
Lillian  M.  Ilunkins 

Eliza  Huron                         Mary  E.  Flint 
Mrs.  M.  Hodge                   Lillian  M.  Hunkins 
Mrs.  X.  P.  Mudgett 
Emilv  E.  Woodward         Ina  M.  Streeter 

1902 

Emilv  E.  Woodward 

Ina  M.  Streeter                  Alzina  A.  Currier 

1903 

Ina  M.  Streeter 

Blanche  E.  Kenney                       '• 

Date. 

Treasurer. 

Conductor. 

Warden. 

1893 
1894 

Eliza  Huron 

Nettie  F.  Kelley 

Mary  E.  Flint 

1895 

" 

" 

Mary  Graham 

1890 

" 

<i 

'• 

1897 

Ina  Streeter                        Emilv  Woodward 

1898 
1899 

Lillian  M.  Htmkins 
Lena  M.  Harris 

Lizzie  Russell                      Mary  Rainey 
"                                Carrie  Mudgett 

1900 

" 

Mrs.  James  Richardson     Mrs.  Edward  Albee 

1901 

" 

Susie  E.  Currier              i  Eva  Chandler 

1902 

" 

'    " 

" 

1903 

" 

" 

Mary  Crane 

700 


History  of  Littleton. 


TABLE   62. 
OFFICERS   OF   CIIISWICK    LODGE,    KNIGHTS   OF    PYTHIAS. 

KD  AUG.  9,  1895. 


Date. 

Chancellor  Commander. 

Vice-Chancellor. 

Prelate. 

Aug.,  1895 
Jan.,   1890 
Julv,  18% 
Jan.,  1897 
July,  1897 
Jan.,  1808 

Frank  L.  Dunlap 
Krving  S.  Prescott 
Elbridge  C.  Young 
Luther  J.  Crane 
Harry  F.  Howe 

Krving  S.  Prescott 
Klbridge  C.  Young 
Luther  J.  Crane 
Harry  F.  Howe 
Arthur  \V.  Gilbert 
Arthur  J.  Bedell 

Elbridge  C.  Young 
Luther  J.  Crane- 
Arthur  W.  Gilbert 
Hiram  E.  Currier 
Luther  J.  Crane 
Fred  J.  Gonver 

July,  1898        Arthur  J.  Bedell 
Jan.,   1899  ,     Freil  J.  Gonyer 
July,  1899  1     Charles  P.  Barnum 
Jan.,  1900 

Fred  J.  Gonyer 
Charles  1".  Barnum 
George  F.  Abbott 

Charles  1'.  Barnum 
George  F.  Abbott 
George  It.  Simpson 

July,  1900       George  F.  Abbott 
Jan.,  1901    | 

George  R.  Simpson 

John  Ferguson 

July,  1901 
Jan.,  1902 
Julv,  1902 

George  11.  Simpson 

Hugh  1).  Wilkins 
n 

Hugh  D.  Wilkins 
William  C.  Spencer 

Isaac'  C.  Ransome 
B.  II.  Jefferson 

Jan.,  1903 
July,  1903 

William  C.  Spencer 

B.  II.  Jefferson 

George  E.  Rolfe 
John  Ferguson 

Date. 

Master  of  Work.                Keeper  of  Records  and  Seal.              Master  of  Finance. 

Aug.,  1895 
Jan.,  1896 

Charles  P.  Barnum        James  J.  Harrington         Charles  E.  Smith 
Walter  C.  Chase             Charles  P.  Barnum 

Julv,  1896 
Jan.,  1897 

John  A.  Fogg 

Edwin  X.  Young                 Harry  F.  Howe 
"                              Ernest  G.  Kansome 

July,  1897  ; 
Jan.,  1898 

Luther  .J.  Crane                 Arthur  10.  Strain 

July,  1898       Charles  C.  Clough 
Jan.,  1899       John  A.  Fogg                  Fred  K.  Greene 
July,  1899       Isaac  C.  Ransome 
Jan.,  1900 

Luther  J.  Crane 

Julv,  1900 
Jan.,  1901 

William  C.  Spencer 

" 

Julv,  1901       John  A.  Fogg 
Jan.,   1902 

Fred  J.  Gonver 

" 

Julv,  1902 

" 

" 

Jan.,   190:5        I).  J.  Bovine 

James  C.  Blake 

" 

Julv,  190:} 

"                                              " 

Statistical  History. 


701 


TABLE   63. 

OFFICERS   WHITE   MOUNTAIN    LODGE   No. 

TEMPLARS. 

OKOAXIZED  1865. 


10,    I.    O.    OF  GOOD 


Date. 

Worthy  Chief  Templar. 

W.  Vice-Templar. 

W.  Secretary. 

4  qr.  18651 
1   "   1866 

George  Farr 
Evarts  W.  Farr 

Lizzie  Hodgman 
Carrie  Farr 

Lafayette  Noble 
Ellen  B.  Farr 

2   "   1866 

" 

M.  Jennie  Jackson 

" 

3   "   1866 

" 

Carrie  Farr 

" 

4   "    1866 
1   "   1867 

James  R.  Jackson 
Truman  Carter 

Ellen  B.  Farr 
Adeline  S.  Kilburn 

Lafayette  Noble 
Luther  D.  Sanborn 

2   "   1867 
3   "   1867 

Tliaddeus  E.  Sanger 

Lue  M.  Wilson 

Frank  Glazier 
James  R.  Jackson 

4   "   1867 

George  Farr 

" 

Charles  A.  Farr 

1   "   1868 

Lafayette  Noble 

Laura  Johnson 

Albert  Parker 

2   "    1868 
3   "    1868 

Tliaddeus  E.  Sanger 
Luther  T.  Dow 

Emile  Gibson 
Carrie  Farr 

Clara  Brooks 
Frank  E.  Stevens 

4    "    1868 

Evarts  W.  Farr 

Z.  M.  Sinclair 

Hartwell  H.  Southworth 

1    "    1869 

Albert  Parker 

Carrie  Sanborn 

Charles  A.  Farr 

2    "    1869 

Tliaddeus  E.  Sanger 

Laura  Smillie 

Luther  1).  Sanborn 

Date. 

Worthy  Treasurer. 

W.  Financial  Secty. 

W.  Chaplain. 

4  qr.  1865 
1     '    1866 

Charles  Hodgman 
Clara  Brooks 

Nelson  C.  Farr 
Charles  Hodgman 

John  Merrill 
Truman  Carter 

2    '   1866 

" 

«« 

" 

4    '   1866 
1     '    1867 

Henry  II.  Lovejoy 
Anna  Brackett 

Sue  Brackett 
Tliaddeus  E.  Sanger 
Nelson  Parker 

Charles  E.  Milliken 

2    '   1867 

Lue  M.  Wilson 

A.  B.  Wilson 

" 

3   "    1867 

M.  Jennie  Jackson 

William  Bowman 

Alfred  E.  Drew 

4    "    1867 

Addie  Stearns 

Irenoeus  Kneeland 

" 

1    "    1868 
2   "    1868 
3   "    1868 

Mary  Bowman 
Ellen  A.  Kellogg 
Sue  Bronson 

Frank  Glazier 
Ira  Parker 

Charles  E.  Milliken 
Alfred  E.  Drew 

4   "    1868 

Ellen  Renfrew 

Ezra  Brooks 

" 

1    "    1869 

« 

" 

" 

2   "    1869'^ 

Rosa  Fisher 

Charles  A.  Farr 

Josiah  Kilburn 

1  No  records  prior  to  this  date. 
a  Disbanded  Nov.  3,  1869. 


702 


History  of  Littleton. 


TABLE   04. 

OFFICERS  OF   CIIISWICK   LODGE   No.   2411,   KNIGHTS  OF 

HONOR. 

INSTITUTED  MARCH  31,  1881. 


Date. 

Dictator. 

Vice-Dictator. 

Assistant  Dictator. 

1881 

Thaddeus  E.  Sanger 

Fred  B.  Wright 

Robert  M.  Dow 

Julv,  1881 

Fred  B.  Wright 

Robert  M.  Dow 

Henry  F.  Green 

1882 

Henry  F.  Green 

" 

Oscar  C.  Hatch 

1883 

Oscar  C.  Hatch 

" 

George  W.  Cowen 

1884 

John  F.  Tilton 

George  W.  Cowen 

Jay  O.  Galer 

1885 

George  W.  Cowen 

Jay  O.  Galer 

Charles  Dodge 

Julv,  1885 

" 

" 

Allen  J.  Church 

1880 

Jay  O.  Galer 

Charles  F.  Eastman 

" 

July,  1886 

" 

Thomas  Carlton 

Thomas  Byers 

1887 

George  W.  Cowen 

" 

" 

1888 

" 

" 

" 

1889 

" 

" 

Silas  T.  Hatch 

18t>0 

" 

Hosea  Patterson 

Charles  F.  Eastman 

1891 

•' 

" 

" 

1892 

" 

" 

" 

1893 

ii 

" 

" 

1894 

" 

" 

Albert  S.  Batchellor 

1895 

" 

" 

" 

1896 

" 

" 

" 

July,  1896 

Jay  0.  Galer 

" 

Arthur  E.  Trask 

Jan.,  1897 

Henry  F.  Green 

Charles  A.  Farr 

Julv,  1897 

George  VV.  Cowen 

" 

Jan.,  1898 

" 

" 

July,  1898 

" 

" 

Jan.,  1899 

" 

" 

July,  1899 

" 

" 

Jan.,  1900 

Charles  Eaton 

" 

Myron  H.  Richardson 

July,  1900 

' 

Henry  F.  Green 

[Discontinued] 

Jan.,  1901 

' 

" 

July,  1901 

' 

" 

Jan.,  1902 

' 

ii 

July,  1902 

' 

" 

Jan.,  190:3 

1 

" 

July,  1903 

Date. 

Reporter. 

Financial  Reporter. 

Treasurer. 

1881 

Henry  F.  Green 

William  II.  Bellows 

Oscar  C.  Hatch 

July,  1881 

Charles  F.  Eastman 

" 

" 

1882 

" 

" 

Benjamin  F.  Wells 

1883 

L.  J.  Clement 

Charles  A.  Farr 

1884 

" 

" 

1885 

" 

" 

Julv,  1885 

" 

" 

1886 

•• 

" 

July,  1886 

Allen  J.  Church 

" 

1887 

" 

' 

1888 

« 

1 

1889 

" 

1 

1890 

" 

• 

1891 

" 

* 

Statistical  History. 
TABLE   64    (continued^). 


703 


Date. 

Reporter. 

Financial  Reporter. 

Treasurer. 

1892 

Allen  J.  Church 

Charles  A.  Farr 

Benjamin  F.  Wells 

1893 

ii 

1894 

" 

1895 

« 

1896 

ii 

July,  1896 

Myron  H.  Richardson 

Jan.,  1897 

" 

July,  1897 

George  R.  Williamson 

Jan.,  1898 

July,  1898 

Jan.,  1899 

July,  1899 

1900 

1901 

1902 

1903 

TABLE   65. 

OFFICERS   OF   THE   WHITE   MOUNTAIN   GRANGE   No.    50. 

ORGANIZED  FEB.  19,  1875. 

Date. 

Master. 

Treasurer. 

Secretary. 

1875 

Abijah  Allen 

Amos  P.  Wallace 

John  W.  English 

1876 

« 

1877 

« 

1878 

« 

1879 

Charles  W.  Bedell 

1880 

1881 

1882 

John  C.  Quimby 

1883 

John  W.  Farr 

1884 

< 

1885 

' 

1886 

William  Harriman 

Mrs.  Charles  W.  Bedell 

1887 

" 

Mrs.  Charles  R.'Allen 

1888 

" 

Henry  I).  Harriman 

1889 

Charles  W.  Bedell 

Leslie  F.  Bean 

1890 

" 

John  W.  Farr 

" 

1891 

ii 

« 

" 

1892 

John  W.  Farr 

Milo  C.  Pollard 

George  E.  Walker 

1893 

" 

" 

" 

1894 

Charles  R.  Allen 

George  L.  Flanders 

Charles  E.  Baker 

1895 

" 

Noah  Farr 

" 

1896 

Daniel  B.  Crane 

" 

Mrs.  John  W.  Farr 

1897 

Mrs.  John  W.  Farr 

Mrs.  Martha  G.Walker 

Mrs.  George  Bartlett 

1898 

Leslie  F.  Bean 

Noah  Farr 

Stella  Bean 

1899 

" 

" 

" 

1900 

Elmer  Quimby 

Milo  C.  Pollard 

Leslie  F.  Bean 

1901 

Elmer  E.  Crane 

" 

" 

1902 

Olin  J.  Mooney 

Leslie  F.  Bean 

Ella  A.  Bean 

1903 

Mrs.  Ella  A.  Smith 

704 


History  of  Littleton. 


TABLE   G6. 

OFFICERS   OF   THE    NORTHERN   N.    H.    POMONA    GRANGE 

No.    5. 

OKGANIZKD  JAN.  24,  1888. 


Date. 

Master. 

Treasurer. 

Secretary. 

1888 

George  Fair 

William  llarriman 

A.  P.  Prescott 

1889 

" 

" 

" 

1890 

" 

Noah  Farr 

George  E.  Walker 

1891 

" 

" 

" 

1892 

" 

" 

" 

1893 

Bert  A.  Taylor 

" 

1894 

" 

" 

Seth  W.  Miner 

1895 

Charles  E.  King 

W.  K.  Stock  well 

" 

1890 

" 

" 

" 

1897 

Henry  A.  Hildreth 

" 

Edward.  E.  Bishop 

1898 

" 

" 

1899 

" 

" 

" 

19UO 

Fred  W.  Williams 

" 

Leslie  F.  Bean 

1901 

" 

" 

1902 

Edward  E.  Bishop 

Andrew  B.  Elliott 

" 

190:3 

TABLE   67. 

OFFICERS   OF   THE   FRENCH-CANADIAN    SOCIETY. 
CHARTERED  DEC.  10,  1892. 


I);ite. 

President. 

Secretary. 

Treasurer. 

Jan.,  1893  ' 

Charles  Laflanune 

Ubald  Cormier 

Louis  Cover 

Julv,  1893 

William  Martineau 

" 

Jan.,  1894 
July,  1894  i 
Jan.,  1895  ; 
Julv,  1895 

Joseph  Coutri 
Ubald  Cormier 
Frank  Vigenault 

Edward  Dcsy 
Louis  E.  Gireaux 

Frank  Gagnon 
Louis  Cover 

Jan.,  1896   j 
July,  1890 
Jan.,  1897 
Jan.,  1898 

Louis  E.  Gireaux 
Frank  Vigenault 
Louis  Coyer 
Gilbert  Mozrall 

Ubald  Cormier 
Louis  E.  Gireaux 

Frank  Gagnon 
Victor  Sylvestre 

Julv,  1898 

Louis  E.  Gireaux 

Ubald  Cormier 

Jan.,  1899 

Frank  Vigenault 

" 

July,  1899 
Jan.,   1900 

Victor  Audihert 

Thomas  Boisvin 

Julv,  1900  i 

Peter  LeClair 

n 

Jan.,  19(il 
Jan.,  190:2 
.Jan.,  190:j 

Frank  Vigenault 
Victor  Audibert 

Ubald  Cormier 

Victor  (  adbois 
Archie  Hicard 

1   Elections  annuallv  after  July,  1900. 


Statistical  History. 


705 


TABLE   68. 

CATHOLIC   ORDER  OF   FORESTERS,   ST.    ROSE   OF   LIMA 
COURT   No.   526. 

CHARTERED  AUG.  28,  1895. 


Date. 

Chief  Ranger. 

Vice-Chief  Ranger. 

Secretary. 

1805 
1896 
1897 
1898 

Cyrille  J.  Paradis 
James  F.  Kelley 
Cyrille  J.  Paradis 
Hilaire  Pelletier 

James  F.  Kelley 
Fred  Carboneau 
Peter  Bruseau 
Peter  LeClare 

Louis  E.  Gireaux 
George  Houle 

1899 

" 

" 

(i 

1900 

" 

" 

" 

1901 
1902 
1903 

George  Houle 
Frank  Vigenault 

Edward  Belanger 
(i 

Francis  Garneau 

Eugene  Byron 
u 

VOL.  ii.  —  45 


70(> 


History  of  Littleton. 


TABLE   1)9. 

OFFICERS  OF    INDEPENDENT  ORDER    OF    FORESTERS,    COURT 
AMMONOOSl'C    No.    11)95. 

INSTITUTED  OCT.  8,  18'J5. 


Date. 

C.  D.  II. 

Chief  Hanger. 

Chief  Ranger. 

Vice-Chief  Hanger. 

1805 

180(3 
18'.)7 
18<J8 
1  81)0 
1900 

Fred  A.  Thorn 
George  C.  Austin 
Henry  ().  Jackson 
Elbridge  G.  Pearce 
Henry  (  >.  Jackson 

Henry  0.  Jackson 
A.  T.  Page 
Albert  11.  Quiinby 
Kdgar  F.  Davis 
Adam  Prindle 
John  Ferguson 

Otis  H.  Merrill 
Albert  II.  Quimby 
Leon  Quiinby 
.John  Ferguson 

Adam  Prindle 

1001 

i 

Adam  Prindle 

Lorenzo  I.  Brown 

1902 

Arthur  Pierson 

F.  W.  Page 

1903 

F.  W.  1'age 

Edward  McCray 

Date. 

Recording  Secretary. 

Financial  Secretary. 

Treasurer. 

181)5 
180(5 

George 

K.  Walker 

George  C.  Austin 
E.  G.  Gale 

George  E.  Walker 

1897 

George 

II.   Hovt 

Henry  I),  llarriman 

Adam  Prindle 

1808 
181)0 
191)0 

(ieorge 
John  1) 

II.  Allison 
onovan 

Henry  Meyer 
(ieorge  II.  Allison 

Elmer  E.  Knssell 
Lorenzo  I.  Broun 

11(01 

Frank  ( 

'.  Brown 

Kimer  E.  Kussel! 

George  F.  Bartlett 

1002 

" 

•' 

Adam  1'rindle 

190:3 

** 

11 

Sr. 

Charles 

Warden. 

Brown 

Jr.   Warden. 
Henry  1).  llarriman 

Physician. 
George  F.  Abbott 

180o 

is;  H; 

1 

Charles  O.  Eastman 

" 

1807 

18'JS 
181)9 

Echvan 

Joseph 

I).  Kicker 
Lakeway 

John  X.  Choqiictte 
A.  Cole 

" 

1  !«  H  I 

Archie  LeClare 

" 

1001 

'  >in;is  Foiinier 

Eugene  Caver 

\V.  C.  E.  Nobles 

lOil'J 

Fred  C, 

it,  'i 

" 

.John  M.  Page 

10IKJ 

Joseph 

Lake  way 

Joseph   Hou'e 

" 

Statistical  History. 


707 


TABLE   70. 

OFFICERS,    LITTLETON   COMMANDERY,   INDEPENDENT 
ORDER   OF   THE   GOLDEN   CROSS. 

CHARTERED  JUNE  1,  1896. . 


Date. 

Noble  Commander. 

Keeper  of  Record. 

Treasurer. 

June,  1896 

Roderick  McDonald 

Mrs.  Jennie  A.  Henry 

Charles  S.  Morgan 

July,  1896 

Henry  Moody 

" 

" 

Jan.,   1897 

" 

" 

" 

July,  1897 

Maurice  Sullivan 

Mabel  Martin 

Benjamin  F.  Heath 

Jan.,   1898 

George  Cole 

" 

Warren  W.  Lovejoy 

July,  1898 

Charles  Brown 

Spencer  A.  Vandecar 

" 

Jan.,   1899 

Warren  W.  Lovejoy 

Kate  Mooney 

Edgar  O.  Fogg 

July,  1899 

" 

Jan.,  1900 

" 

July,  1900 

" 

Jan.,   1901 

Chester  S.  Gray 

July,  1901 

Jan.,   1902 

July,  1902 

Jan.,   1908 

Edgar  O.  Fogg 

Warren  W.  Lovejoy 

July,  190:3 

TABLE   71. 

OFFICERS    OF  THE   COHASHAUKE   CLUB. 
ORGANIZED  Nov.  25,  1892. 


Date. 

President. 

Treasurer. 

Secretary. 

1892-93 

Marshall  A.  Eaton 

Channcey  C.  Morris 

C.  Tabor  Gates 

1893-94 

Herbert  E.  Kenney 

Harry  L.  Heald 

Burns  P.  Ilodgman 

1894-95 

Frank  L.  Dunlap 

" 

" 

1895-96 

Miilard  F.  Young 

Walter  II.  Parker 

" 

1896-97 

" 

Harry  A.  Merrill 

Albert  E.  Strain 

1897-98 

F.  Eugene  Wadleigh 

Paul  K.  Clay 

1898-99 

Henry  F.  Green 

Frank  L.  dough 

1899-1900 

Harry  A.  Merrill 

Charles  E.  Smith 

1900-01 

Miilard  F.  Young 

Charles  E.  Smith 

1901-02 

(ieorge  S.  Whittaker 

Harry  I).  Green 

Harrv  1).  Green 

1902-0:3 

Fred  II.  English 

Charles  O.  Parker             Charles  O.  Parker 

708 


Hixtory  of  Littleton. 


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Statistical  History. 


709 


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t~  O 

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M  3 


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710 


History  of  Littleton. 


CJ 


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& 
H 

X 

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O 


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o 

Iri 

2 

3 

^     £-|S^ 

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H 

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CC              CO     (_.     K     ^ 
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^  ^>  ^-2* 

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QQ 

§-  I^.W.S 

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S         £    o«    *   «- 

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INDEX. 


A. 


Abbey,  Dr.  C.  C.,  108. 
Abbott,  Ezra,  295. 

George,  41,  82,  261,  263,  266,  273,  300, 

445,  456,  457,  582,  584,  590. 
Dr.  George  F.,  119,  120,  209,  431,  586. 
Isaac,  161,  469,  490,  493,  512,  515. 
Jennie,  431. 
Nancy  M.,  298. 
Susie,  431. 

Adams,  Hev.  J.  W.,  271,  285. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Luther,  197. 
Adventists,  352. 
at  Apthorp,  355. 
dissensions  among,  355. 
La  Fayette  Avenue,  355. 
Agriculture,  593,  599. 
Agricultural  Society,  N.  H.,  594. 
Ammonoosuc  Valley,  594. 
Graf'ton  County,  595,  596. 
Ainswortli,  Dr.  Calvin,  99,  100,  101,  430, 

498. 

Calvin,  Jr.,  515,  601. 
Ira  E.,  323. 

Alarm  List  (militia),  539,  550. 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  539. 
Albee,  Alexander,  419. 
Frank  C.,  448,  522. 
Otis,  251. 
Zuriel,  499. 
Aldrich,  Edgar,   447,  448,  450,   604,  605, 

606. 

Mrs.  Edgar,  232. 
Ethel,  299. 
George,  152,  555. 
Hannah,  510. 
Levi,  555. 
Minnie  Bell,  354. 
Alexander,  Anson,  352. 
Dr.  Eldad,  124,  125. 
Wesley,  2,  239. 
Allen,  Abijah,  101, 171,  227,  263,  419,  442, 

506,  5'J7. 
Adeline,  597. 
Albee  C.,  169. 
Charles  B.,  194. 
Charles  H.,  232,  597,  598. 
Mrs.  E.  Humphrey,  459. 
Julia  A.,  207,  226," 229,  230. 


Allen,  Rev.  Melvin  J.,  209,  210,  211. 

Xatt,  150. 

Allotment,  Willoughby's,  481. 
All  Saints  Guild,  311. 
American  and  Foreign  Christian  Union, 

392. 
Ammonoosuc  Lodge,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  588,  589, 

590. 

Anderson,  George  W.,  272. 
Andover,  Mass.,  501. 
Andrews,  Hev.  II.  M.,  308. 
A  minis,  William  F.,  323. 
Angier,  James  H.,  260,  588,  590. 
Annis,  Mary  W.,  263. 

Sarah  Ann,  318. 
Anti-Masonic  Bridge,  564. 
Anti-Masonic  Movement,  563-567. 
Anti-Slavery,  179,  180. 
Applebee,  Charles  II.,  149,  266,  299,  585, 
388. 

Nathan,  260,  510. 

Warren,  261,  371,  372. 
Apthorp  (Littleton  and  Dalton),  541,  512. 

survey  of,  480. 
Apthorp  Reservoir  Co.,  516. 
Arbuckle,  459. 
Arnold,  J.  A.,  396. 
Asbury,  Francis,  248. 
Aspenwall,  N.  W.,  252. 
Assembly,  New  Hampshire,  last  session  of, 

533. 

Atkinson,  Kev.  J.  P.,  345. 
Atwood,  Benjamin,  -M5. 

Stephen  Webster,  37. 
Austin,  George  C.,  299,  592. 
Audibut,  Victor,  592. 


15. 

Bacon,  Elias,  203. 

Kev.  i).  w., 33f>. 

Bailey,  Aaron,  543. 
Bishop,  337. 
Edson,  71. 
Ellen,   198. 
Ephraim.  49i'>.  520. 
Hamilton.  515. 
Ceil.  .Jacob,   }M',. 
James  II.,  64,  81,  8,'] 


712 


Intli'.r. 


Bailey,  Timothy,  513. 

William.,  34,  85,  80.  103,  220. 
Baker,  Charles  F.,  828,  578,  508. 
Jonathan,  40. 
Mrs.  Mary  F.,  508. 
Osman  C.',  202. 
Bakers,  153,  154. 
Baleh.  John  W.,  515. 
Mrs.  John  W.,  220. 
Sylvanus,  40,  101,  163,  103. 
Baldwin,  Benjamin,  480. 

Harry  S.,  71. 

Band,  first,  in  Littleton,  453. 
Brass,  454. 
Cornet,  455. 
Saranac,  455. 
Band  of  Hope,  414. 
Band  of  Thirteenth  Regiment,  454. 

Seventeenth  Regiment,  454. 
Band  Stand,  455. 
Bank,  first,  in  New  Hampshire,  75. 

in  Littleton  organized,  70. 
Bank  Building,  80. 
Bank  Deposits,  80. 
Bank  Directors,  70,  81,  82. 
Bank  Rooms,  70. 
Bank,  Savings,  82. 
Hank  Surplus,  80. 
Hanking  Facilities,  earlv,  75,  70. 
Banks  and  Bankers,  75-87. 
Hanks,  (Jen.  N.  P.,  302. 
Banner  Union,  414. 
Baptist  Church,  .sr<;  Church,  Baptist. 
Barker,  Isaac,  252.  , 

Joseph.  252. 
Barlow,  Joel,  550. 
Barnabee,  Henry  ( '.,  458. 
Barnes,  Rev.  George  S  ,  205,  270. 
Barns,  Comings  N.,  200. 
Barnston,  555. 
Barnuin,  Charles  P.,  502. 
Barrett,  George  W.,  580,  500. 

James  J.,  *1.  415,  447,    4*4,  572, 
574.  575,  570,  5*2,  58 i,  585,  50' >, 
William,  581. 
Bartlett,  ( 'aroline.  318. 
Julia  S.,  121    355. 
Mrs.  L.  J.,  851. 
Samuel  < '.,  2i>4. 

Batdielder.  George  F.,  20.  500. 
M)>.  L.  A..  50S. 
Otis,    20,    155,  510,  515,  503,  572. 

;>'.'(  I. 

BatdieMor,   Albert    S.,  88,  213.  24*. 
2*7.  201.  3111,  402.   120.  43*,   147. 
45n,  -I'd,  531,  ;,sl,  i;u2.  Ool,  605. 
Jennett  <  '..  21:;. 
Batdiellor,  Stillman.  205.  520. 
Bath.  522,  511.  515,  510.  072,  500. 
Bean.  David,  1  1-. 
Flura  S.,   137. 
Rev.  James  M..  207,  2*3. 
John,  !  15. 
Leslie   I-..,  351. 
Leslie  F.,  507,  50*. 


Benn,  Milo,  230. 
Rev.  Samuel,  180. 
Stella  M.,  598. 

Beattie,  William  J.,  118,  110. 
Bedell,  Charles  W.,  5U7. 
Daniel,  543. 
Mrs.   Jennie,  200. 
Mrs.  Mary,  507. 
Gen.  Moodv,  556. 
Col.    Timothy,   08,   533,  538,  539,  540, 

545,  540,  547. 

Bedell's  Regiment,  530,  540. 
Beebe,  Rev.  George,  138,  207,  285,  286. 
Beers,  John  K.,  501. 
Belknap,  George,  140. 

Mrs.  Jennie,  272. 
Bellows,  Fliza,  30,  228. 
Fred,  72. 
Frances,  238. 
Henry  A.,  101,  228,  238,  260,  342,  442, 

001. 

John  A.,  381. 
William  A.,  587. 
William  II.,  70,  81,  83,  587,  502. 
Mrs.  William  II.,  427. 
William  J.,  50,  82,  440,  448,  450,  450, 

457,  508,  001,  002. 
Mrs.  William  J  ,  446. 
Bellows  &  Brackett,  30. 
Bemis,  Benjamin,  r.  Alfred   Closson,  601. 
Henry,  5U2,  520. 
Samuel,  OOl. 
Bent,  John  G.,  18. 
Bentcn,  Gen.  Jacob,  420. 
.    Reuben,  420. 
Berkley,  William,  101,  251. 
Berry, 'Fred  N.,  518. 

Nathaniel,  155. 
Bethlehem,  488,480,572. 

land  in,  belonging  to  Littleton,  255. 
Bickl'ord.  Harriett  X.,  437. 

Mrs.  John  W.,  200. 
Bilodean,  Hdward  II.,  154. 
Bingham.  Charles  F.,  58,  152,  581. 
Mrs.  C.  F.,  232,  241,  437. 
Georye,  420. 
George  A.,  81,  82,  83,  87,  305,  420,  433,, 

510. 

Mrs.  George  A.,  8,05. 
Harry,  ,*2,  3*5,  :>>',,   420,  437,  445.  417. 

520,  50s,  noi.  015. 
Bingham  ^  Bingham,  OCR. 
linnham,  .Mitchell,  \;  Uatehellor,  00(5. 
•  iron     Bero  i,  Lewis,  335. 
>isliop,  Nathaniel,  572. 
ilacksmiths,  1  17,' 14s. 
ilaekwell,  Rev.  Mr.,    370. 
'.laNdell.  Henri  G.,   150. 
Hake,  Fllen  Ludnda,  108. 
Jame>.  5'Jl . 
Mrs.  Mary  Bu-b 
'.lanchard   1).,  21*. 
Uandin,  Lyman.  31  *, 

Mrs.  Lvman,  822. 
Bliss,  Rev.  J.  11.,  200. 


Index. 


Bliss,  John  J.,  '252. 

Peltiah,  54;}. 

Board  of  Education,  427,  433. 
Board  of  Health,  12!).  130. 
Board  of  Trade,  0,  004,  005. 
Bolles,  Dr.,  129. 
Bolton,  O.  C.,  152. 
Bond,  Aaron,  123. 

Frank  P.,  49,  70,  83. 

Rev.  \V.  B.,  180. 
Bonded  Debt  refunded,  472. 
Bonney,  Elizabeth,  393,  394. 

Maria,  393,  394. 

Peter,  154,  410. 

Books  of  Reference  given  schools,  437. 
Boulton,  Dr.,  302. 
Bowker,  Mitchell  H.,  204. 
Bowles,  Ethel,  354. 

Frank,  70. 

George  C.,  353. 
Bowman,  Albert,  455. 

Anna  (Mrs.  Jonathan),  499. 

Curtis  C.,  515. 

David,  49!). 

Florence  S.,  198. 

Isaac  W.(  515. 

John,  423,  4(59. 

Mary,  305,  300. 

Meadow,  27. 

Boyce,  Rev.  Father,  335. 
Brackett,  Aaron,  161,  171,218,  230,237, 
238,  410,  515,  562,  563,  572,  574,  580, 
601. 

Adelia  C.,  239. 

Anna  L.,  306,448,  450. 

Caroline  A.,  198,  239,  440. 

Cephas,  82,  453,  579,  584,  586. 

Charles  W.,  39,  230,  590. 

Clara  Laboree,  507. 

Edward  ]).,  243. 

Harvey  S.,  243. 

Mrs.  Lorana,  507,  508. 

Mary,  230. 

Sewell,  189,  563. 

William,  Kil,  171,  217,  243,  510,  515, 

562,  563,  580,  601. 
Bradford,  Vt.,  586. 
Bradley,  Bishop,  511. 
Brady,  Rev.  John,  333,  334. 
Bragdon,  Rev.  V.  E.,  322. 
Branch,  Thomas,  248. 
Brauin,  Rev.  Dr.,  337. 
Bretton  Woods,  488. 
Brickett,  Rev.  Harry,  133,  175. 
Bricklayers,  14  1. 

Bridge,  across  Ammonoosuc,  469,  470 ;  ac- 
cident on.  491. 

Aptliorp,  495. 

covered,  in  village,  493,  494. 

iron,  491,  4'.)5. 

Lower  Village,  405. 

South  Littleton,  495. 
Bridges.  493  495. 
Briiru-s,  Colonel,  253. 
Brock,  Walter,  489. 


Brooks,' Ezra,  198. 
Brooks,  Mrs.  Ezra,  198. 
Brooks  &  Co.,  39. 
Brownlow,  J.  S.,  299. 
Buchanan,  Collins,  149. 

James,  489. 

William,  149. 

Buckingham,  Rev.  Merritt  S.,  350. 
Bucknain,  Edwards,  483,  487,  544,   548, 

550. 

Buffington,  A.  W.,  299. 
Bugbee,  Dr.  Abel,  12(3. 

Dr.  Frank,  126. 

Dr.  George  R.,  116. 

Dr.  La  Fayette,  120. 

Dr.  Ralph,  Sr.,  12(5. 

Dr.  Ralph,  110,  243,561. 
Buildings  prior  to  1850,  142,  143. 
Burhank,  Mary  A.,  122. 
Burge,  Joel,  247. 
Burgoyne,  General,  535. 
Burial  Lands,  vote  concerning,  490,  497. 
Burke,  Edmund,  601. 
Burleigli,  Frank,  518. 
Burlington,  Vt.,  207. 
Burnham,  Abitrail,  318. 

Benjamin,  248,  318. 

Cyrus  E.,  454. 

Elisha,  139,  140,  410,  453. 

M.  P.,  445. 

Noah,  490. 

Stella,  240. 
Burns,  Ebenezer,  260. 

Nathan,  577. 

Dr.  William,  102,  103, 131,  160,  188,  217, 

408,  426,  427,  510,  540,  502,  572,  601. 
Burns  Library,  444. 

Burns  Lodge,  A.  F.  A.M.,  573,  577,  578. 
579,  580,  581. 

I.  O.  (.).  F.  present  Bible  to,  574. 
Burt,  Levi,  101,  490. 

Mrs.  Lucv,  273. 

Warren  E.,  323,  518. 
Burton,  A.'li.,  198,  208,  230. 

Mrs.  A.  R.,  198. 


Cabinet-makers,  145,  147. 
Caledonia  Medical  Societv,  131. 
Calhoun,  Isaac.  27.  41,  48',  243. 
Cameron,  W.  W.,  59ti. 
Campbell,  .Joseph  I.,  72. 
Canovan,  Rev.  Father,  320. 
Carbee,  Samuel  P.,  580. 
Carbonneau,  John,  143. 

John  A.,  144. 

Napoleon,  14  I. 

Theophile,  144. 

William  <;.,  114. 
Cardinal.  Peter,  £  Son,  27. 
Carey,  Dr.  l^'.l. 
Carmll.  Dr.,  1-J5. 

William.  4*7. 
Carle-ton,  Bukk  G.,  123. 


Index. 


Carleton.  Edmund,  171,  510,  G'll. 

Guy,  530. 

Mary,  letter  to  Congregational  Church, 
l'.»5,  I'.'ti. 

Melvina  A.,  505. 

1'eter,  487. 

Thomas,  !',  231. 
Carleton  >£  Moore,  27. 
Carpenter,  Hev.  Asa,  157,  158,  431). 

Kev.  K.  I.,  187,  1(.H>,  194,229,244,410, 
507,  508. 

Mrs.  Harriet,  507,  508. 

Jonas.  565. 

Obadiah.  422. 
Carter,  A!l>a  B.,  256,  271,  375. 

Charles  Iv,  10. 

Daniel,  250,  500,  558,  559,  562. 

Ebenezer,  256. 

Eliphalet,  250. 

Kllery  II.,  250,  323,  354,  358. 

Enoch,  250. 

Moses.  250. 

Nathan,  256. 

Thomas,  25(5. 

Truinan,  2(iti,  281,  411. 

Dr.  \V.  11.,  01. 
Cass,  Moses,  2(.t!). 

Mrs.  S.  ('.,  2'. »!). 
("as well,  Charlotte,  400. 

Ira.  502. 

Nathan,  138,  15G,  465,  4G6, 487,  521,  544. 

Nathan,  Jr.,  40(5,  487,  521. 

<  >sias,  4i)7,  521. 
Cate  ..<:  Kedington,  27. 
Catholic  Church,  m  <•  Churches. 
Catholic  Order  of  Fore>ters,  592. 
Cemeteries,  4'.tO-51  1. 
Cemeterv,  Albee,  497. 

Clark's,  497. 

( llenwood,  497,  500,  507,  508;  fountains 
in.  509. 

Ilildreth  and  Farr,  497. 

Meadow.  503-500. 

North  Littleton,  4'.»7,  501. 

Hankin's  Mills,  499-5on. 

Homan  Catholic,  497,  511. 

Wheeler,  503. 

White  Mountain,  497  ;  officers  of,  508. 

Wilkins.  497. 
Cemetery  A>M>eiation,  articles  of,  507. 

members,  5n7. 

ollicer-  of.  508. 

Ceiiti-nnial  of  Methodism,  300-301. 
( 'erehro-spinal  Meningitis  (spotted  fever), 

131. 

Chadhourne.  Adaline  Wallace.  395.  390. 
Cliamherl  a]in,  Horace  K.,  572,  573,  571, 

575.  570.  577. 
Chandler.  (   harles  Bradon,  143. 

Jnhn  D..  1  13. 

Jonat  Kan.  53,7,  513. 

William,  1  10. 

William  II.,  ->3,  5sl. 
('handler'-  ('umj)any  (  militia  i.  537. 
Chapel,  Congregational,  205.  212. 


Cliarlton,  Kdwin  A.,  385. 

Isabel,  431. 

John,  427. 

Maria,  500. 

Robert,  15(i,  158,  218,  42fi,  429,  466,481, 
487,  490,  500. 

Walter,  230,  428,  563. 
Chase,  Bishop,  304. 

Colonel,  183. 

Horace,  584. 

Jonathan,  532. 

Chase's  Regiment,  530,  538,  549. 
Cheney,  Miss  Eliza  C.,  199. 

James,  145. 

Nathaniel  W.,  154. 
Chickering,  Mrs.  Kate,  232. 
Child,  Jonathan,  537,  542. 
Cliiswick,  402,  479. 

boundaries  of,  479. 

Cliiswick  Inn,  exemption  refused,  475. 
Choate,  F.  E.,  73. 
Choir,  Advent,  354. 

Congregational,  23(1-240. 

Episcopal,  305,  310,  311,  312. 

Methodist,  200. 
Christian  Science,  121,  129,  207,  355. 

First  Headers,  350. 

Second  Headers,  350. 

organists,  356. 

place  of  worship,  356. 
Church,  Allen  J.,  232,  592. 

Mrs.  Allen  J.,  197,  231. 
Church,  Advent,  352-355. 

at  Apthorp,  355. 

on  La  Fayette  Ave.,  355. 

covenant,  352. 

dissensions  in,  355.  350. 

first  organized,  352. 

oflicers  of,  354. 
Church,  Baptist  (Freewill),  313-323. 

in  Bethlehem,  315. 

Beneficent  Society  of,  323. 

first  families  of,  317. 

first  services  of,  318. 

gifts  to,  322. 

members  of,  318. 

meeting-house  built,  318. 
re-dedicated.  321. 

memorial  windows  in,  322. 

Sunday-school,  322. 

Society,  Advocates  of  Christian  Fidelity, 
...,.> " 

Church,  Congregational,  150-244. 

choir,  236-240. 

councils,  Ih'.t,  191,  204,  208. 

first  church,  157. 

fir.-t  par>oiiage  of,  158. 

meeting-house  built.  101  :  remodelled, 
200;  enlarged  and  remodelled,  211: 
rededicated  (1902),  242. 

members,  156,  157,  19^,  199. 

memorial  windows  in,  242,  243. 

miiMc.  235. 

Sunday-school,  227.  235. 
Church.  Episcopal,  302-312. 


Index. 


715 


Church,  Episcopal,  built,  306. 

choir,  305,  310,  311,  81:2. 

Confirmation,  first,  305. 

first  service,  304,  300. 

gifts  to,  312. 

Guild,  All  Saints,  311. 

organ,  310. 

organists,  312. 

rectory,  312. 

Sunday  -school,  311. 

Helping  Hand  Club,  312. 
Church,  Roman  Catholic,  324-343. 

built,  337. 

dedicated,  337. 

first  Confirmation,  336. 

first  public  service,  331. 
Church,  .Methodist,  257-301. 

built,  258. 

cost  of,  258. 

dedicated,  260. 

description  of,  261. 

memorial  windows,  300. 

parsonage,  207,  271. 

pulpit  furniture,  270. 

recognized  bv  Lesislature,  247. 

remodelled,  269, 300. 

subscribers  to  build,  259,  260. 

Young  People's  societies,  300. 

Semi-centennial,  301. 

Sunday-school.  298,  299. 

Woman's  Society,  272. 
Church,  Unitarian,  343-350. 

bell  given,  345. 

built,  346. 

first  meetings,  345. 

gifts  to,  345. 

memorial  windows,  350. 

society  organized,  345. 

Sunday-school.  350. 
Churchill,  Rev.  II.  II.,  354. 

Rev.  Samuel,  351. 
Chutter,  Rev.   F.  G.,  GO,   207,  208,   243, 

252,  270. 

Clapp,  Mrs.  Mary,  272. 
Clark,  Dr.  Albert  W.,  108,  109. 

Mrs.  Almira,  197,  508. 

Catherine,  203. 

Mrs.  1).  Y.,  38,  597. 

Labiin,  24(5. 
Clarke,  Israel  .!.,  123. 
Clary,  Miss,  459. 
Clay,  Charles  I,.,  9,  10,  208,  216,  231,  587. 

Mrs.  Charles  I,..  232. 

Samuel  L  ,  73,  504,521. 

Sherared,  9. 
Cleveland,  Moses,  144. 
Clossen,  Alanson,  197. 

Charles,  197. 

Mrs.  Charles,  197. 

Nellie,  199. 
dough,  Clara  E.,  198. 

Frank  L..  151. 
Coaticook,  Can.,  522,  523. 
Cohb.  Kllen,  198. 

J.  P.,  450. 


Cobb,  Lydia,  201,  231,  355. 
Martha,  199. 
Samuel,  562. 

Cobleigh,  Ebenezer,  369,  370. 
Elizabeth,  197. 
Marshall  1).,  153,  216,  602. 
Nelson    Farr,  197,  204,  205,  300,  307, 

369,  370. 

Coburn,  Alfred  W.,  581. 
Asa,  150,  151. 
Rev.  Mr.,  190. 
Cochrane,  Cora  S.,  346,  347. 

Rev.  L.  I).,  346,  347. 
Cockburne  (Columbia),  541,  542,  549. 
Cceur  de  Lion  Commandery,  585. 
Coffee  and  Tea  consumed  in  this  country, 

406. 

Cofran,  Mrs.  Martha  G.,  436. 
Cogswell,  Or.  John  It,  126. 
Colby,  Ethan,  49. 
Henry,  586. 
Dr.  John  C.,  126. 
Colby  &  Eastman,  49. 
Cole,  Eben  \V.,  299. 
George  L.,  323. 
Hezekiah,  569. 
Mrs.  Royal  W.,  397. 
Colebrook,  541,  542,  549. 
Coleman,  Dudley,  479. 
Colerain,  Mass.,  528. 
Colfax,  Schuyler,  396. 
Commandery,    Knights    Templars,    581, 

582,  583,  584,  585. 
Committee   of    Safety    for    Grafton    Co., 

535. 

Companies,  vote  to  raise,  535. 
Compton,  Can..  521. 
Conant,  Cyrus  II.,  140. 
Concord,  586. 
Biblical  Institute,  265. 
(Lisbon),  479. 

Condon,  Mrs.  William,  242. 
Conference  Academy,  Newhury,  Vt,  253. 
Conference.  Methodist,  held  in  Littleton  in 

1856,  262  ;  in  1885,  271. 
New  Hampshire,  in  Littleton,  300. 
Confirmation,  first  Kpiscopal,  ^05. 
Congregational  Society,    m-t    Churches. 
Connor,  Charles,  154. 
Cooler,  Dr.,  129. 
Newton  S.,  140. 

Rev.  William  Forbes,  212,  232,  243. 
i  Coos  County,  company  raised  in,  532. 
Copp,  Jeremiah  15.,  433. 

William.  52'.). 
Cormier,  Ubald,  592. 
Cornish,  532. 
|  Cortinas.  391.  392. 
:  Cossit,  Rev.  Kama,  303. 
Cost    of    town    government    (1891-1901), 

477. 
Counties,  attempt  to  create  new,  (iO:). 

organized,  531. 

County  Court  House,  built,  003. 
County  militia,  55U. 


Indi'.r. 


County  road,  4h7.  488. 
County  seat,  moved,  00;.]. 
Court,' police,  601,  002. 
Courts,  600.  006. 

Justice,  000. 
Courts.  United  States: 

Circuit,  first  session,  600;    when   held, 
604. 

and  District,  603,  004. 

District,  when  held,  004. 

efforts  to  procure,  604. 

Judsze.  004. 

officials  of.  600. 

rooms  of.  006. 
Coutu,  Dr.  Fdward,  118. 
Co  wen,  Charles,  252,  257,207. 

George  W.,  299. 
Cox  Needle  Co.,  Guilford,  475. 
Craftsmen,  138,  155. 
Craigie,  Wilbur  W.,  590. 
Cramer,  Kev.  Thomas  !•'.,  297,  298. 
Crampton.  Susan,  43.7. 
Crane,  Avmoretta,  318.  322. 

Daniel  B.,  318,  322,  323,  597. 

Klmer,  597. 

<>tis.3]h.  :yi. 

William  A.,  318. 
Crawford.  Jo>eph,  245. 

Rosehrook.  216. 
Crawford  House,  rebuilt,  51. 
Creeds   of   Congregational    Church,  219, 

220,  221,  222. 
Crosby.  Dr.  A.  15.,  130. 

Dr. 'William  Page,  116. 
Crowell,  David.  24*. 
Cruft,  George  T..  hi,  580,  590. 
Culver,  David,  250,  251. 
Cummings,  Dr.  F.  G  ,  128. 
Curl,  Kev.  George  Mitchell,  270,  292. 

Mrs.  G.  M.,  209. 
Currier,  Henry  L.,  586. 

John,  207,  209. 
CurtU.  F.phraim,  493,  505. 

K.  II.,  493. 
Ciii-hman,  Betsey  Rebecca,  431. 

Elizabeth',  430. 
General.  429. 

Kev.  Lewis  Putnam,  203,  264,  27h,  575. 
Parker,  419,  422,  490,  497,  49>.  502. 
Robert.  49s. 
Sarah.  P.'*. 
S.  llle.  ID7.  502. 
Dr.  Tha.Meus  T.,  113,  5s2. 
CutiinL',  Dr..  357. 


I) 


D.-iilev,  I-'    K..  251. 


Davis,  Ilezekiah,  248. 

J.  Smith.  30. 

W.  W.,  459. 
Day,  Allen,  210. 

Carlos  P.,  03. 

Comfort,  55'.),  562. 

K./.ra  A.,  P.)7. 

Hobert  M.,  592. 
Deacon  of  First  Church,  159. 
Deacons  of  Congregational  Church,  194, 

214,  215,210. 

Death,  first,  in  Littleton,  496. 
Debt  of  Tow  n.  funded,  1. 

greatest,  472. 

town  free  from,  474. 
Dee,  Kev.  1!..  337. 
Dennison,  William,  79,80,85. 
Dentistry,  128,  129. 
Derby,  Jonathan,  537.  543. 
Dewey,  Hiram  K.,  430. 

Nathan,  218. 
Dexter,  Lydia,  43.1. 
Diii'iiam,  Prof.  Walter.  455. 
Dinsmore.  Dr.  Freedom,  125. 
Diphtheria,  135. 
Distribution  Act,  468. 
District  Commission.  517. 
District  Schools,  m-r  School  Districts. 
1  >ix,  Dorothea,  390. 
Doane,  Mr.  George  II.,  450. 

Mrs.  (Jeorge  II.,  450. 
Dodge,  Levi  B..  198.  234. 

Marshall  ('.,  198.  597. 

Simeon,  101.  217,  227,442,  5(10. 
D'Ooge,  Professor,  181. 
Douglass,  Samuel,  528. 

William,  453. 
Dow.  Anna  Granger,  459. 

Arthur  F.,  45. 

Dexter  D.,  002. 

James.  45,  138,  161,  253. 

James  !{.,  139. 

Joseph  ]•'..,  557. 

Luther  T.,  3,  4,  82,  139,  239,  200,  411, 
453,  454. 

Moses,  496,  519.  550. 

Moses  A.,  383,  384,  433,  557. 

Robert  M..  45. 
Dow  Brothers.  45. 
I  )ra\vinsr  in  Schools,  437. 
Drew,  Alfred  K.,  260,  282,  283. 

I  lolman,  253,  250. 
Drew.  Jordan  ^  Buckley,  606. 
Drinking  Fountain,  415. 
Drol.'t,  l!ev.  Hector  Antoine.  326,  332. 
Dudley.  George  W.,  459. 
Dunhar,  Dr.,  123. 
Dunloj).  Frank.  42.  592. 
Dunn,  Kllcry  D..  13'.»,  110,  410,515,  500. 
I  )iiimiiiL,r.  ( '.  1 '.,  27  1. 
Durgiiu  Hev.  .1.  M..  318. 
Durward,  Alice  J.  L.,  437. 
I  Mi-tin,  !'.,  217. 
I  >yke,  Jonathan,  52! i. 
I  'VMMiterv,  136. 


Index. 


717 


E. 


Kames,  Rev.  James  H.,  304,  305. 

Jeremiah,  621. 
Eastman,  Alice,  299. 

Charles  F.,  81,  83,  87,451,452,  581,587. 

Mrs.  Charles  F.,  232. 

Cyrus,  3,  4,  49,  52,  53,  54,  79,  81,  82, 
238,  508. 

Ebenezer,  49,  567,  588. 

Emily,  239. 

Franklin  J.,  49,  433,  515. 

George  W.,  583. 

Ida  Taft,  205. 

Jonathan,  510,  522. 

Julia  Hutchins  Brackett,  243. 

Rev.  J.,  194. 

Rev.  Lamed  L.,  262,  276. 

Laura  B.,  198. 

Martha  Ann,  198. 

Obediah,  522. 

Sarah,  508. 

Simeon,  500. 

Mrs.  Susan  F.,  508. 
Eastman  C.  &  C.  F.  Co.,  38. 
Eastman  C.  &  F.  J.  Co.,  350. 
Eastman,  Til  ton  &  Co.,  40. 
Eaton,  Charles,  27,  48,  592. 

Harry,  27. 

Henry  A.,  7. 

Julia  A.,  232,  451. 

Myra  G.,  232. 

Mrs.  S.  J.,  198. 

Eddy,  Mrs.  Mary  Baker  Glover,  121, 129. 
Edgerly,  Andrew  J.,  583,  584. 
Edmands,  Aaron,  263. 

Gertrude,  459. 
Eilson,  Gush.  It.,  diploma  of,  585. 

George  A.,  64. 

Samuel  A.,  3,  4,  515,  585. 

Timothy  A.,  39,  40,  218,  510. 
Edson  &  Bailey,  64. 
Eldredge,  E.  E.,  72,  555. 
Elkins,  David,  489. 
Elliott,  Charles,  590. 

Daniel,  (101. 
Ely,  C.iroline,  236. 

George  W.,  2,  515. 

Guy,  40,  147,  158,  217,  444,  512,  515 

552,  600. 
Emerson,  I.,  248. 

Rev.  J.  W.,  194. 
Emery,  Rev.  Ira,  319. 

Richard,  249. 
Emnions,  Dr.,  165. 
Engine  House,  514. 
English,  Fred  II.,  41,  65,  452,  587. 

James,  543. 

John  W.,  445,  509,  597. 
Mrs.  Melissa,  51)7. 
Episcopal  Church,  built,  .'506  (si-c  Church 

Episcopal). 

first  service  in  Littleton,  304. 
gifts,  312. 
Epworth  League,  299. 


Essex  County  Grammar  School,  565. 

Eudy,  Leonard  M.,  113,  318. 

Eureka   Glove  Co..  exempt   from  taxes, 

475. 

Eureka  Glove  Manufacturing  Co.,  88. 
Everett,  Charles  F.,  578. 

Richard  C.,  550. 
Exemption,  from  taxation,  474,  475. 

legal  aspects  of,  25. 
Exeter  Government,  544. 


Fairhank,  Rev.  Drury,  161,  163,  164,  165, 
166,  167,  168,  169,  170,  171,  172,  409, 
504. 

E.  T.,  204. 
Jonathan,  164. 
Lucretia,  504. 
Richard,  164. 

Fairbanks,  Christopher,  164. 
Erastus,  562. 
Thaddeus,  164. 
Fair  Ground,  595,  596. 
Fairs,  594,  595. 
Farm  Products,  early,  593. 
Farmer,  Jedediah,  508. 

Sarah  A.,  198. 

Farr,  Mrs.  Almida,  198,  597. 
Caroline,  198. 

Charles  A.,  44,  198,  216,  231,  243. 
Comfort  Day,  197. 
Edwin  L.,  123. 
Mrs.  Emma,  198,  243. 
Ephraim  W.,  38. 

Evarts  W.,  305,  411,  457,  510,  603. 
Mrs.  Evarts  W.,  305,  446. 
George,  41,  82,  83,  306,  411,  445,  457, 

521,  575,  577. 
John,  2,  3,  4,  79,  82,  83,  84,  163,  176, 

187,  193,  243. 
Mrs.  John,  446. 
John,  Jr.,  304. 
John  W.,  197,  597. 
Marietta,  199. 
Myra  A  ,  198. 

Nelson  C.,  3,  4,  38,  43,  44,  80,  82,  198, 
216,  230,  231,  232,  243,  515,  582,  584, 
586,  591. 

Noah,  158,  161,  230,  231,  504,  523. 
1'hilena.  198. 
Stella  H.,  243,  451. 
Farr  &  Dow,  38,  45. 
Farr  &  Southworth,  38. 
Farr  ,<:  Tilton,  38,  44. 
Farrington,  Isaac,  559. 
Felch,  Mr.,  246. 
Fenton,  John,  532.  ;~>:',3. 
Fenwick,  Bishop,  ;>2-">. 
Fessendeii,  William  11.,  458. 
Fimiegan,  Rev.  Patrick  i).,  .'537. 
Fire  Alarm  Boxrs,  51!-;. 
Fire  Company,  tirst,  512-515. 


'18 


Index. 


Fire  Company,  constitution  of,  513,  514. 

members  of,  51.'!,  515. 
Fire  Department,  512-510. 
Fire-Engine,  first,  51'2,  515. 
Fire  Precinct,  created,  510. 

boiimlaries  of,  517. 
Fire     I'recinct    and     Highway    Precinct 

united.  517. 
Fire  Wards,  512,  617. 
Fisher,  Aaron  D.,  457,  582,  584. 

Rev.  David,  378. 

Edward  M.,  38. 

Henry  ,1.,  500,  591. 

Oliver  C.,  586. 

Orrin  Martin,  30. 
Fisk.  Chester,  145. 

Rylan  E.,  502. 

William.  502,  529. 
Fitch,  Charles  II.,  597. 

Klijah,  515. 

Solomon,  45,  510. 

Susan,  430. 
Fitzgerald,  Ai,  455,  575,  578,  590. 

Michael,  '217,  528,  503. 
Flags  given  to  schools,  437. 
Flanders,  George  L.,  &  Co.,  42,  70. 
Flathush  Pass,  L.  I.,  527. 
Fletcher,  Arad,  252. 

Samuel,  429. 

Thomas  M.,  586,  587. 
Flint,  Elbridtre,  07,  590. 

Mrs.  Mary  E.,  591. 
Force  Pump  System,  517. 
Ford,  Samuel  P.,  585. 
Fort  Slocum,  580. 
foster,  Fzra,  500,  522,  529. 

John, 445. 

John  L.,  83,  001. 

Ruth,  39. 

Foundrv  burned,  8. 
Fowle,  Robert,  303. 
Fowler,  Rev.  C.  J..  288. 
Franc.-nia.  4*9,  528. 
Franklin  Chapter,  581. 
Freemasonry,  554,  577,  578,  570,  580,  581, 

582.  5*3,  584,  585,  58(5,  587. 
Freemasons,  Hums  Lodge,  573. 

early,  502,  500,  508,  509,  572. 

first  in  Littleton,  555,  550. 

oldest  in  country,  550. 

Meridian  Sun,  555. 

Morning  Dawn,  555. 

North  Star  Lodge,  555. 

Union  Lodge,  555. 

at  \Vaterford,  505. 
Free-Text-Hook  Law,  420. 
Freewill  Haptist,  sin  Churches. 
French,  Annie,  199. 

F.milv,  437. 

Flora",  199. 

Mabel.  199. 

Martha,  199. 

French-Canadian  Society,  592. 
Frontier  <  Juard,  543. 
Frost,  Perez  Mason,  294. 


Frye,  Joseph  S.,  345. 
Frye,  J.  S.'&  Co.,  339. 
Fnlford,  Kliphalet,  445. 
Fuller,  Thomas,  500. 
Furher,  George  C.,  200. 

Mrs.  George  C.,  232. 

Martha  E.,  430. 


G. 


Galer,  Jane  A.,  591. 

Jay  O.,  591. 

Garand,  Charles  E.,  144. 
Garland,  adm'r,  c.  Hastings  Lumber  Co., 

000. 

Garneau,  Francis,  592. 
(iaskell,  S.,  559. 
Gates,  Curtis,  586. 
Gates,  Curtis  &  Co.,  39. 
Gates,  Horace,  590. 
George,  Henry  ().,  73. 
Gibb,  Joseph  L.,  515,  572,  574,  575,  578, 
590. 

Stephen  C.,  409,  494. 
Gibson,  Rev.  Richard,  302. 

W.  F.,  430. 

Zachariah,  247. 
Gifts  to  Library,  449,  452. 
Gile,  Mrs.  A.,  230. 

Fry  W.,  109,  515. 

George,  207,  300,  423. 

Mrs.  George,  300. 

John,  217,  227,  303,  301,  365,  419,  490, 
493. 

La vina,  431. 

Nelson,  445. 

Ray  T.,  483.  508. 

Timothy,  171,  500. 
Gilford,  475. 
Gireaux,  Louis  F.,  592. 
Glasgow,  Scot.,  87. 
Glazier,  Frank,  198. 

George  M.,  7,  10. 
Gleason,  Salmon,  252. 
Gledhill.  Dr.  E.  ('.,  129. 
Glenwood  Cemetery,  509 

Annex,  508. 
Glove  Companies,  0-11. 

consolidated,  9,  10. 
Glove  Factory,  burned,  7. 

rebuilt,  8. 
Glover,  Charles  A. ,323. 

F.  R.,  401. 

Golden  Rule  Lodge,  556. 
(looch.  Franklin  I.,  131. 
Good  Templars,  41 1 ,  5!'l. 
Goodall.  Mrs.  Alpha,  19*. 

Mrs.  Hernice.  199. 

Rev.  David,  157.  15S.  217,  21s.  212.419. 
420.  439,  49S,  522. 

Elizabeth,  49S,  50n. 

Pcrsis,  40U. 

Solomon.  510. 
Goodall  &  Woods.  001. 


Index. 


719 


Goodenough,  Mrs.  John  C.,  201,  232. 
Goodrich,  E.  I).,  392. 

Mrs.  Ida,  312. 

Rev.  James  B.,  307,  310. 

J.  Wallace,  459. 

Mary  I.,  437. 
Goodwin,  Chester  M.,  597. 

Elma,  518. 

Mrs.  Martha  N.,  159,  207,  203. 

Olive,  263. 

Samuel,  510. 

Simeon,  637. 
Goold,  Marquis  L.,  68,  103,  107,  230,  231, 

236,  444,  508,  515,  588,  590. 
Gordon,  Albert,  354. 

James,  263. 

Sarah,  263. 

Gorham,  Emily  E.,  232. 
Goss,  A.,  189. 
Gould,  Alice  H.,  198. 

Asa,  558,  559,  562. 

Edwin,  68. 

Mrs.  Susan  J.,  197. 
Graf  ton,  250. 
Grafton    County,   plan   for    division    of, 

54. 

Grafton  Regiment,  officers  of,  531. 
Graham,  Percival  S.,  590. 
Grand  Blanc,  Mich.,  556. 
Grand  Canton,  Albion,  691. 
Grand    Master   Mason,   first,    in    N.    II., 

554. 
Grange,  charter  members  of,  507. 

masters  of,  597. 

organized,  597. 

Pomona,  Northern  N.  H.,  598,  599. 

twenty-fifth  anniversary,  598. 

White  Mountain,  598,  5v)9. 
Granger,  Hev.  Nelson  McDonald,  269,  289, 

290,291. 
Granite  State  Glove  Co. ,9. 

exemption  from  taxes,  475. 
Grant,  Benjamin,  Jr.,  543. 
Graves,  Hev.  Anson  It.,  307. 

Hev.  Charles,  349. 

Cilley  I).,  179. 
Green,  Ehenezer,  548. 

Harry  1).,  42. 

Henry  F  ,  10,  42,  82,  83,  452,  592. 

Mrs.  H.  F.,  231. 

Jennie  May,  355. 

Myra  E.,  39,  446. 

Mrs.  Persis,  356. 

Greene,  Chauncey  H.,  305,  445,  457,  458, 
575,  578,  579,  580,  582,  584,  5b6,  587, 
500. 

Harriet  M.,  305. 
Greenleaf,  Charles  II.,  81. 

Elbridge,  518. 
Griffin,  S.  G.,  584. 
Griirgs,  A  Ivan,  2 15,  230. 

Gideon,  158,  159,  214,  504. 
Griswold,  Charles  B.,  586,  601,  602. 
Guild,  All  Saints  Episcopal,  311. 
Guildhall,  Vt.,  523. 


Guilford,  Hev.  Elijah,  317,  318,  319. 
Gunthwaite,  541,  542. 

road  from,  to  White    Mountains,  481 


II. 


Hale,  Colonel,  521. 

E.  J.  M.,  1- 

Ezra,  266,  267,  300. 

Mrs.  Ezra,  300. 

John,  73. 

Jonathan, 534,  542. 

Otis  G.,3,  40,  82,  83. 

Sophronia  K.,  198,  597. 

Hale,  Edson  &  Abbott,  38. 
Hall,  E.  F.,152. 

Eben  L.,  37. 

George  N.,  39. 

Kev.  Dr.  S.  R.,  129,  428,  564. 

Rev.  Thomas,  189,  565,  566,  567. 
Hallett,  Herbert  K.,  81,  82,  581. 
Hamblett,  Charles  J.,  606. 
Hamblin,  E.  B.,  590. 
Hancock,  Ilenrv,  543. 
Hanover,  522,  532,  544. 
Hanson,  Jacob  C.,  574. 
Hardy,  John  W.,  248. 

Hev.  N.  K.,  159. 
Harlow,  Mr.,  458. 
Ilarriman,  Henry  D.,  502. 

James  Lang,  110,  111. 

Moses,  241. 

William,  597. 
Harrington,  C.  E.,  434. 

James,  42. 

William,  42. 

Harrington  &  Co.,  42,  05,  154. 
Harris,  Charles  F.,  5. 

Milo,  597. 

Orrison,  318. 

Harris,  C.  F.  &  Co.,  6,  474. 
Hartshorn,  Charles,  3,  4,  5,  82,  305,  575, 
579. 

Mrs.  Charles,  305,  44C. 

Lucy  J.,  305. 
Hartshorn  &  Co.,  3,  4. 
Harvey,  Alexander,  480. 
Haskins,  William  A.,  580,  581,  580. 
Hatch,  Ada  P.,  198. 

Albert  R.,  582. 

Ansel,  429. 

Frank  Martin,  198. 

Fred  1?.,  60. 

Fred  Gilman.  198. 

G.  O.  W.,  507. 

Henry  O.,  84. 

Joseph,  522. 

Mrs.  Nellie,  198. 

Obed  S.,  52!). 

Oscar  Cutler,  80.  81,  82,  83.  85,  86,  87, 
231.  312,  587,  592,  605. 

Mrs.  O.  C..  312. 

Mrs.  Silas,  272. 

Sylvan  us,  55G. 


720 


Index. 


Hatch,  Tliomns  E.,  58:2. 

llaverhill,  525,  501,  502,  504,  541,  542,  540, 

568,  586. 

Ilaverhill,  Mass.,  505. 
Hawkins,  John,  410. 
Haynes,  Hev.  Henry  II.,  307,  308. 

Mrs.  Laura,  012. 

Lilian,  407. 

Robert.  248. 

Haywood,  Joshua,  507,  543. 
Ilazeltine,     Dr.     Andrew     Arthur,    120, 
146. 

Charles  S  ,  146.  200. 

Enoch,  145,  146. 

Frederick,  450,  515. 
Ilazeltine  (''hair  Business,  145. 
Hazen,  L.  I).,  104. 
Heald,  Mary  S..  121. 
Health,  Board  of,  120. 
Hearse,  bought,  508. 
Helping  Hand  Club  (Episcopal),  012. 
Henry,  James  E.,  240. 

Mrs.  Jennie  I).,  598. 

Joseph.  240. 

Mary  C.,  243. 
Hewes",  Rev.  F.  A.,  261. 
Hey  wood,  William,  420. 
Hibbanl.  Lyman,  158. 

Thomas.  507. 

William.  148. 
Ilickock,  Dr.,  120. 
Higgins,  A.  M.,  209. 
Highway,  appropriation  by  Maine  to  build, 

491. 
Highways  : 

Franconia  Road,  400. 

from  Connecticut  River  to  Lincoln,  480, 
400. 

from  Monroe  (then  Lyman)  to  County 
Road,  487,  488. 

from    Rankin's  Mills    to  Foster    Place, 
488. 

Main  Street  built,  480. 

Meadow  Road  built,  480. 

money,  how  raised,  402. 

Portland  Road,  4*8. 
Highways  and  Bridges,  485,  405. 
Ilildreth,  Mrs.  Hannah,  .T_'2. 

Leonard  B.,  022. 

Levi,  422. 

Orville  B..  01S. 
Hill,  Rev.  John,  245,  247. 

Stephen  S.,  420. 
Hinds,  F.lisha,  101,  42:',,  440. 
High  School,  assistants,  400.  407. 

house,  cost  of,  470.  471. 

principals,  4.'):'..  406. 
Ilohart,  David,  5:!2,  5:15. 
Hodgman,  Burn>,  006. 

diaries  :;0. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth.  On.'),  ',01. 

Francis.  :i6,  r,:;,  \-y,.  .};,i;,  515,  50n. 

Luella  Wool-oil,  :lu5. 

Samuel  W.,  5ls. 
Hollinan.  Rev.  John  II..  211,  211. 


I  Holbrook,  Harvey,  559. 
i  Holman,  Charles  R.,  202. 

Rev.  Edwin,  206,  207. 

Rev.  Sullivan,  257,  274,  275,  298. 
Holmes,  Edmund,  420. 
Hook  &  Ladder  Co.  organized,  517. 
Ilopkinson,  Caleb,  520,  559. 

David,  520. 

John,  520. 

.Jonathan,  Jr.,  523. 

Jonathan,  Sr.,  520. 
Horton,  Rev.  Edward  II.,  046. 
Hose  Company,  organized,  517. 

and    Hook  and  Ladder  Company  con- 
solidated, 518. 
Hose  House,  518. 
Hoskins,  Barney,  158. 

David,  158,  217. 

Dr.  E.  B.,  129. 

Elkanah,  506,  520. 

Luther.  158. 

Mary,  506. 

Nehemiah,  506. 

Salmon,  500. 

Seth,  80. 

Hosmer,  Josiah,  145. 
Hospitalers,  Order  of,  580. 
Houle,  Joseph, 592. 
Howard,  Rev.  Charles  M.,  205,  207. 

T.  M..  204. 
Howe,  Harry  F.,  07. 

Joseph,  508. 

Howland,  Washington,  018. 
Ilo.vt,  Rev.  A.  A  ,  050. 

Benjamin  R..  252. 

Geo'rge  W.,  004. 

J.  15..  204. 
Hubbard,  Amos,  510. 

William,  420. 

Hudson,  Samuel,  521.  550. 
Hughes,  Aaron  P.,  574. 

Celinda.  206. 

Fred,  450. 

Martha,  200. 
Hunkins,  Orrin  W..  500. 

Mrs.  Lilian  X..  501. 
Iluntington,  Rev.  William  P.,  044. 
Iluntoon,  Caleb.  520. 

Carter  X..  500. 
Nathaniel,  520. 

Ilunl.    Col.    John,    526,     501,    502,    500, 
511. 

letter  to  Committee  of  Safety.  506. 

regiment      in       Revolutionary       War, 

504. 

Timothy  B.,  500. 
William  B..  400. 
Hurlburr.  S.,  560. 
Hurley.  Rev.  Denis  F..  009,  511. 
Huron.  Mrs.  Kliza.  -V.il. 
Hntehins.  Frank  I). 

. Joseph,  Company  of. 
Hutehinson,  F.  ( '.,  50>\ 
Hydrants,  number  of,  5 


Index. 


721 


I. 


Lie,  Joseph,  65,  66. 

Income  of  town,  1891-1901,  478. 

I.  0.  O.  F.,  see  Odd  Fellows. 


J. 

.Turkman,  IT.  Ashley,  27. 

R.  C.,  353. 

Jackman  &  Clough,  154. 
Jackson,  Harrv  B  ,  312. 

Henry  <>.,  '271,  299,  358,  502. 

James,  419. 

James    R,,  10,  304,  411,  433,  445,  447, 
448,  450,  457,  515,  579,  004,  605. 

Mrs.  Lydia  I).,  418. 

Mrs.  Prusia,  298. 

William,  325,  510. 

William,  Jr.,  199. 
Jacobs,  A.,  559,  568. 
Jaques,  James,  248. 
Jeffrey,  Alice,  354. 

Elizabeth,  354. 

Rev.  John,  353,  354. 
Jenkins,  Robert,  154. 
Jewett,  Henry  M.,  171. 

Lmher,  127. 

Milo  A.;  171. 
Johnson,  F.  II.,  194. 

Harry  A.,  586. 

Rev.  John  Edgar,  310. 

Simeon  B.,  445,  494,  510,  563,  572,  001 
Johnston,  Charles,  534,  536,  542,  544,  547 
Johnston's  Regiment,  549. 
Jones,  Benjamin  B.,  148. 

Rev.  G.  C.,  308. 

II.  W.,  204. 

N.  J.,  204. 

Richard,  203. 

Susanna,  '203. 

Rev.  W.,  205. 
Jordan,  Marsh  &  Co.,  1. 
Joslyn,  A.  E.,  299. 

James,  559,  562. 
Juarez,  391. 

Judevine,  Cornelius,  40. 
Judd,  Damon,  263. 
Justices,  local,  601. 


K. 

Kaula,  Miss,  459. 
Kelley,  Dr.,  125. 

Mrs.  Nettie  F.,  591. 

Samuel,  250,  5(53. 
Kellogg,  Amasa,  503. 

Charles,  251,  254,258,300,  592. 

Edward,  251. 

Kzekiel,  499,  524. 

F.  W.,390, 

Kelsea,  George  S.,  123. 
Kelsey,  Rev.  Hiram  L.,  266,  280. 
Kempton,  Mrs.,  459. 


Kenerson,  Austin  II.,  435. 
Keniston,  Charles  W.,  149; 

Fzra,  149. 
Kennev,  Aaron,  144. 

Ansel,  322. 

Ed  ward  O.,  574,  588,  590,601. 

Herbert  E.,  64,  587. 

Horace  J.,  323. 

Lorenzo  C.,  579,  582,  584. 

Mary,  322. 
Kent,  Asa,  240,  247. 

Henry  <).,  584,  585. 
Kidder,  Samuel,  569. 
Kilburn,  Adaline  <>.,  199,  230,  240. 

Benjamin  W.,  13,  16,  233,  234,  243,  355, 
358,  577,  590. 

Mrs.  B.  W.,  197,  243. 

Edward,  13,  15,  152,445. 

Elizabeth,  198,  230. 

Emily  B.,  230,  243. 

Frederick,  142. 

Josiah,  161,  219,  229,  230,  410,  411,  445, 
493,508,510,  575,  590. 

Mrs.  Josiah,  198. 

Lydia  A.,  243. 
Kilburn,  J.,  &  Son,  595. 
Kilburn  Crags,  15,  18,  20. 
Kilburn    Foundry,   exempt    from    taxes, 

475. 

Kilburn  School  built,  437. 
Kimball,  Benjamin,  550. 

E.  T.,  10. 

King,  Willard,  194. 
Kinne,  Bessie  B.,  356. 

Mrs.  Emma  C.,  356. 
Knapp,  Mrs.  Amasa,  250. 

Ardelle,  456. 

Rev.  William  C.,  256,  371. 
Kneeland,  Willard  H.,  9. 
Knight,  Arthur  B.,  23. 

Ezra  C.,  578. 

Dr.  Jonathan,  124. 
Knights  of  Honor,  592. 
Knights  of  Pythias,  592. 
Knights  Templar,  581-585. 

charter  of,  584.    • 

dispensation  to,  581,  582. 
Knowles,  Mrs.,  459. 
Know-Nothings,  329,  330,  331. 
Knox,  Rev.  M.  V.  B.,  271,  292,  293,  294. 
Krook,  Rev.  Cornelius  X.,  269. 


L. 


Lnconia,  586. 
Laild.  Exekiel,  538. 

John,  543. 

John  J.,  231,  434. 

Polly,  318. 

Samuel,  543. 

La  Fayette  Lod^e  ,,f  <),],]  Fellows,  589. 
I,  a  Flamme,  Charles,  592. 
La  Flech,  Bishop.  338. 
La  Keway,  Joseph,  592. 


722 


Index. 


Lamar,  L.  A.  0..  606. 

Lancaster,  52:5,  541,  542,  572.  599. 

Landaff  Circuit,  Methodist,  246. 

Land  Damage,  489. 

Land,  loss  of,  to  Littleton,  480,  481. 

Lane  &  Stocker,  71. 

Lang,  Moses,  204. 

Langdon,  John,  246. 

Langford,  K.  C.,  270,  299. 

11.  C.,  299. 

La  Plante,  Rev.  Father,  338. 
Lavacca,  Texas,  556. 
Law  and  Order  League,  412. 
Law  Enforcement,  416. 
Loach  &  Smith,  3'J. 
Learned,  Samuel,  466,  487. 

Samuel,  Jr.,  75. 
Leavens,  Penuel,  529. 
Leavitt,  Rev.  Daniel,  355. 

Dudley,  262,  275. 

Wadleigh,  524. 
Lebanon,  532. 
Ledger  of  Major  Little,  30. 
Lee,  Jesse,  245,  301. 

journal  of,  245,  246. 
Lees,  Kev.  J.  \V.,  205. 
Legacy,  John,  3:15. 
Leland,  Allen  &  Bates,  1. 
Lewis,  Asa,  138,  159,  525. 

George  F.  &  Co.,  39. 

James,  529,  530. 

Jonas,  525. 

Mary  T.,  506. 

Naboth,  502,  525. 
Lihhey,  Henry  C.,  9,  10,27. 

Herman  'I'.."  300. 
Libraries,  439-452. 
Library : 

Burns,  444  ;  sale  of,  445. 

First,  439. 

Glynville,  440,  443;  books  in,  441  ;  by- 
laws of,  441  ;  proprietors  of,  440,  441. 

People's  Circulating,  444. 

Public,  board  of  '  trustees,  448,  450, 
451;  circulation  of,  450;  gifts  to,  44'.», 
450,  452 ;  rooms  of,  452;  subscrip- 
tions to,  448,  44'.). 

Social,  439,  440  ;  charter,  440. 

Village,    445,    440  ;    directors    in,    445, 

446. 

Librarians,  443,  446.  450,  451,  452. 
Lincoln,  4*7,  489. 
Lincoln,  General,  537. 

Charles  T.,  7,  11. 
Lindsay,  John,  200,  431. 
Linehan.  Kev.  Timothy  P.,  333. 
Lisbon,  580. 

Li>bon  -£  Littleton  line,  47'.). 
Litch.  Kev.  J.  S..  204. 
Litchfield.  Kev.  \V.  C.,  319. 
Literarv  Fund.  427. 
Little,  Abigail  H.,  238. 

Albert,  313.  515. 

George.  343,  353,  512,  515,  001. 

Mrs.  George..  238. 


Little,  Jonas,  Jr.,  489. 

Josiah,  489. 

Luella,  437. 

Moses,  102,  462,  483,  486,  490,  509. 

Mrs.  Moses  P.,  238. 
Littleton  Hardware  Co.,  70. 
Littleton  Shoe  Shop  Co.,  see  Shoe  Shop. 
Livermore,  Samuel,  303. 
Longevity,  town  favorable  to,  136. 
Lord,  Clinton,  253. 

John,  248. 

Lougee,  Charles,  529,  530. 
Lovejoy,  Amos,  153. 

Charles,  509. 

Charles  II.,  453. 

Elizabeth,  198,  305. 

George  E.,  41,  42. 

Henry  II.,  305,  454,  455. 

Jonathan,  139. 

Johnson,  140, 141. 

Nathan,  141. 

Simon,  141. 

Warren,  199,  207,  216,  232,  255. 

Rev.  William  Wallace,  352. 
Lucia,  Joseph,  335. 
Lyford,  J.  C.,  588. 
Lyman,  526,  527,  541,  545,  549. 
Lvman  and  Littleton  line,  479. 
Lyman,  Dr.  Eliphalet,  131. 
Lvme,  532,  534,  538,  541. 
Lynch,  Edward  B.,  69. 

Mrs.  Mary  E.,  243. 


M. 

Magoon,  Carl  S  ,  353,  356. 

Kev.  J.  A..  35:5. 
Main  Street,  492. 
Maiden,  Mass.,  Hugh  de  Paine  Command- 

erv  from,  585. 
Malta,"*  )rder  of,  582. 
Mann,  Ezra  B.,  586. 

Mrs.  Maria,  272. 

Solomon,  138,  158,  44:). 

Stephen,  299. 
Marklev.  Mrs.  Elizabeth,  500. 

Jacob,  500. 
Marsh,  Sylvester,  8,  198. 

Mrs.  Sylvester,  198. 

Sylvester,  Jr.,  199. 
Martin,  Dr.  George  F.,  323. 

Dr.  John  L..  124. 

Samuel,  490. 

William,  543. 
Mason,  Frank  II.,  212. 

Philip  J..  !-2. 
Ma.-onry,   577,  578,  57'.),   £80,    581.       >'re 

Freemasonry. 

Masonic,    dispensation  for    commanderv, 
5s  1 .  5S2. 

election  of  officers,  527. 

Hall,  5M). 

( tmega  ( 'ouncil.  5SiI. 

S'.-otch  Kite,  5bO,  587. 


Index. 


723 


Masonic,  St.  Rose  of  Croix  Chapter,  587. 

Matthewson,  William  A.,  158,  154. 

Matthison,  Margaret  J.,  122. 

Mattochs,  Henry,  49. 

May,  Elislia,  430. 

Maybin,  Rev.  William  A.  W.,  304,  305. 

Maynard,  Deacon,  204. 

McConnell,  Tliomas,-543. 

McCoy,  Mary  Ann,  198. 

Nathan,  73. 

William,  250. 

McDole,  Rev.  Thomas,  125,  561. 
McDonald,  William,  459. 
McDuffee,  John,  483. 
McGowan,  Rev.  A.  B.,  203. 
McGreegor,  Dr.  George  W.,  117,  452. 
Mclntire,  Alexander,  260,  269. 

Anna,  199. 

Harry  H.,  435. 

Warren,  430,  597. 
McKelvey,  Captain,  412. 

John,  145. 

McKenna,  Rev.  Father,  337. 
McKenzie,  R.  T.,  73. 
McKnab,  John,  489. 
McLane,  Miss,  459. 
McLaughlin,Mr.,270,  291. 
McMillen,  Andrew,  483. 
McRae,  Edward,  592. 
Mead,  Henry  Burnham,  365,  366. 
Medal  Contests,  W.  C.  T.  U.,  414. 
Medical  Societies,  131. 
Meeting-House,  first,  in  village,  159,  160. 
Meiner,  Robert,  9. 
Melbourne,  Can.,  521,  524. 
Memorial  Windows,  243,  300,  322. 
Men  and  Women  of  prominence  abroad, 

382-401. 

Mercy  Home,  414. 
Merrill,  Abel,  489. 

Abraham  1).,  250. 

Caroline  Bracket!  (Mrs.  Henry),  235. 

Eleanor,  198,  304. 

George  W.,  59. 

Hannah  I).  (Mrs.  John),  510. 

Hannah  F.,  232,  451. 

Henry,  5,  9,  39,  62,  207,  457. 

Mrs.  Henry,  232. 

Isabella,  198. 

John,  39,  147,  176,  189,  215,   229,  232, 
235,  304,  410,  416,  510,  515,  591. 

Mrs.  John,  208. 

Rev.  J.  B.,  321. 

Lewis  L.,  148,  149. 

Otis  II.,  592. 

Sybil,  555. 

Webster,  355. 
Meserve,  Clara,  436. 

Harriet  1).,  198,  436. 
Metcalf,  Burgess,  543. 

Henry  11.,  845,  598. 
Metliuen,  Mass.,  501. 
Mexican  War,  530. 
Microscope,  given  schools,  437. 
Miett,  Rev.  Joseph,  355. 


Miles,  Dr.  Abner,  125. 

Military  Company,  552. 

Militia,  in  Battle  of  Bennington,  538. 

in  Battle  of  Saratoga,  538. 

in  Littleton,  550,  552. 

in  Northern  New  Hampshire,  531-553. 
Militia  Laws,  539,  548,  549,  550. 
Mill,  Hankin,  138. 

at  South  Littleton,  138;  burned,  27. 
Millen,  Mrs.  Betsey  C.,  197. 

Rev.  Charles    W.,  133,   206,   261,   266, 
371,  374,  375. 

John,  419,  529. 

Josephine  E.,  198. 
Miller,  A.  G.,  435. 

Charles  R.,  125. 

Edwin  C.,  398. 

Mrs.  Ethel,  232. 

Mrs.  Ida  Farr,  398. 
Milliken,  Rev.  Charles  E.,  191-203,  230, 

232,  239,  411,  577. 
Mills,  Amos  H.,  597. 

Mrs.  Ella,  597. 
Miner,  Aaron  B.,  590. 

Elisha,  141. 

Harriet  J.,  199. 

Isaac,  419,  466,  487,  526. 

S.  G.,  238. 

Thomas,  156,  487,  525. 

William,  526. 
Missionary  Herald,  181. 
Missionary  Society,  Congregational,  234. 

Methodist,  268. 

Mitchell,  Delia  B.  (Mrs.  William  II.,)  312, 
451. 

John  M.,  336,  602,  603. 

William  II.,  426,  437,  605. 
Mitchell  School  built,  437. 
Mob  in  Lancaster,  246. 
Moffett,  Frank  T.,  114,  115. 
Monroe,  599. 
Montreal,  522. 
Montgomery,  General,  540. 

Hugh,  263,  264. 
Moody,  Dr.  William  B.,  126. 
Mooney,  Mrs.  Lydia,  598. 
Moore,    Dr.  Adams,    103,    104,    161,   171. 
188,  416,  446,  479,  483,  509,  512,  563, 
572,  590. 

Elizabeth,  446. 

Dr.  Isaac,  98,  100. 

James  W.,  123. 

Newell,  63. 

William,  510,  519. 
Morey,  Israel,  533,  542. 

reginu'iit  of,  534,  535,  536,  537,  538,  540, 
541,  542,  543,  544. 

removed  from  command,  547. 
Morgan.  Charles  G.,  154. 

J.  1'ierpont,  410. 
Morning  Dawn  Lodge  ( Freemasons )539- 

562! 
Morrill,  Benjamin,  58(i. 

Calvin,  21)4. 

Charles  II.,  9,  154 


724 


Index. 


Morris,  Dr.  .1.  A.,  126. 
Morrison,  Charles  R.,  430. 

Gelinun  R.,  453. 

Rev.  J.  B.,  346. 

Dr.  Moses  F.,  125. 

N.  F..  562. 

Morristown,  541,  542,  545. 
Morse,  Rev.  C.  F.,  205. 

Ebenezer,  505,  529. 

Emma,  355. 

Harry  M.,  451,  002. 

Helen  M.,  11)7. 

Joseph  W.,  '217. 

Obadiah,  520,  529,  530. 

Mrs.  Samuel  Taylor,  503. 

Silas,  236. 
Moulton,  Rev.  E.  1'.,  319. 

Frank  P.,  434. 

Job,  543. 
Mozrall,  Frank,  335. 

Joseph,  385. 
Murphy,  Dennis,  335. 

Timothy,  336. 
Music  anil  Musical  Associations,  453,  461 

in  schools,  437. 

Musical  Association,  456,  457-458. 
Musical  Convention,  first,  450. 

later,  450,  457,  458. 
Musical  Instruments  in  church,  239. 
Myott,  Lewis,  144. 


Native  Ministers,  360-381. 
Nellini.  Miss,  45'.). 
Nelson,  Dr.  William,  125. 

Thomas  L.,  006. 
Nessor,  Piiilip,  590. 
Newell,  Dr.,  125. 
New  England  Conference,  249. 
Newhall,  Josiali,  147,  210,  273. 
New  Hampshire  &  Franconia  Co.,  490. 
New  Hamsphire  and  Vermont  Conference, 

New  Hampshire  Conference,  257. 
Now  Hampshire  Union  Dank,  75. 
Nichols,  Elias,  4'.»4. 
Niles,  Rev.  \Villiam  Woodruff,  305. 
Noble.  Elanson.  510. 

La  Fayette,  411,  591. 

( )hcdiah,  537. 

Nobles,  Dr.  Win.  C.  E.,  120,  121. 
Noiseux,  Rev.    Isadore,  331,  885,  830,  33H, 

33'.). 

Nonagenarians,  510. 
Non-resident  tax.  400. 
Normal  School  First,  128. 
Norris.  John.  31*. 

Samuel.  -  I'1. 

Nurthi-rn    Regiment,  towns  in,  5  lit. 
Northev,  '  )rriti  (  .'.,  51*. 
Northfield,  -V_'l. 

Nortliumberland,  511,  512,  555. 
Norton,  Kev.  S.,  'J.1  >  1,  205. 


Norwich,  Vt.,  571. 
Nourse,  Fred  O.,  388. 

J.  C.,  267. 
Nurs,  Benjamin,  460. 

John,  419. 

John,  i1.  Oliver  Sawyer,  GOO. 

Jonas,  208,  419,  488. 

Jonathan,  141,  143- 
Nurse,  Mrs.  Charles,  197. 

Oliver  F.,  263,  529. 

Ruth,  263. 

Thomas  S.,  47,  68. 
Nute,  Albert,  16. 

Alfred  D.,  16. 

Eugene  P.,  606. 

William  II.,  16,  455. 
Nute  Brothers,  10. 
Nutting,  C.  F.,  60,  452. 

O. 

Oakes,  Henry,  443,  601. 

J.  N.,  353,  354. 
Oakes  &  Parks,  601. 
Oak  Hill  House,  006. 
Obrey,  Surgeon,  537. 
O'Callahan,  Kev.  Jeremiah,  331,  332. 
Odd  Fellows,  588-5!)  1. 
O'Kane,  Rev.  John,  379. 
Omega  Council  (Freemasonry),  586. 
Orange,  537. 
Orchestra,  Blaisdell,  459. 

(lermania,  459. 

Schubert,  459. 
O'Reilley,  Kev.  Father,  325. 
Orford.  532,  5:13,  587,  511,  556. 
Orr,  Albert.  419. 
Osgood.  Kev.  G.  W.,  205,  231. 

Rev.  John  C.,  398. 
Osteopathy,  122. 
Ouvrand,  Phileas,  330. 

1'.  F.,  401. 
Owen,  Adaline,  461. 


P. 


Paekersfield  (now  Nelson),  520. 
Paddleford.  Philip    11.,  2,  8,  4,  5,  495.  515, 

572,  575.  5S2,  5S|. 
Page.  Dr.    Benjamin  F.,  118. 

Dr.  John  M.,  121,  592. 

L.  W.,  5'.I2. 

Moses.  6. 

Rev.  S.,  191. 

Samuel  II..  3*7.  3S*,  430,  :>75,  586. 
Palt'rev.  Rev.  ( 'a/neau,  3  13. 
Palmer.  Alexander,  27O. 

A.  15.,    141. 

Francis  11..  455. 

Freeman.   I  17,  257. 

John  \V..  151. 

Jo>eph,  420. 

R    II..  45'.). 

Rev.  \V.  S.,  357. 


Index. 


725 


Palmer  Mill  Sale,  8. 
Paradis,  Rev.  Cyrille  J.,  340,  592. 
Pardee,  Rev.  Joseph  II.,  345. 
Parker,  Albert,  411. 

Alice  B.,  198. 

Charles,  8,  10,  354. 

Dr.  Edward  K.,  120. 

Eleazer  B.,  79,  82,  83. 

Ella,  199. 

Ellen  I.  Sanger,  243. 

Ezra,  163,  420,  529. 

Frank  I,  158,  597. 

Harland,  73. 

Harry  C.,  455. 

Henry  H.,  8,  354. 

Mrs.  Henry,  394. 

Ira,  6,  10,  12,   18,  81,  83,  155,  270,  271, 
299,  457,  458. 

Isaac,  171,  218. 

Jonas,  529. 

Jonathan,  158. 

Mandane  A.,  448,  450. 

Nelson,  8,  63,  445. 

Osman,  81,  83. 

Silas,  0,  7, 155. 

S.  O.,  353. 

Mrs.  S.  O.,  354. 

T.  E.,  73. 

Mrs.  T.  K.,   72. 
Parker,  Ira,  &  Co.,  7. 
Parks,  Isabel,  430. 
Parsonage,  first  in  town,  158 

Methodist,  see  Churches. 
Parsons,  Jabez,  550. 
Patch,  George  J.,  08. 
i  atten,  Mill,  27. 
Patterson,  Daniel,  149. 
Paul,  Moses,  574. 
Payne,  J.,  248. 
Peubody,  Hannah  G.,  399,  400,  430. 

Richard,  427,  498,  527. 

Richard  \V.,  242. 

Stephen,  521. 
Pearson,  Thomas  II.,  323. 
Pease,  Isaac,  247. 
Peck,  Her.  Isaac,  309. 

Phineas,  241). 

Stephen,  529. 
Peirce,  Adams  T.,  606. 
1'elton,  Prank  B.,  430. 
Pennock,  Bernice,  518. 
People's  Circulating  Library,  444. 
Perambulation  of  Lines,  481. 
Perkins,  William  O.,  459. 
Perry,  Amos,  522. 
Peters,  Absalom,  534. 

Rev.  Samuel,  30ii. 
Petition,  for  road,  485,  486. 

for  Lodge  of  Freemasons,  573. 

from  Vermont  towns,  488,  4fc?9. 

in  regard  to  back  taxes,  404. 
Pettingill,  John,  323. 
Phclps,  Fred,  123. 

F.  15.,  204. 
Phillips,  Asa,  207. 


Phillips,  D.  P.,  204. 

Lemuel  N.,  318,  323. 

Reuben,  318. 
Physicians,  88-137. 

early,  89,  91. 

first,  99. 

Photographers,  152,  153. 
Pierce,  John,  198,  611. 

Mrs.  John,  198. 
Piermont,  587,  541,  542. 
Pike,  Alonzo  F.,  23. 

Bertram,  559. 

Daniel,  659,  569. 

Daniel  2d,  5(59,  570. 

Dennison,  502. 

Edwin  B.,  24. 

Isaac,  23. 

Nathan,  489,  490,  559,  562,  569. 

Nathan,  Jr.,  561. 
Pike  Manufacturing  Co.,  20,  25. 

agreement  with  town,  21,  22. 

agencies  of,  23. 

committee  to  induce  to  locate,  20. 

property  exempted  three  times,  474. 

officers,  23. 

superintendent,  23. 
Pine  Hill  Hotel,  475. 
Pine  Hill  Reservoir,  516. 
Pingree,  Dolly,  236. 

Ebenezer,  156,  501. 

Enoch  Merrill,  370,  377,  378,  379,  380, 
381. 

Job,  236. 

Joseph,  218,  503. 
Piper,  Rev.  Frederick,  355. 
Pittsburg,  Pa.,  495. 
Place,  James,  145. 
Plainfiehl,  532. 

Plimpton,  Rev.  S.  M..  189,  194. 
Plymouth,  531,  535. 
Police  Court,  001. 

Judges,  601,  002. 
Pollard,  Samuel,  145. 
Polls,  valuation  of,  471. 
Pomona  Grange,  598,  599. 
Pontiae,  Mich.,  572. 
Poor,  Mrs.  M.  L.,  39. 

Ruel   \V.,  81,  581. 
Porter,  Asa,  532. 

Eleanor  Hodgman,  400,  401. 

Henry  11.,  590. 
Portland  Road,  491. 
Post,  Eldad,  543. 
Potasherv,  Mill  Street,  0. 
Pratt,  T.  J.,  73. 
Presby,  Joseph  W.,  375,  37u. 
Prescott,  E.  S.,  73,  592. 
Priest,   Roman  Catholic,  first,  visits  town. 

32"). 

Pringle,  Adam.  592. 
Profession  of  Medicine,  88-137. 
Profile  House.  142. 
Prohibitory  Laws,  410,  411,  417. 
Prudential  School  Committee,  427. 
Public  Library,  ,«•«  Libraries. 


72G 


Putnam.  Prof.  John  X.,  101. 
Putney.  C.  K.,  204. 
Pyer,  Edward,  73,  600. 


Q. 

Quartette.  Albion  Female,  450. 

Schubert,  450. 

Temple,  459. 
Quebec,  5--. 

Quimby,   Albert  II.,   140,   453,  454,  578, 
500. 

Andrew  M.,  453. 

Daniel,  453,  550. 

Henry,  559. 

Herbert,  562. 

Ira,  354. 

James  M..  198,  "54. 

John  C.,  216,  597. 

Mrs.  John  C.,  l'J7. 

O.  B  ,  353,  354. 

Sarah.  108. 

Rev.  Silas  Iv,  280. 
Quintette,  Schubert,  459. 


R. 


Ramsdell,  John,  530. 
Rand,  Charles    W.,  79,  80,  82,  445, 
508. 

Hamlin,  601. 

Mrs.  Jane,  121. 
Rankin.  Andrew,  3GO,  410. 

Clarissa,  230,  430. 

David,  217,  218,  403,  567. 

Harriet,  430. 

James,  157,  430,  467,  498,  556,  557, 

Mabina,  430. 

Margaret,  408. 

Melmda.  300,  301,  303,  425,  428,  43 

Mistress,  236. 

Persis,  430. 

Samuel.  410. 

Ranlet,  Levi,  147,  258,  201,  267,  268 
300. 

Noah  W.,  6,  200.  240. 

Mrs.  Noah  W.,  200,  240. 
Ranslow,  Rev.  Iv  ,}.,  204,205. 
Readv,  John,  152. 
Rebekah  Lodge.  501. 
Receipts  and  Disbursements,  473. 
Rcdingtun,  family,  213. 

George    P..,  2,  3,  76,  77,  78,  70,  82, 
515. 

Henry  C..  2.  3,  515. 

Mrs.  .Mary  B..  107. 
Redintrton  Box  Factorv,  3. 
Redington.  II.  C.  ,V  Co'.,  2. 
Rees,  M.  S..  210. 

Mrs.  M.  S.,  210. 
Reform  Club.  412. 
Regiment,  Hnbart's  PI vmoutli.  537. 

Hurd's,  534. 


446, 


559. 


Regiment,  Morov's,  534,  541. 

North,  532. 

Second  Grafton,  531  ;  officers  of,  531. 
Reinforcements  in  Revolution,  534. 
Remich,  1).  C.,  16,  18,  242,  355,  452,  509, 
605. 

Elizabeth  K.,  451. 
Remick,  James  W.,  448,  450,  451.  606. 

Rev.  Mr.,  308. 

Simeon,  563,  572. 
Renfrew  Brothers,  71. 

Irving  C.,  71,210. 

.John,  71. 
Reservoir  Company,  516. 

Fire,  514,  515,  516. 

Pine  Hill,  516. 
Revival,  210. 

Revolutionary  soldiers,  522-529. 
Ricard,  Archie,  502. 
Richards,  Dr.  Cyrus.  192. 
Richardson,  S.  Kverett,  500. 

George  W.,  558. 

Ilenrv,  507. 

Henry  E.,  82. 

Horace  F.,  518. 

Luther,  543. 

Mrs.  Martha  Wallace,  400. 

Myron  II.,  70.  216,  232. 

Mrs.  Myron  H.,  232. 

Prise-ilia  (Mrs.  David),  499. 

Steven,  508. 

William  A.,  500. 

William  I.,  484. 
Richardson  &  Kimball,  42. 
Rice,  Dr..  370. 

Mrs.  Caroline  (Mrs.  J.  B.  Goodrich),  312. 

Kbene/er,  543. 

Riley,  Rev.  James  Henry,  340,  341. 
Hix.'Guy  C.,  236,  427. 

Moses,  236. 

Nathaniel,  Jr.,  400,  502,  557,  550.  508. 

Nathaniel,  Sr.,  527. 

Wilder,  236. 
Road,  around  Gile  Hill,  400. 

committee  to  lay,  48". 

discontinued,  4HS. 

Franconia  Notch,  401. 

from  Connecticut  River  to  Lincoln,  ap- 
propriation for,  400. 

from  Connecticut  River  to  Lincoln  laid, 
4x0,  400. 

from  Lisbon  to  Lancaster  laid,  487. 

from  Monroe  to  county  road,  4*7. 

from  Rankin's  Mill  to  Foster  Place,  488. 

Meadow,  built,  4*0. 

Portland,  48S. 
Roads,  485-403. 

money  raised  tor.  401. 

price  of  labor  on,  402. 
Robins,  Asa.  5ii:;. 

Douglas,  236,  246,  266,  260,  505. 

Joseph     Iv,  170,  261,  26H,  ^00,    120,  600. 

Joseph,  Jr.,  251,  252,  371. 

Ke/ia.  505. 

Lvdia,  230. 


Index. 


727 


Kobins,  Parley,  493. 

Wilbur  F.,  41,68,  580,  581. 
Robinson,  B.  F.,  435. 

Mrs.  B.  F.,  231. 

Fred  A.,  63. 

Mrs.  Fred  A.,  121. 

Professor,  257. 
Roby,  Charles  W.,  515. 

John  Smith,  146. 

Joseph,  515. 

Roby,  Curtis  &  Co.,  6,  601. 
Rogers,  Dr.  G.  O.,  129. 
Hose  of  Croix,  587. 
Ross,  Caroline  C.,  436. 

Judge,  256. 

Rounsevel,  Royal  D.,  155,  270,  590. 
Rowell,  Amos,  146. 

Lieut.  Daniel,  528. 

Elizabeth,  230. 

Henry  W.,  575,  588. 

Jonathan,  490. 

Dr.  Richard,  125. 

R.  F.,  562. 
Roy,  L.  L.,  67. 
Royal  ton,  Vt.,  534. 
Ruland,  George  W.,  209,  289,  590. 
Runnels,  Levi,  601. 
Russel,  Rev.  Carey,  190. 

Elmer  E.,  592. 

Fred,  591. 

Rev.  J.  M.,  318. 

Lucius  A.,  148. 
Ruter,  Marlin,  246. 
Ryan,  Addie,  458. 


S. 


Sabin,  Elijah  R.,  244. 
Sabine,  Dr.  Silas  A.,  128. 

letter  relating  to  dentistry,  128. 
Sadlers  and  Harness-makers,  149-161. 
Sanborn,  Dr.  Beniah,  125. 

David  P.,  139,  141,  575,  588,  590,  595. 

Kbenczer,  543. 

Frances  B.,  398. 

Frank  D.,  454,  577. 

Jacob,  248. 

Luther  I).,  345,  578. 

Madison,  488. 
Sanborn  &  Wells,  39. 
Sanders,  Joshua,  543. 

Marshal,  572,  575,  577,  578. 
Sanderson,  Rev.  Roscoe,  295. 
Sandwich  Islands,  account  of,  by  Mrs. 

Wills,  394. 
Sanger,  Ellen  I.,  232,  437. 

Mrs.  lanthe,  201. 

Dr.  Tbaddetis  E.,  9,  10,  111,  112,  132, 

411,445,  457,  481,  482,  581. 
Saranac  Glove  Co.,  6,  7,  8. 
Saratoga,  538. 
Sargent,  John,  82,  188,  445. 

Laura,  298. 

J'aul  Dudley,  521. 


Sauqua,  Luis,  600. 
Savage,  George  F.,  580. 

Ozias,  253. 

Stephen,  506,  528. 

Sylvester,  158,  159,  488. 
Savings  Bank,  82. 

charter  members  of,  82. 

deposits,  84. 
Saw-mills,  27. 
Sawyer,  Edward,  556. 

Elliott  F.,  518. 

Mrs.  II.  E.,  469. 

Dr.  S.  C.,  129,231,358. 
Scarlatina,  134,  135. 
Scan-in,  J.  A.,  250. 
School-books  in  early  times,  424,  425. 
School  District  system  abolished,  421. 
School  Districts,  boundaries  of,  419,  420, 
438. 

committee  to  divide  town  intoj  419. 

division  of  towns  into,  419. 
School-house,  burnt,  422. 
•     gift  of  lot  for,  423. 

on  South  Side,  424. 

on  Union  Street,  424. 
School-houses  described,  422,  423. 
School  Inspectors,  426. 
School  Tax,  428,  470. 
Schools,  418-438. 

appropriation  for,  418,  427. 

laws  regarding,  418. 

of    town    united    with    Union    School 
District,  427. 

salary  of  teachers,  428. 
Schultz  Bridge  &  Iron  Co.,  495. 
Scott,  Andrew,  141. 

Martin  Luther,  109,  110. 

N.  Harvey,  123. 

Scottish  Kite  Masonry,  586,  587. 
Scythe  Factory,  2,  3. 
Seeley,  Sergt.  William,  511. 
Semi-centennial  of  Methodist  Church,  300. 
Senter,  John,  238. 
Sewell,  Jonathan  M.,  532,  533. 
Sextons  of  Glemvood  Cemetery,  509. 
Shaw,  Joshua  B.,  47,  410. 
Shays'  Rebellion,  528. 
Shepard,  Martha  Dana,  450,  458,  459. 
Sherburne,  Mrs.  Mary  B.,  232. 
Shoe  Shop  purchased  by  town,  17. 

cost  of,  to  town,  19. 

lease,  18,  19. 
Shoe  Company,  16-20. 

articles  of  incorporation,  17. 

business  of,  20. 

stockholders  of,  18. 
Shuff,  Jacob,  543. 
Slmrtleff,  Fremont  E.,  GOG. 
Shute,  Joseph,  Kil,  529. 

Michael,  257,  500. 
Sias,  Solomon.  24S. 
Sidewalks,  492,  493. 
Silsby,  William  M..  5S1. 
Simonds,  Enoch  15.,  5(53. 

Frank  <>.,  518. 


728 


Index. 


Simonds,  Solon  L.,  581. 

Mrs.  Solon  L.,  72. 
S*impson,  Chester  A.,  1'2,  144. 

Frank,  586. 

John  T.,  145. 

Mrs.  John  T.,  272 

Kiley  S.,  144. 

William,  532. 
Simpson  Brothers,  7. 
Sinclair,  Charles  A.,  58.  305,458,  4(56,  590. 

John  (i.,  82,  445,  458,  510,  572,  588. 
Sinclair  &  Merrill,  39. 
Skeels,  Thomas,  247. 
Slavery,    Congregational     Church     vote 

concerning,  196. 
Sleeper,  Walter,  248. 
Sloan,  John,  543. 
Sloan's  Company,  538. 
Smalley,  James  II.,  151. 
Smallpox,  98,  99,  133,  134. 
Smart,  Melville  C.,  436. 
Smillie,  Dr.   123. 

James,  38. 

John,  152,  154,  445. 

Smith,  Charles  C.,  16,  579,  582,  584,  586, 
587,  G05. 

Charles  E.,  592". 

Elislia,  266. 

Elizabeth,  805. 

K.  K.,  153. 

Francis,  515. 

George  C.,  424. 

Henry  L.,  38. 

Henry  W.,  578,  579,  582. 

Mrs.  II.  M.,  458. 

Hiram  B.,  36,  69,453. 

Isaac,  491-515. 

John,  325. 

Prof.  John  B.,  350. 

Lorenzo,  38. 

Norman  G.,  73. 

Walter,  38. 

Wilfred  ().,  299. 

Hev.  W.  A.,  191. 

Dr.  W.  M.,  128. 

William,  38. 
Smith  &  (ietchell,  495. 
Smith's  Mills,  556. 
Snapp,  Rev.  Leroy  Fletcher,  349. 
Snow,  Nathaniel,  482. 
Snow's  Survey,  482. 
Soldiers  of  1812,  529. 
Sons  of  Temperance,  410. 
Southwick,  Hev.  George  B  ,  322. 
Southworth,  Hartwell  II.,  3(5,  42,  83. 
Southworth  v^  Lovejov,  41. 
Southworth,  Lovijoy  &  English,  41. 
Southworth,  Lovejoy  &  Taylor,   11. 
Spencer,  Loren,  42'J. 
Spiritualism,  l.s'.l. 
Spoone.r,  Deacon  S.,  201. 
Spotted  Fevc-r  (ccrebro-spinal  meningitis), 

134. 

Stanley.  Dr.,  99. 
Stanton.  Kdwin  M.,  396. 


State  Tax  Controversy,  467. 
Stark,  John,  520,  535. 
Stark 's  Brigade,  536. 
Stearns,  Isaac,  158. 
Steere,  Hussel,  500. 

Stephen,  563. 

St.  Gerard  Commandery,   Knights  Tem- 
plar, 582,  583,   584,  585. 

origin  of  name,  583. 

pilgrimages,  585. 
Stereoscopic  Views,  manufacture  of,  13, 

14. 
Stevens,  Rev.  Dr.,  182. 

Anna  Webster,  506. 

Ebenezer,  6,  148. 

Klbert  C.,  581,  602. 

Fnos,  489. 

Herbert  I).,  154. 

Hiram  ().,  154. 

Ira  G.,  18,  240. 

J.  A.,  448,  450,  481. 

Joan,  431. 

John  G.  B.,  150. 

Mrs.  Kichard,  269. 

Sophia,  240. 

Sylvia  (Tuft),  501. 

True  M.,  37,  38. 

Truman,  238,  343,  505,  512. 

Mrs.  Truman,  238. 

William,  247. 

Sergt.  William,  511. 

Win.  II.,  1,56,445. 

Zelotes,  154. 
Stiles,  Jeremiah,  520. 
Stinchfield,  Hev.  Josiah  P.,  263,  277. 
St.  Jolmsbury,  Vt.,  2,  71,  106,  585,  586. 
Stoddard,  Charles  II.,  73. 

Mrs.  II.  II.,  200. 

J.  W.,  204. 

Stone,  Hev.  J.  P.,  204,  285. 
Stone-masons,  144,  145. 
Strain,  Albert  E.,  518. 

Daniel  J.,  386,  387. 

Edward,  601. 
Stratford,  541,  542,  549. 
Streoter,  Mrs.  Lillian  Carpenter,  242. 

Mark,  257. 

Orin  II.,  322. 

Mrs.  Viana,  322. 
Strong,  Lewis,  131. 
Sullivan,  John,  549. 
Sunnier,  James  B.,  123. 

Kah-,  228. 

Sunday-school,  .•«•<•  Churches. 
Superintending    School   Committee,    188, 

427. 
Surplus,  4(59. 
Survey,  first,  479. 

Snow's,  482. 
Surveyors,  4Xi,  484. 
Surveys,  479-484. 

Sutherland,  Hev.  David,  159,  557,  5(51. 
Swasey,  Charles  E.,  598. 
Switxer,  Dr.,  129. 
Symonds,  Silas,  -167,  528. 


Index. 


729 


T. 


Taft,  Lucinda  K.,  205. 
Tanners,  155. 

Tarbell,  Charles  D.,  27,  48,  207,  210,  232 
235,  357. 

Mary,  199. 

Tarlton,  Rev.  J.  W.,  198. 
Tax,  first  district,  472. 

non-resident,  406. 

proportion  of,  paid  by  district,  478. 

State,  407. 
Tax  rate  1880,  473. 

highest,  474. 

lowest,  474. 
Taxation,  exemption  from,  474,  475. 

law  concerning,  475,  470. 
Taxes,  1777,  402. 

1780,  40:1 

1781,  463. 
1784,  463. 
abated,  463. 
arrearages,  403. 
church,  repealed,  249. 
for  the  army,  463. 
legislation  in  regard  to,  466. 
letter  of  Captain  Caswell  on,  403. 
raised,  1797,  467. 

Baylor,  Bart  A.,  204. 

Charles,  41. 

Mrs.  Charles,  299. 

Lovell,  509. 

Maurice  C.,  12. 

William  M.,  354. 
Teachers,  salary  of,  428. 
Temperance,  402-417. 

first  in  Littleton,  408. 

Sons  of,  organized,  410. 
Tewksbury,  Mass.,  522. 
Text-books,  in  early  schools,  425. 

supplied  by  town,  420. 
Thayer,  Kmily,  198,  304. 

Frank,  240,  457. 

Henry  L.,  200,  384. 
Thayer's  Hotel,  141. 
Thorn,  Fred,  592. 
Thomas,  Henry,  575. 
Thompson,  Charles,  123. 

Luther,  158,218. 

Merrill  W.,  123. 

William  D ,  199. 
Thornton,  Polly,  431. 
Ticonderoga,  521,  036. 
Tift,  Labau,  147,  500,  562,  572. 
Tillotson,  Dan,  543. 
Tillotson  &  Farr,  45. 

Tilton,  Caroline  Adelia  (Mrs.   Henrv  L.), 
304,  305,  312. 

Franklin,  193,  194,  230,  243,  43:5,  515. 

Mrs.  Franklin,  243. 

Fred  A. ,44. 

George  H.,  18,451. 

Henry  L.,  8,  50,  51,  55.  56,  57,  58,  79, 
81/82,  83,  241,  304,  3<l5,  157,  458, 
401. 


Tilton,  John  F.,  216, 231,  243, 270, 358, 445, 

581,  582,  580. 
Laura  Isabella,  230. 
Mary  B.,  199,  231,  232,  243. 
William  H.,  44,  243. 
Tilton  Brothers,  39,  44. 
Tilton  &  Goodall,  475. 
Tilton,  H.  L.  &  Co.,  38. 
Tisdale,  Mark,  270. 
Titus,  Samuel,  543. 
Toleration  Act,  216,  316,  317. 
Tolman,  Joseph,  500. 
Torrens,  L.  A.,  459. 
Total  Abstainers,  408. 
Town,  Amos,  503,  510. 
Francis,  123. 

Laouia,  263. 
Luther  B.,  422. 
Town  Bonds,  first  issued,  472. 
Town  Debt,  first  funded,  472. 

reduced,  473. 

Town  free  from  debt,  474. 
Town  Government,  1891-1901,  cost  com- 
pared, 477. 

Town  Income,  1891-1901,  compared,  478. 
Town  valuation,  474,  478. 
Townsend,  John,  1. 

Henry  H.,  1. 

Training  Band  (militia),  539,  550. 
Tramp  Doctor,  132. 
Transportation,  method  in  1825,  31. 
Trenton,  N.  J.,  527. 
Trombley,  Cyprian,  590. 
Troy,  Vt.,  438. 
Trudel,  Rev.  Francis  X.,  333. 
Truland,  James,  335. 

John,  335. 

William,  335. 

Trustees,  Public  Library,  447. 
Tufts,  Charles  A.,  581,  582,  583. 
Tuttle,  Dr.  Charles  M.,  82,  106,  107,  108, 
345,  346,  600. 

Frank,  123. 

Hiram  A.,  33. 

La  Fayette,  123. 

Robert,  71,  72. 

Dr.  Socrates,  125. 
Typhoid  Fever,  135,  137. 

r. 

Union    of    Fire    Precinct    and    Highway 

Precinct,  517. 

Union  School  District.  421-434. 
Unitarian  Church,  s«  Churches, 
t'pjolm,  Mr.,  306. 


Valuation  of  Town,  471.  478. 
Van  Ness,  (ieorge  II.,  590. 
Variety  Store.  72. 
Vausrhn,  Jabe/.  543. 
Veazie,  G.  A..  299. 
Vermont  Board  of  War.  540. 
Vigiiau,  Frank,  495. 


730 


Ji«le.r. 


W. 

Wait,  Albert  S.,  582,  583. 
Wales,  S.,  424. 
Walker,  George,  592. 

Rev.  J.  H.,  378. 

Mrs.  Jennie  Patrick,  459. 

M.  1).,  198. 

Mrs.  M.  I).,  232. 
Wallace,  Amos,  502,  597. 

A.  1'.,  445. 

Mrs.  Betsey,  597. 

Calvin    J.,    155,    200,    204,    273,    298, 
590. 

Chester,  322. 

Eli.  322. 

John,  489,  528. 

Liudsey,  251,  3G8,  300. 

Phineas,  322. 

Woodman,  322. 
Walmsley,  Caroline  G.,  242. 
Walton,  Mrs.  II.  G.,  395. 
War  Debt,  470. 
Warner,  Seth,  520. 

Warren,  480. 
Warriner,  Rev.  P.,  189. 
Washington,  General,  520. 
Washingtonians,  409,  410. 
Water  &  Light  Company,  510. 
Waterford,  Yt.,  489. 
Waterman,  Rev.   Granville  C.,  321,  323. 

Mrs.  Granville  C.,  323. 

Rev.  Henry,  309. 

Rev.  Lucius,  309,  310. 
Walk  ins.  Rev.  IJ.  U.,  370. 
Watson,  Mrs.  A.  E.,  272. 

Edward,  430. 

Ered  A.,  05. 

Dr.  Henry  L.,  38.  ]]•_',  113. 

Dr.  Irving  A.,  130,  131. 

Porter  IJ.,  8,  345. 

Walter  W.,  207. 
Webb,  Axariah,  543. 
Webster,  David,  150,  252,  502. 

James  C.,  483. 

Nathaniel,  430. 

Stephen  P.,  482,  550. 
Weed,  John,  543. 

Weeks,  Alonzo,  9,    39,  40.  47,  445,   575 
500. 

Mrs.  Caroline,  109. 

John  K.,  19'.i. 

Mabel,  312. 

Minot.  15s. 

Nellie.  L'32. 
Weeks.  Fatun  A 
Weller.  Asa.  34 

Frank  (f..  3i)4,  305.  345.  150,457 

Mrs.  Frank  (',.,  :;05. 
Mrs.  Maria.  440. 
William  W.,  152. 
Wells.  P.cniamin  F..  1  10,  5SII,  592. 
Dr.  Daniel  F..  120. 
F.dward  II..  590. 
Wi-Ils  vV   Mhi'Jiam.  5iis. 


Wentworth,  Governor,  402,  533. 
Wetherbee,  Betsey,  40. 

Caroline,  40. 

Catharine,  40. 

Lucretia,  40. 

Lucy,  40. 

Samuel,  39. 

Susanna,  48. 
Wheeler,  Anson,  147,  558,  559. 

Dennis,  300. 

Mrs.  Dennis,  322. 

Fbenezer,  230. 

Edward  O.,  597. 

Mrs.  Eliza,  597. 

John,  407. 

Lydia,  230. 

Maria,  230. 

Sally,  503. 

Silas,  410,  503. 

Tlllotson,  502. 
Wheelock,  Amasa,  559,  502. 

Archippus,  528. 

Haskell,  252. 

Lieutenant-Colonel,  539. 
Whipple,  Dr.  Thomas,  310. 
Whitcher,  Ira,  003. 

William  F.,  301. 
Whitcomb,  Benjamin,  534. 

Moses,  123. 
White,  Bethuel,  419. 

Horace,  123. 

Joseph,  145. 

Royal  P.,  42,  70 

Thomas,  147. 

White  Mountain  Glove  Company,  9. 
White  Mountain  Grange,  597,  590 
White  Mountain  Medical  Society,  131. 
Whitefiel(l,481,  500. 
White  Plains,  N.  Y.,  527. 
Whiteside.  Rev.  Thomas,  298. 
Whiting,  Robert  C.,  500. 

Mrs.  Robert  C'.,  500. 

Solomon,  500. 

William  II.,  30. 
Whittaker,  George,  9,  451. 

Joseph  L.,  1,  82,  83. 

Robert,  8. 
Wilcoml),  Daniel,  258. 

Moses  K.,  201,  209,  272,  300. 

Mrs.  Moses  K.,  300. 
Wilcox,  1).,  254,  255. 
Wilder,  George  II.,  455. 

Solon,  458. 
Wilkins,  Daniel,  430. 

Doxy,  230. 

George  C.,  577,  578. 
Hugh  1).,  518. 

Luther  C.,  199. 
Philip  ('.,  430,  483,  575. 
Willard.  Dr.  John,  131. 
Willey,  Chester  J.,  72. 
William  Parkman  Commnndery  visit  St. 

Gerard  Commandery,  585. 
Williams.  Charles  A.,  435. 

Clarence  W.,  L'71.  273,  299. 


Index. 


731 


Williams,  James,  150,  158,  419,  501,  528. 

James,  Jr.,  562. 

Merrill,  562. 

Peleg,  138,  156,  325,  464,  466,  486,  487, 

528. 
Williamson,  Alexander,  354. 

George  R.,  502. 
Willoughby,  Ebenezer,  480. 

John,  537. 
Willis,  Eliza,  318. 
Wills,  W.  R.  B.,  393. 
Wilson,   Dr.  Adams  Brock,  112 

Daniel,  490. 

Rev.  William  Dexter,  341,  344. 
Wilson  &  Tut  tie,  71. 
Winch,  F.,  194. 

Joel,  247. 
Windows,  memorial : 

Baptist  Church,  322. 

Congregational  Church,  243. 

Methodist  Church,  300. 

Unitarian  Church,  350. 
Windus,  John,  453. 
Winslow,  Elmer  L.,  299. 
Wise,  Daniel,  254,  430. 
Witherell,  Emily,  230. 

Mrs.  Frank,  197. 

James  H.,  3. 

Withington,  Rev.  William,  177. 
Woman's  Christian   Temperance  Union, 

413-415. 

Woman's    Foreign     Missionary    Society, 
272 

Wood,  Dr.,  129. 
Woodbury,  Lot,  442. 
Woodruff  Brothers,  73. 


Woodsville,  613. 
Woodward,  Dr.  C.,  124. 

Rev.  J.  H.,  182. 
Woolen  Mill,  sale  of,  1. 
Woolson,  Augu&tus,  83. 

Elijah  Sabine,  34,  343,  615,  558,  572. 

George  8.,  590. 

Worcester,  Rev.  Evarts  W.,  164,  171, 
173,  177,  243. 

Dr.  Ezra  C.,  105,  106,  133,  229. 

Rev.   Isaac  R.,  177,  178,  179,  182,  185, 
186,  229. 

Rev.  Leonard,  178,  185. 
Wright,  Fred  B.,  592. 
Wyman,  C.  M.,  456,  458,  521. 


Y. 


Yeaton,  J.  W.,  518. 
Young,  Dan,  250,  251,  316. 

Daniel  M.,  453. 

Duncan,  252. 

Elbridge  C.,  592. 

Mrs.  Elbridge  C.,  72. 

Millard  F.,  461,  581. 

Mrs.  Millard  F.,  129,  243. 

Samuel,  521. 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association,  357- 

359. 
Yretsian,  David,  232. 


Z. 


Zerrnhn,  Carl,  459. 


INDEX   TO   TABLES. 


24 


Directors   of    White  Mountain    Rail-    31. 
road  1849-54,  007.  32. 

Board  of  Health,  007.  33. 

Longevity,  009.  34. 

Town  Fire  Wards,  010.  35. 

Fire  Wards  Village  Fire  Precinct,  611.    30. 

School  Inspectors,  013. 

Superintending  School   Committees, 
(513.  37. 

Board    of    Education    Union    School 
District,  014. 

Members  of  the  Town  School  Board    38. 
of  Education,  018. 

Principals,  etc.   High    School,   Union    39. 
District,  019. 

Students    in    Colleges     and     Profes-    40. 
sional  Schools,  620. 

Students     in     Normal     Schools     and    41. 
Higher  Schools  of  Music,  Art,  and 
Oratory,  625.  42. 

Pupils  in  Seminaries,  Academies,  Pre- 
paratory Schools,  etc  ,  026.  43. 

Officers  of  Province  and   State   Mili- 
tia, 033.  44. 

Board  of  Trustees,  Littleton    Public    45. 
Library,  042.  40. 

Private  Corporation,  014.  ;  47. 

Voluntary  Corporations,  045. 

Directors    of   the    Littleton    National    48. 
Bank,  045.  49. 

Statistical  Record  of  National  Bank, 
04S.  50. 

Trustees  of   Littleton  Savings  Bank, 
019.  51. 

Statistical    Record    of    the    Savings    52. 
Bank,  052. 

Officers  of  Driving  Park  Association,    53. 
053.  51. 

Officers  of   White   Mountain  Cream- 
ery Association,  (553.  55. 

Otlicers  of  White  Mountain  Cemetery 
Association,  045. 

Otlicers  of  Littleton  Musical  Associa- 
tion, 055.  50. 

Officers  of  the   Saranac  Glove   Com- 
pany. 057.  57. 

Officer-  of  the  Law  and  Order  League. 


Unitarian  Ministers,  601. 

Free  Baptist  Ministers,  001. 

Baptist,  662. 

Roman  Catholic  Priests,  062. 

Advent  Ministers,  002. 

Statistical  Table  of  Landaff  and 
succeeding  Circuits  of  Methodist 
Church,  603. 

Statistical  Table  of  Ministers  of  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  in  Landaff 
and  succeeding  Circuits,  005. 

Statistical  Table  of  Congregational 
Church,  008,  609. 

Statistical  Table  of  Free  Baptist 
Church,  670. 

Annual  Report  of  All  Saints  Episco- 
pal Church,  071. 

Officers  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association,  072. 

Officers  of  the  Woman's  Christian 
Temperance  Union,  073. 

Officers  of  the  Society  of  Christian 
Endeavor,  674. 

Officers  of  the  Epworth  League,  675. 

Officers  of  All  Saints  Guild,  675. 

Native  Ministers,  670. 

Officers  of  Morning  Dawn  Lodge, 
Watert'ord,  077. 

Officers  of  Burns  Lodge  No.  00.  078. 

Representative  to  the  M.  W.  Grand 
Lodtre.  080. 

Franklin  Chapter  R.  A.M.  No.  5.  Ex- 
altations from  Littleton,  081. 

Officers  of  Omega  Council,  685. 

Officers  of  St.  Gerard  Commandery 
Knights  Templar,  687. 

Officers  of  Washington  Council,  090. 

Officers  of  Littleton  Chapter  of  Hose 
Croix,  091. 

Residents  of  Littleton  who  have  oc- 
cupied Official  Positions  in  the 
various  .Masonic  Grand  Bodies  in 
New  Hampshire,  092. 

OHicers  of  Mount  Enstis  Chapter  Or- 
der of  Eastern  Star,  093. 

Officers  of  Ammonoosuc  Lodge  No. 
21.  1.  O.  O.  ]•'.,  (V.i 4. 

Officers  of  Lafayette  Lodge  No.  11, 
I.  O.  ( ).  F.,  095. 

Officers  of  Littleton  Encampment 
No.  20,  I.  O  O.  F..  (V.i7. 

Otlicers  of   the  Grand    Canton    Albin 


Index  to   Tables. 


733 


No.  4,  Patriarchs  Militant,  Little- 
ton Component  No.  14,  I.  ().  0.  F., 
699. 

61.  Officers  of  Helen  L.  Fisher  Kebekah 

Degree  Lodge  No.  54,  I.  O.  O.  F., 
699. 

62.  Officers  of  Chiswick  Lodge,  Knights 

of  Pythias,  700. 

63.  Officers   of    White  Mountain    Lodge 

No.  10,  I.  U.  of  Good  Templars, 
701. 

64.  Officers  of  Chiswick  Lodge  No.  2411, 

Knights  of  Honor,  702. 

65.  Officers     of     the     White    Mountain 

Grange  No.  50,  703. 

66.  Officers  of  the  Northern  N.  II.  Pomona 

Grange  No.  5,  704. 


67.  Officers  of  the  French-Canadian  So- 

ciety, 704. 

68.  Catholic  Order  of  Foresters,  St.  Rose 

of  Lima  Court  No.  526,  705. 
GU.  Officers    of     Independent    Order    of 
Foresters,  Court  Anunonoosuc  No. 
1995,  706. 

70.  Officers,   Littleton   Commandery,  In- 

dependent  Order    of   the    Golden 
Cross,  707. 

71.  Officers    of    the    Cohashauke    Club, 

707. 

72.  Officers  of  the  Friday  Club,  708. 

73.  Officers  of  the  Colonial  Club,  70!). 

74.  Officers   of  the  Nineteenth   Century 

Club,  710. 

75.  Officers  of  the  Historical  Club,  710. 


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